October 20, 2022 – United Soccer League Championship (USL) – Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC News Release
The Hounds are gearing up to face Birmingham Legion FC on Sunday in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals, the start of a fifth straight playoff appearance for the Hounds. After the two teams split a pair of one-goal games during the regular season, it’s a safe bet the third matchup will be another closely contested contest, and a dramatic finish could be in store.
Will the match be a classic that lives on in Hounds history? There’s no way of knowing until the ball is kicked off, but the game does provide us a chance to look back on the Hounds’ history in postseason play.
In 22 previous seasons, the Hounds have qualified for the playoffs 12 times. But certain matches in those postseason trips stand out above the others, which is why we take a look back now at the five most notable playoff matches in Hounds history.
5) A-League Quarterfinal (first leg) – Bethel Park, Pa., Sept. 26, 2001
Hounds 2, Rochester Raging Rhinos 1
Having already swept a two-legged playoff with the Charleston Battery in the first round and having reached the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open Cup that year, the Hounds had some knockout-game grit in 2001.
Things didn’t start off well, as a Stoian Mladenov penalty had the Rhinos in front at the break in the Hounds’ home leg. But Welton Melo leveled the contest in the 62nd minute before John Jones – a defender with just three goals on the season – netted the winner with nine minutes to play.
The Rhinos would get revenge on their home turf three days later, eliminating Pittsburgh with a 3-0 win before going on to win the A-League title. But the Hounds’ first-leg win had the team on the verge of springing the upset over a club that would become one of their longest-running rivals.
4) A-League Round of 16 – Uniondale, N.Y., Sept. 11, 1999
Hounds 4, Long Island Rough Riders 3
The Hounds’ inaugural season culminated with a playoff appearance, and the team emerged victorious in a wild single-elimination tilt to start the postseason.
Goran Vasic and Justin Evans put the Hounds ahead 2-0 at halftime, but the Rough Riders got things all square by the 68th minute with goals by Cordt Weinstein and Darko Kolic.
Not rattled by the comeback, the Hounds answered with two goals in three minutes by Joenal Castma and Allen Eller to take a 4-2 lead in the 77th minute.
Not out of the woods yet, the Rough Riders cut the lead to one in the 87th minute with a goal by…