The Riverhounds opened Saturday night at FNB Stadium in front of 5,977 fans. It marked the first return to Pittsburgh for former Riverhounds goalkeeper Eric Dick, who left for Indy Eleven in the off‑season; Dick holds the club record with 30 clean sheets and was MVP of the 2025 USL Championship final.
The first half featured several strong chances but no goals. Eliot Goldthorp tested Dick in the 14th minute with a right‑footed effort from the right side of the box; Dick saved it cleanly from the center. In the 33rd minute Charles Ahl forced another central save from Dick after a right‑footed shot from the left side, and Goldthorp had a second right‑footed attempt that Dick pushed away low to his right. Perrin Barnes and Robbie Mertz created the best opportunities for the Riverhounds in the opening 45. Pittsburgh finished the half with 3 shots on goal to Indy’s 2 and controlled possession 64.4% to 35.6%. The teams went into the break scoreless.
Early in the second half Goldthorp again threatened with a left‑footed shot from outside the box that Dick saved low to his left. The match remained deadlocked until stoppage time. Two minutes into five minutes of added time, Lasse Kelp broke the tie with a left‑footed strike from a tight angle that found the bottom right corner after a cross from Perrin Barnes. The Riverhounds held on through the remaining stoppage to secure the win.
Next up: Pittsburgh travels to face Hartford Athletic and former Riverhounds forward Auggie Williams on June 20 at 7:00 PM at Trinity Health Stadium.
