Imagine the roar of the crowd, the tension so thick you could cut it with a knife… After years of striving, the Pittsburgh Riverhounds have finally seized their moment of glory, claiming their first-ever USL Championship title! But it wasn’t easy; it was a nail-biting, edge-of-your-seat battle that went all the way down to a penalty shootout against a determined FC Tulsa squad.
The match, held at Tulsa’s own ONEOK Field on November 22nd, 2025, was a defensive masterclass. For a grueling 90 minutes of regulation time, plus an additional 30 minutes of extra time, neither team could break the deadlock, resulting in a 0-0 scoreline. Both goalkeepers were in sensational form, denying every attack and keeping their teams in the hunt. This set the stage for a dramatic penalty shootout.
The first real scare came in the 17th minute when a turnover by Pittsburgh’s Junior Etou in a dangerous area allowed Tulsa to create a scoring opportunity. A quick series of passes between Webber and Dalou ended with Dalou’s shot narrowly missing the target, sailing just over the bar. Pittsburgh responded just five minutes later. Charles Ahl played a fantastic through ball to Augi Williams, who found himself behind Tulsa’s defense. But Tulsa’s goalkeeper, Tyler Deric, was up to the challenge, tipping Williams’ low shot wide and keeping the game scoreless.
And this is the part most people miss… The game wasn’t just about attack; it was a tactical chess match. Eric Dick, Pittsburgh’s goalkeeper, proved his worth in the 39th minute with an incredible reaction save, denying Kalil ElMedkhar’s close-range header. Williams then had another chance before halftime, but his shot, a looping ball from Danny Griffin, drifted wide of the far post. The second half saw Tulsa increase the pressure, particularly from set pieces. In the 76th minute, a chaotic corner kick caused havoc in the Pittsburgh box, and it looked like the ball might cross the line. But Dick, once again, reacted brilliantly, tipping the ball onto the roof of the net. Beyond that, clear chances were hard to come by as both defenses stood strong.
Extra time saw even more pressure from Tulsa. Dick had to race off his line in the 96th minute to smother a chipped ball before Lukic could reach it, then bravely gathering the second phase amidst heavy contact. As fatigue set in, Pittsburgh retreated further, absorbing wave after wave of attacks from a Tulsa side that was riding an impressive postseason shutout streak of over 700 minutes. Comparatively, the Hounds were carrying a shutout streak of over 650 minutes themselves. Talk about a battle of wills!
Neither shutout streak was broken, and neither team could create a significant chance late in extra time, leading to the ultimate decider: penalties. In the shootout, Pittsburgh showed nerves of steel, converting all five of their attempts. Tulsa, however, faltered. Eric Dick, proving to be the hero of the hour, denied Lukic once again, securing a 5-3 victory for Pittsburgh and delivering the Riverhounds their first USL Championship title. A moment etched in Pittsburgh soccer history!
But here’s where it gets controversial… Some might argue that Tulsa deserved the win based on their dominance in the second half and extra time. Others might point to Pittsburgh’s resilience and clinical finishing in the shootout as evidence of their championship mettle. What do you think? Did the best team win, or did Pittsburgh simply have the luck of the draw in the penalty shootout? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!