Pittsburgh and Louisville City bring USL title heat to CBS

Pittsburgh Riverhounds and Louisville City FC meet Saturday at Highmark Stadium in a matchup CBS Sports billed as a meeting of two of the USL Championship’s leading clubs.

The game is set for CBS and streaming on Paramount+, according to CBS Sports. Its match listing gives the date as Saturday, July 18, and the time as 12 p.m. ET, while the preview text also refers to the game being on CBS at 3 p.m.

CBS Sports said the fixture opens a three-game run of soccer coverage on the network. The odds listed by CBS Sports have Pittsburgh at +210, a draw at +240 and Louisville City at +115.

Two contenders, one tight Eastern race

Louisville enters as the reigning Players’ Shield winner after finishing last season with the best regular-season points total in the USL Championship, according to CBS Sports.

The club has been working under manager Simon Bird after Danny Cruz left for an assistant coaching job with Minnesota United following the start of the season, CBS Sports reported. Even with that change, Louisville sits fourth in the Eastern Conference, a spot that CBS Sports framed as evidence of the club’s high internal standards.

Pittsburgh, meanwhile, is chasing another title after winning last season’s USL Championship final in a penalty shootout, according to CBS Sports. Rob Vincent took charge and guided the Riverhounds to the first championship in club history, the outlet reported.

CBS Sports also noted that Albert Dikwa has returned to Pittsburgh, giving the Hounds another familiar piece as they try to back up last season’s trophy run.

What to watch

Louisville’s attack is the obvious danger sign. CBS Sports reported that Louisville has scored 25 goals this season, with only two teams in the league ahead of that total.

Pittsburgh’s defense has not matched the level it reached during last season’s title campaign, according to CBS Sports. That makes Louisville’s scoring spread a major test for a Riverhounds side trying to steady itself.

The Hounds also have a quick response to make after losing to Sporting Jax in midweek play, CBS Sports reported. The result was Sporting Jax’s first win of the season, and CBS Sports described Pittsburgh as looking out of sync in that match.

Home field is one clear boost for Pittsburgh. CBS Sports called Highmark Stadium one of the league’s toughest places for away teams, a factor the Riverhounds will hope can tilt a high-pressure game their way.

How to watch

• Date: Saturday, July 18, according to CBS Sports
• Time: CBS Sports’ match listing says 12 p.m. ET, though its preview text also mentions 3 p.m.
• Venue: Highmark Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
• TV: CBS
• Stream: Paramount+
• Odds listed by CBS Sports: Pittsburgh +210, draw +240, Louisville City +115

CBS Sports writer Chuck Booth predicted a 3-2 Pittsburgh win, with Dikwa scoring early and the Riverhounds holding off Louisville in an open match.

This story draws on original reporting from CBS Sports.