Riverhounds take down defending champion Phoenix Rising FC

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Sunday, April 21, 2024 8:01 a.m. | Sunday, April 21, 2024 8:01 a.m.

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Courtesy of Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC

Members of the Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC celebrate during their game against Phoenix Rising FC on April 20, 2024, at Phoenix Rising Soccer Stadium in Arizona.

Courtesy of Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC

Members of the Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC celebrate during their game against Phoenix Rising FC on April 20, 2024, at Phoenix Rising Soccer Stadium in Arizona.

Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC earned its first victory of the season late Saturday night by taking down the USL Championship’s reigning champion.

Kazaiah Sterling, Edward Kizza and Babacar Diene scored to lift the Riverhounds to a 3-1 win over Phoenix Rising FC at Phoenix Rising Soccer Stadium in Arizona.

The Hounds (1-3-2) got on the board in the 26th minute when Kizza took a pass from Robbie Mertz and fed Sterling for an open shot.

Rémi Cabral scored for Phoenix (2-4-1) just before halftime to make the score 1-1.

Kizza gave the Hounds the lead back in the 62nd minute. Junior Etou played a ball across goal for Kizza, who buried his second goal of the season.

Then in the 90th minute, Etou sent a pass toward Danny Griffin, and the ball deflected to Diene, who scored his first professional goal.

The Hounds will return home to play Detroit City FC (5-0-0) at 7 p.m. Saturday at Highmark Stadium.