The Pittsburgh Riverhounds’ surprising run to the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open Cup came to an end Tuesday night. Fans at Bulldog Pub in Morningside had the time of their lives anyway.
The scene at Bulldog Pub, where fans gathered to watch the away game, was rowdy, a small space packed to the brim with soccer fans wearing black and gold. The crowd spilled out onto the sidewalk of the Morningside residential area. Locals must have heard fans yelling “Sir!” at the referee when they disagreed with a call.
The Riverhounds fell 3-1 against FC Cincinnati, a team from first-division Major League Soccer, although Hounds fans were adamant that Cincinnati’s first goal should have been ruled offside.
The run, in which the Hounds unexpectedly beat two MLS teams, further galvanized Pittsburgh’s fans, a small but passionate group. They combine elements of Pittsburgh sports fandom with the more communal conventions of international soccer. For instance, they have whimsical chants to celebrate small victories.
When the Riverhounds generated a corner kick, they jumped up and down and chanted: “Every corner is a goal!”
Harrison, a rising senior at Denison University, is a Union Progress summer intern. Email him at hhamm@unionprogress.com.