Riverhounds blank Tampa to clinch top seed in USL Championship playoffs

The USL Championship playoffs will run through the city of Pittsburgh.

Albert Dikwa and Arturo Ordonez scored a goal each and the Riverhounds clinched the USL Championship Eastern Conference title, and home-field advantage throughout the postseason, with a 2-0 road win over the Tampa Bay Rowdies on Saturday night.

The Hounds also clinched the USL Players’ Shield for the first time in franchise history. It’s the award given to the team with the league’s best regular-season record.

The Hounds (19-5-9) have 66 points and are six points clear of Tampa in the East with one game remaining. West leader Sacramento only can get to 64 points. The Hounds have won five matches in a row.

Dikwa’s goal came 29 seconds in. It was a tap-in at the back post, finishing off a cross by Kenardo Forbes.

It was Dikwa’s 20th goal of the year, getting him closer to clinching the Golden Boot as the USL Championship’s top goal scorer. He has three more goals than his closest competition.

The Hounds carried a 1-0 lead into halftime, and Ordonez added the insurance marker in the 60th minute.

Tampa appeared to clear a corner kick, but the Hounds regained possession near midfield. Forbes passed it up to Tola Shownumi, who put in a low cross that Ordonez redirected into the net.

Prior to Ordonez’s goal, Hounds keeper Jahmali Waite made a crucial save on a Charlie Dennis shot that found its way through a congested area.

The Hounds had to endure seven minutes of stoppage time, but Tampa never really threatened goal.

The Riverhounds travel to Detroit for the regular-season finale next Saturday before hosting a first-round playoff game Oct. 21 at Highmark Stadium.