Record breaker
Hounds鈥� Amann sets USL Championship mark
Who says there isn’t enough scoring in soccer?
The sport that is often maligned by those unfamiliar with the game doesn’t have an overabundance of goals in a particular match, but the play that occurs between the scoring is often at a frenetic pace, and the opportunities to score are frequent.
However, for those who want to see scoring, Trevor Amann of the Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC granted their wish in a mere 3 minutes and 27 seconds when he recorded a hat trick in the home team’s 3-1 victory over Louisville City FC on Saturday at F.N.B Stadium in Pittsburgh.
Amann’s accomplishment set a USL Championship record in netting the fastest three goals in league history. Dane Kelly, a former Riverhounds forward, previously held the league record while playing for Reno 1868 in 2017. Kelly needed 7:17 for the trifecta.
Despite the record, Amann was more focused on the team, as the Hounds were coming off a crushing 2-1 setback to expansion Sporting Club Jacksonville in their previous USL match.
“Obviously, it feels good to set the record, but I care about winning more than anything,” Amann said. “I would prefer me and Chico (Albert Dikwa) to have 15 goals at the end of the year, and neither of us win the Golden Boot if we win the championship, than if one of us won the Golden Boot and the team didn’t win the championship. We need to have a team-first mentality with a tough stretch moving forward.”
Amann didn’t come out of the dressing room in the second half looking to do anything special, and there were no specific chats between him and Pittsburgh head coach Rob Vincent.
“I was just focused on coming out and playing well in the second half,” Amann said. “We had allowed a goal early in the second half in back-to-back league games, and we wanted to change that as a team.”
Amann’s feat not only came in front of a home crowd, but also a national audience, as the match was broadcast on CBS and its streaming affiliates, which was the club’s first network TV appearance since winning the USL Championship Final last November.
“Trevor is a finisher so you always want him near the goal,” Vincent said. “He has also had to bide his time this year. Chico has played a lot of minutes, and Trevor has generally been off the bench. He has started a game here and there, but that says a lot about his mentality and character to stick with the process.
“He has started three games in a week as well, so you have gone from barely starting any games to now starting three games in a week. I am super happy for him.”
Louisville (7-6-3) has been a thorn in Pittsburgh’s side, especially at home, as the Hounds defeated the visitors as hosts for the first time in the series between the two clubs, who have been near the top of the table in past five seasons. Louisville is the reigning Players’ Shield holders for securing the most points in the regular season.
Pittsburgh (7-6-2) added to the firsts that were recorded in sweeping the season series with Louisville.
“I knew we would be up for Louisville,” said Vincent. “We always get up for these types of matches, but we tend to struggle against the teams in the middle of the table. We need to turn it up against every team.”
The match was defensive minded in the first 45 minutes, as neither team wanted to have a careless mistake lead to a goal, but Louisville had 57% of possession in the first half.
Despite the road team maintaining the majority of possession in the first half, Pittsburgh captain Danny Griffin had the first shot on target in the 16th minute when his attempt to poke home the loose ball from a corner kick, but Louisville keeper Danny Faundez smothered the attempt while also taking contact.
Hounds keeper Nico Campuzano only needed to make one save, as Louisville’s Sean Totsch and Chris Donovan attempted headers, but both were off target. The visitors put high crosses into the box from open play and set pieces, but couldn’t get much done in the final third.
Pittsburgh forced Faundez to make two saves in the opening half, but it came out strong in the second, and Amann decided to make history.
His first tally came 71 second after play resumed when he ripped a shot under the crossbar for a 1-0 lead. Jackson Walti delivered a precise ball to Amann and continued his run from the right to draw the defense and provide space for Amann to operate.
F.N.B. Stadium was still buzzing when Amann recorded the brace, as Perrin Barnes’ cross from the right side was lifted to Amann, who headed the ball back across the goal and into the right side of the net. Dikwa was also near the back post on the run.
The natural hat trick came in the 50th minute, as Pittsburgh native Robbie Mertz provided the service to Amann, who began at the back post, but bent his run sharply inward for another header that beat Faundez for a 3-0 advantage.
“It’s all kind of a blur,” said Amann in reference to scoring so quickly. “I am going to need to watch it. Our guys set me up and I was able to finish. There wasn’t anything said in particular to me when we came out in the second half. We just wanted to come out and play well.”
Vincent removed Amann from the match in the 63rd minute after his striker recorded the team’s first hat trick since Bertin Jacquesson accomplished the feat against Miami FC on Oct. 5, 2024. Amann left the pitch to a standing ovation.
Jansen Wilson converted from the penalty spot in the 68th minute to spoil the shutout bid. Louisville was awarded the PK after Victor Souza was called for handling inside the penalty area while leaping to block a free kick. Campuzano guessed the wrong direction on Wilson, who finished easily, but the shot on target would be Louisville’s last for the match.
Louisville maintained possession for two-thirds of the remaining 22 minutes of action plus stoppage time, but the Hounds took advantage on the counter, and Charles Ahl forced Faundez to make a diving save in the 88th minute to provide his team with a puncher’s chance.
“It was great to bring those guys in off the bench and have a strong finish,” Vincent said. “Our guys didn’t sit back on their heels after taking the three-goal lead.”