League News

Around the Leagues: Quest for MLS Cup Continues

USL Championship

The 2021 USL Championship season came to a thrilling end on Sunday, with Orange County SC pulling off a stunning 3-1 upset of Tampa Bay Rowdies to raise the trophy.

A 20th minute penalty save for Orange County keeper Patrick Rakovsky set the tone, as the SoCal club would go on to stack three first-half scores on Tampa’s vaunted back line. Five minutes after Rakovsky’s save, Ronaldo Damus would pull his team ahead, before adding another in the 38th minute. Midfielder Miko Kuningas stretched their lead to three just before the half, burying a free kick from just outside the penalty area in the lower left corner. Orange County’s defense would stand strong even after a 57th minute score from the hosts, keeping the result in their favor.

USL also announced the league awards this week- Colorado Springs striker and Goldent Boot winner Hadji Barry took MVP honors. Young Player of the Year went to Louisville City FC 18-year old Jonathan Gomez, and Goalkeeper of the Year went to Tampa Bay’s Evan Louro, who led USL in saves and clean sheets. Forrest Lasso took Defender of the Year honors for his work on Tampa Bay’s back line.

Major League Soccer

The conference finals are here, setting up four squads for battles to reach the MLS Cup.

Real Salt Lake has stolen the show in the Western Conference, stunning Seattle Sounders FC in penalties before edging out a strong Sporting KC squad in stoppage time to advance. The Utah club rides high into their Saturday trip to Portland, where they’ll face off with a Timbers team confident after upsetting top-seeded Colorado on Thanksgiving Day, a match that set a record for MLS television viewership

In the Eastern Conference, Philadelphia’s momentum matches that of Real Salt Lake. They’ll play host to New York City FC for a spot in the final after taking down New York Red Bulls in the opening round and a penalty shootout win over Nashville that featured two saves from Andre Blake. However, New York won’t be an easy foe to best, especially following a thrilling 2-2 result that saw them best Supporters Shield winner New England Revolution in front of a national audience.

Premier League

The Premier League’s 30th season has continued delivering some fantastic football between some of the world’s top clubs.

Chelsea FC remains at the top of the table through 14 matches, maintaining their spot on Wednesday with a 2-1 result on the road against Watford. The North London club has failed to drop points in any contest since late September, keeping them a sliver ahead of Manchester City and the League’s highest scoring team in Liverpool.

Following an abysmal start to their season, Arsenal has maintained their turnaround in recent weeks, winning all but one contest since October 22. They enter the holiday season with a stretch favorable to their desire to continue rising in the table, with contests against three skidding clubs in Manchester United, Southampton, and Everton.

UEFA Champions League

Europe’s top club competition has continued matching up some of the continents best as the fight to advance to the knockout stage continues.

Advancement to the round of 16 is nearly set, with just five spots remaining. Thus far, Ajax, Bayern, Chelsea, Inter Milan, Juventus, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, PSG, Real Madrid, and Sporting Portugal have all secured advancement to the knockout stage by securing one of the top two spots in their respective groups.

The group stage has not disappointed, with Manchester City’s meeting with the now Leo Messi-led PSG delivering fireworks and Chelsea’s 4-0 result over Juventus proving their strength last week. However, the final matchday next Tuesday will bring plenty of suspense and spirited play for sides close to the line, as five groups still have yet to have their top two confirmed.

What to Watch: Previewing the 2021 USL Championship Final

The matchup for the USL Championship final is set.

After a season filled with exciting highs, some tough lows, and challenging moments for every squad in the league, the USL Championship Final is here. Orange County SC of the Western Conference Pacific Division and Tampa Bay Rowdies of the Eastern Conference Atlantic Division will face off for the tenth USL Championship crown this weekend, when the Final match of the 2021 USL season kicks off on ESPN.

The Matchup: #TBRvOC

Where: Al Lang Stadium, St. Petersburg, Florida
When: Sunday, November 28; 5:30 p.m. PT kickoff
Watch: ESPN, ESPN Deportes
Listen: Sirius XM FC

Each Squad’s Road

One of the league’s strongest sides at every turn throughout the season, Tampa Bay finished with the highest point total of any squad in either conference. After a strong opening half of the season, the Rowdies put together a historic second half. They fell just once from August 6 to the end of the season, a stretch headlined by a 12-match lossless streak that spanned a day short of two months. They took care of business in their opening postseason matchup against FC Tulsa, netting six goals, before upending Birmingham in the Conference Semifinal and Louisville in a thrilling extra time win in the Eastern Conference Final.

Among the Western Conference’s best at the start of the campaign, Orange County was riding high as they outscored their opponents 9-3 in June and held the Pacific Division’s second place spot for much of the first two months. However, they hit a few speed bumps during in July and August, losing ground in the Pacific Division race a stretch that saw just two wins in 11 matches. However, with a new man at the helm in Richard Chaplow, they found form again as summer turned to fall, winning six straight to close the campaign before finding their way to the final by way of a 1-0 victory over Colorado Springs and two penalty shootout wins.

Players to Watch

From the top down, Tampa’s roster is filled with players sure to impact Sunday’s result. Leading them in the back are Goalkeeper Evan Louro and defender Forrest Lasso, each finalists for Player of the Year at their respective positions. Both players were named to the USL Championship All-League First Team alongside striker Sebastian Guenzatti, who finished the regular season with 21 goals, six assists, and a nomination for USL MVP honors.

In addition, Lucky Mkosana has been dangerous off the bench for Rowdies all season long. He netted the stoppage time equalizer for Tampa Bay to send their Conference Final match with Louisville to extra time, and since joining the club in 2019, has scored 12 of 14 goals as a substitute.

For Orange County, they’ll count on forward Ronaldo Damus to continue leading their attacking corps. The Haitian finished the regular season third in the Western Conference in scoring (14), taking full advantage of the 51 chances generated on the campaign from three-year USL veteran Brian Illoski, and captain Michael Orozco. Goalkeeper Patrick Rakovsky and leading assist man Brent Richards have locked things down in the back for Orange County of late, limiting opponents to just two scores since an October 9 loss to Tacoma Defiance.

Head to Head – The Numbers

Tampa Bay finished the regular season third in USL in scoring (65), shots taken (496) and conversion rate (18%). More impressively, however, they finished the year with a league-high 16 clean sheets and conceded the fewest goals in USL this season with 27.

Entering their first-ever USL Championship Final, Orange County netted 46 goals on the season and put 14% of their attempts in the net. They were equally stout defensively, recording 14 clean sheets- second in the league behind Tampa Bay- and finished as one of just eight squads to concede less than 40 scores on the season. They’ve posted five clean sheets in their past six matches, giving them a ton of momentum heading into their meeting with the league’s most dangerous team.

Around the Leagues: Washington the City of Champions in NWSL

Postseason play in the U.S. continued over the weekend, delivering a number of thrilling contests for all fans to enjoy. The National Women’s Soccer League crowned its 2021 champion after a well-played match in Louisville required extra time, as two squads in USL play punched their tickets to the Championship Final. Plus, the MLS Cup Playoffs got underway to kick off what will surely be an intense few weeks of postseason action.

USL Championship

The Conference Finals delivered a pair of very tight contests on Saturday night.

In a battle between Eastern Conference heavyweights, Tampa Bay Rowdies took down Louisville City FC in a come from behind win in extra time. After a dismal first half for the Florida side saw them go down 2-0, Rowdies scratched and clawed for an 83rd minute score to pull them within one. Just as Louisville seemed destined to walk off with the upset, Tampa Bay netted an equalizer in the final seconds of stoppage time to force extra minutes- where they would score the eventual game-winner in the 102nd minute.

In the Western Conference, Orange County SC and San Antonio FC gave fans another thrilling matchup. After Orange County opened the scoring just before half time, San Antonio pulled even mid-way through the second half on a great header from Roderick Epps. Neither club would score again, even after 30 minutes of extra time, setting the stage for an Orange County victory after a penalty shootout.

National Women’s Soccer League

Following not one, but two upset victories in the semifinal round of the NWSL Playoffs, Washington Spirit and Chicago Red Stars faced off in Louisville for the NWSL crown.

Red Stars were issued a tough blow early, losing captain Vanessa DiBernardo to injury in just the 12th minute. A back and forth first half would go their way just before the break, however, as Chicago would break the scoreless tie with a stoppage time goal from Rachel Hill. Washington shifted the momentum in their direction as the half progressed, and would eventually pull even on a penalty in the 67th minute.

The 1-1 score would keep through 90 minutes, sending the contest to extra time. After a pair of great chances were stopped by Chicago, Washington forward Kelley O’Hara headed in the eventual game-winner in the 97th minute, securing the D.C. club their first-ever NWSL title.

Major League Soccer- Round One

The 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs officially kicked off over the weekend, with eight clubs battling for spots in the Conference semifinal round.

Back east, NYCFC took down Atlanta United to secure a trip to New England, where they’ll battle Bruce Arena’s squad that’s taken just one loss since August. Philadelphia Union took a thrilling 1-0 victory over New York Red Bulls, claiming the win on a Jakob Glesnes banger from 25 yards out in the 123rd minute. They’ll take on the winner of Nashville and Orlando this coming Sunday.

Up north, Seattle will battle Real Salt Lake for a spot in the second round after their Decision Day results shook up the Western Conference Standings. The victor will take on Sporting KC, who took care of business against Vancouver Saturday behind two first half scores and some 60th minute insurance from Graham Zusi’s first goal of the season.

What to Watch Across the USL and Beyond

It may be getting colder outside, but the postseason competition is heating up across the leagues. Home field advantage proved key in the USL Conference Semifinals, with all four home clubs advancing to the next round. MLS playoffs kickoff after a two-week hiatus for international play, and the NWSL season wraps up with two teams looking for their first league championship.

USL – Conference Finals

Orange County SC v San Antonio FC – Saturday, Nov. 20 at 7:00 p.m. PT

The two Western Conference clubs meetup for the first time this season, both looking for their first USL Championship Final berth.

Orange County advances to its second-ever Conference Final after besting Oakland Roots in a 6-5 penalty shootout after the California clubs played to a 0-0 draw. After each side converted their five opening penalties, OC goalkeeper Patrick Rakovsky came up huge with a diving save. The shootout almost continued when a Ronadlo Damus shot was saved by Oakland goalkeeper Paul Blanchette, but the penalty was replayed when the assistant referee ruled that the keeper left his line early—and the Haitian scored on his second attempt.

San Antonio FC heads into its first appearance in the Western Conference Final following a 3-1win over Rio Grande Valley FC, with forward Santiago Patiño’s brace leading the way in SAFC’s first victory in the South Texas Derby. The San Antonio defense remained strong, allowing just three shots on target.

The big question for Saturday – what will come out on top: San Antonio’s high-pressure offense or Orange County’s strong goalkeeping? This season, SAFC has posted the second-most shots in the Western Conference, while OC keeper Rakovsky has only conceded two goals since the beginning of October and posted two clean sheets in as many postseason matches.

Tampa Bay Rowdies v Louisville City FC – Saturday, Nov. 20 at 4:30 p.m. PT

Tampa Bay will play host to Louisville in a rematch of last year’s Eastern Conference final.

The Rowdies, who entered the postseason with the league’s best record, advances after a 1-0 victory over Birmingham Legion FC last weekend. Following a scoreless first half, forward Yann Ekraput put the 2020 USL Co-Champions ahead in the 57th minute off a cross from Conner Antley. LouCity heads into Saturday’s match following a game-winning 89th minute penalty from Cameron Lancaster in last weekend’s 1-0 win against Charlotte Independence.

Similar to the Western Conference matchup, it’ll be a battle of a high-scoring offense and a stingy defense. LouCity heads into the weekend second in the league in scoring, while Tampa Bay has conceded the fewest goals. The visitors will be looking for payback following last year’s postseason faceoff when the Rowdies claimed a 2-1 victory on the road.

MLS Cup Playoffs – ROUND 1

View the full bracket

Nashville SC v Orlando City SC – Tuesday, Nov. 23 at 5:00 p.m. PT

Despite being separated three positions in the playoff standings, these Eastern Conference clubs have been pretty even throughout the season.

All three of their meetings ended in a draw, and they finished the regular season separated by only three points. Nashville will be looking to capitalize on their home field advantage and add to their streak of unbeaten home matches, dating back to November 4, 2020.

Orlando City punched its ticket to the postseason with a 2-0 win over CF Montreal on Decision Day. While Daryl Dike has delivered in the final stretch of the season—scoring seven goals in nine games—the Lions will need star players Nani and Mauricio Pereyra to step up, as many feel that their lack of quality and leadership was what led to the club’s playoff elimination last season.

Nashville secured the third seed in the Eastern Conference with a 1-1 draw against New York Red Bulls in their final regular season match – becoming the fourth team to clinch a playoff berth in their first two seasons as an MLS franchise. The Boys in Gold have been a formidable opponent this season – posting the fewest losses and tied for fewest goals allowed across the league.

NWSL – Championship

Washington Spirit v Chicago Red Stars – Saturday, Nov. 20 at 9:00 a.m. PT

Third seed Washington and fourth seed Chicago will both be seeking their first NWSL Championship title at Lynn Family Stadium (Louisville, KY) this Saturday—marking the first time that neither the #1 nor #2 seed have reached the final.

The Spirit secured their final berth with a come-from-behind win over OL Reign this past weekend. Reign took an early lead, but rookie Trinity Rodman pulled the Spirit even before halftime and Ashley Sanchez found the back of the net for the go-ahead goal in the 68th minute.

Red Stars punched their way to the final with an on-the-road upset of top-seeded Portland Thorns – a 2-0 win. Things weren’t looking good when former USWNT member Kealia Watt went down with an injury midway through the first half, but it was her replacement, Katie Johnson, who put the first goal on the board less than 10 minutes later. Sarah Woldmoe sealed the win in the 59th minute.

Saturday’s final will feature several USWNT players – Kelley O’Hara, Andi Sullivan, Emily Sonnett, Ashley Sanchez, and Ashley Hatch for Washington; and Tierna Davidson, Alyssa Naeher, Casey Krueger, Julie Ertz, and Mallory Pugh for Chicago.

Around the Leagues: Eight Nations Punch Tickets to Qatar

Qualification for next November’s World Cup in Qatar resumed this past weekend, delivering a number of exciting international matchups. Eight nations secured their trip to Qatar between Thursday and Sunday for the 2022 tournament.

In the midst of international play, USL and NWSL playoff competitions continued over the weekend, moving each competition closer to crowning a 2021 champions.

USL Championship

The Conference Semifinal round went on without a hitch over the weekend, delivering yet another round of great postseason competition.

Saturday’s festivities saw Orange County SC advance with a penalty shootout win over division rival Oakland in the two squads’ fifth meeting of the season. The Southern California side will take on San Antonio FC, who emerged victorious over Rio Grande Valley, for the Western Conference title and a berth in the USL Championship final for the first time.

In the East, Tampa Bay took a 1-0 victory over Birmingham, securing their spot in the semifinal round for the second straight year. They’ll battle with Louisville, who advanced past Charlotte on an 89th minute score from Cameron Lancaster, for the Eastern Conference Crown.

World Cup Qualifying

The weekend delivered some fantastic international competition worldwide. Here in the U.S., a 2-0 victory for the USMNT over its southern rival in Mexico took center stage. After a scoreless first half, Greg Berhalter’s squad took the lead on a Christian Pulisic tiebreaker in the 74th minute before doubling their advantage in the 85th for their third win over Mexico this year- a feat unaccomplished by either side since 1937.

Abroad, eight nations claimed a spot in next year’s festivities. Brazil continued their streak of appearances in every tournament, clinching a top-4 finish in CONMEBOL play on Thursday. In Europe, France, Belgium, Croatia, Spain, Serbia, England, and Switzerland all took victories to claim the top spot in their respective groups, and a berth to next year’s tournament in Qatar.

National Women’s Soccer League

The matchup for the 2021 NWSL Final is set.

The semifinal round came to a close in the Pacific Northwest after two upset results. First and second place Portland and OL Reign each were outdone by Chicago and Washington, setting the stage for the league’s eighth champion to be crowned on November 20 in Louisville.

Saturday’s final will be the fourth meeting between the two squads this season- and both are entering on a win streak of at least five. Red Stars had the best of the season’s series throughout the summer, claiming seven points in three matches against their D.C. opponents.

What to Watch Across the USL: Conference Semifinals

The first round of the USL Championship playoffs did not disappoint. A pair of big upsets and a few tightly contested matches gave fans everything they could possibly want, setting the stage for this weekend’s Conference Semifinals.

Pacific Division Update

Two of the Pacific Division’s squads were unable to stave off elimination in the Conference Quarterfinal round. San Diego fell 2-0 to San Antonio, while Phoenix was taken down by Rio Grande Valley in an exciting penalty shootout after a 3-3 result.

Oakland and Orange County both knocked off formidable squads in El Paso and Colorado Springs, and as a result will face each other for the fifth time this season in a battle to reach the Western Conference final. Kickoff is set for 7:00 PM from Irvine on Saturday, November 14.

Tampa Bay Rowdies v Birmingham Legion FC – Saturday, Nov. 13 at 4:00PM PT

Two of the Eastern Conference’s best will face off for the first time this season.

Tampa Bay will play host in the fixture, and are coming off a dominating 6-2 victory over FC Tulsa that saw them explode in the second half with 14 shots and five scores. One of the league’s best all season long, they’ll need to maintain that offensive form to keep ahead of a Birmingham side that possesses similar attacking prowess.

Despite advancing by virtue of COVID-19 protocols, Birmingham Legion is in no way inferior. Statistically, they’ve matched up pretty evenly with the Rowdies at nearly every turn, finishing the regular season just behind Tampa Bay in scoring, conversion rate, and shots taken. Legion also conceded fewer scores on the year than every team in USL but one- the Tampa Bay squad they will face off with on Saturday.

Louisville City FC v Charlotte Independence – Saturday, Nov. 13 at 4:30PM PT

A pair of white-hot clubs will meet in Kentucky, each coming off strong first round victories.

After taking the Central Division crown in exciting fashion, Louisville kept their good times rolling with a win over Miami in the Conference Quarterfinals. Their second consecutive clean sheet after shutting out Birmingham to close the regular season gives the club more defensive momentum than they’ve had all season.

Independence has been among the most efficient and disciplined teams in the league all year- they finished the regular season third in conversion rate. They will take to Louisville coming off their eighth straight match without a loss, a 3-1 win that saw them silence a confident Memphis team, looking to keep their streak of eight matches conceding one score or less intact.

San Antonio FC v Rio Grande Valley FC – Saturday, Nov. 13 at 6:00PM PT

A playoff meeting between division rivals will surely be worth watching when these two kick off in Texas.

San Antonio enters the contest following a 2-0 win over San Diego Loyal SC that saw them make the most of their opportunities. Despite being outshot and significantly out-possessed, two successful set piece opportunities put San Antonio over Landon Donovan’s men. Against RGV, continued excellence on defense- the club hasn’t allowed a goal since October 20- should give them an advantage in a matchup that proved tough on them in all four of their regular season contests.

The Toros will be riding a high into Saturday’s matchup. After going round for round with the league’s highest-scoring team, they emerged victorious in a penalty shootout to advance. Staying strong on the offensive end and taking advantage of any opportunity they get will be critical to pulling out a win, especially since every match between the two squads this season was decided by one score or less.

Around the Leagues: USA v Mexico Headlines Final 2021 Qualifiers

It was quite a week for football here in the U.S., as the USL Championship and NWSL both kicked off their postseason competitions with some exciting matches. MLS Decision Day delivered some historical and thrilling results as well, solidifying the 2021 playoff bracket.

Additionally, CONCACAF qualifiers for next year’s World Cup resume Friday for the final time this year. Two must-watch contests in Cincinnati and Edmonton could very well determine who enters 2022 in the top three spots.

USL Championship

It was an eventful week in USL, as the 16 postseason-bound clubs all took the field and delivered some stunning results.

In the Eastern Conference, Tampa Bay advanced with a dominant 6-2 victory over FC Tulsa. The Florida side will now host Birmingham Legion in the second round, who moved on after COVID-19 protocols canceled their first-round matchup with Pittsburgh Riverhounds.

Oakland Roots SC upset El Paso Locomotive on Saturday, taking a 1-0 win on the road. The Bay Area club will now head south to take on Orange County, who defeated Colorado Springs 1-0 on Saturday to advance, in the conference semifinals.

Rio Grande Valley FC shocked Western Conference leader Phoenix to move on to the second round. After the affair finished undecided in extra time, the two headed to penalties, where RGV emerged victorious. The Toros will move on to battle with San Antonio, who took down San Diego Loyal 2-0.

Charlotte Independence and Louisville City FC will battle for a spot in the Conference Finals after defeating Memphis 901 FC and The Miami FC.

Major League Soccer

Decision Day finalized the playoff picture in MLS over the weekend, allowing the battle for the league’s 26th champion to commence.

New England Revolution secured the MLS Supporters shield following the completion of the Regular Season, claiming 73 points- overtaking LAFC in 2019 for the highest ever point total in a season for an MLS side- to the tune of a 22-5-7 record. Bruce Arena’s squad will get a bye in the first round, before taking on the winner of New York City FC and Atlanta United.

Out west, Colorado Rapids edged out Seattle Sounders FC to take the Western Conference crown. The club’s 5-2 win over LAFC took advantage of a Seattle draw with Vancouver to give them a one-point advantage and a first round playoff bye.

Real Salt Lake claimed the final playoff spot in the west with a thrilling stoppage time game-winner from Damir Kreilach. The victory gave RSL the edge over LA Galaxy in total wins, eliminating the Southern California club by tiebreaker. Salt Lake will now take on Seattle for a spot in the conference semifinal.

National Women’s Soccer League

NWSL postseason play resumes this weekend after an exciting pair of matches opened the festivities.

Washington Spirit took a 1-0 win from North Carolina Courage on Saturday. After 90 minutes scoreless, the two clubs advanced to extra time, where golden boot winner Ashley Hatch bagged the lone score of the contest in the 113th minute. D.C. will now head west to take on OL Reign in the semifinals.

In Chicago, Red Stars took a 1-0 win of their own over NY/NJ Gotham FC. A 60th minute score from Mallory Pugh secured the victory for the hosts, sending them to Oregon to take on Portland Thorns.

World Cup Qualifying

The final set of World Cup Qualifying Matches this year will kick off this weekend when the U.S. takes on Mexico and Canada meets up with Costa Rica.

Come Friday, all eyes will be on the USMNT as they play host to Mexico in the first qualifier between the two countries in 2021. It will be an emotional evening in Cincinnati, as the meeting will also be their first since the Gold Cup Final in August.

Up north, Canada will host Costa Rica, who can move into the top three in CONCACAF with a win. Canada has yet to lose in qualifying matches in 2021, leaving them and Mexico as the only unbeaten teams in the table thus far.

Republic FC’s Luis Felipe takes October Goal of the Month

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – On Monday, the USL Championship announced that Luis Felipe’s October 2 score against Tacoma Defiance was voted the Fan’s Choice Goal of the Month for October.

Felipe’s left footed rocket from 35 yards out- his fourth score of the season- captured 30% of the vote, putting him ahead of Tampa Bay’s Joaquin Rivas to take home the honor. Alongside his 90% passing accuracy for the match, the strike also earned him a selection to the USL Championship Team of the Week Bench for Week 24.

This is the second consecutive Goal of the Month honor garnered by a Republic FC player, and the fourth nomination this season. Academy product Julian Chavez took home the award for his score against Las Vegas Lights FC on September 5.

What to Watch Across the USL: Conference Quarterfinals

After a regular season filled with plenty of phenomenal football and an exciting playoff race, the 2021 USL Championship Playoffs are here. 16 clubs will battle for the league crown between now and the end of November, with all of the action taking place on ESPN+.

Pacific Division Update

Following the final match day of the regular season, Phoenix, Orange County, San Diego, and Oakland all qualified to advance to postseason play. Orange County took their final match of the season to secure second place in the division, while Oakland, who needed a win and help from other clubs, took the fourth spot outright after a Tacoma draw and Los Angeles loss.

Entering knockout play, Phoenix will take on Rio Grande Valley FC, Orange County will duel with Colorado Springs, San Diego will take a visit to San Antonio, and Oakland will take on Mountain Division champion El Paso.

San Antonio FC v San Diego Loyal SC – Friday Nov. 6 at 6:00PM PT

Landon Donovan’s squad will take to Texas for a matchup between two fairly matched squads.

San Diego (3rd place in Pacific Division) will enter their first postseason contest with a tough task- getting their first win in nearly a month in a win-or-go home playoff game. Statistically, they are well-matched with San Antonio, with the two clubs both among the 13 teams to net 50 goals this season. A strong defensive performance will be key for Loyal SC, as they allowed eight scores in their final five matches of the regular season.

San Antonio FC will have a similarly tough task breaking down a Loyal SC squad that ranked among the USL’s best in passing accuracy and discipline this season. They’ll enter on a hot streak offensively- they averaged two scores per game through the season’s final month- and will be plenty comfortable playing their third straight contest on their home pitch.

Birmingham Legion FC v Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC – Sunday, Nov. 7 at 2:00PM PT

The two clubs enter Saturday’s matchup as even as it gets. Through 32 regular season matches, they finished tied in clean sheets, separated by just one in scoring, and three apart in goals conceded.

Birmingham had a tough weekend to close out the regular season, losing the Central Division crown in a tough 1-0 loss to Louisville City. However, the club will remain confident, as the defeat was their first in nearly two months. More offensive production from Neco Brett- who finished the regular season fifth in scoring- will be crucial to keep ahead of a Pittsburgh team that has been just as potent offensively.

Pittsburgh will take to Alabama as confident as any team in the postseason. They have yet to be defeated since October 2- one of just two losses for the club since mid-August- in part due to offensive excellence that saw them post 47 total shots in their final three matches this season.

Louisville City FC v The Miami FC – Saturday, Nov. 6 at 5:00PM PT

The Central Division Champion will play host to a South Florida side making their first-ever USL Playoff appearance.

Coming off a thrilling 1-0 win to take the Central Division crown from Birmingham, Louisville has all the momentum a club could want. A Cameron Lancaster hat trick against Memphis and an 82nd minute game-winner in Birmingham secured them two victories to close out the regular season, and returning to their home pitch will surely give them an advantage over a Miami team that has struggled some on the road this season.

Entering the match, Miami should have a great chance to slow down the league’s second highest scoring team. They’ve recorded two straight clean sheets and three in their last four contests, a defensive form that could result in more success. The challenge Louisville presents is no stranger to the South Florida club either- Miami has excelled against quality competition this season, dropping points just three times in nine matches against the clubs ahead of them in the Atlantic Division this season.

Luis Felipe Nominated for USL Goal of the Month

On Thursday, USL Championship announced that Luis Felipe’s 77th minute score from Republic FC’s October 2 victory over Tacoma Defiance has been nominated for USL Fans’ Choice Goal of the Month for October.

After fielding a cross from Emil Cuello, the Brazilian midfielder carried the ball into space before rocketing an uncontested shot from 35 yards out past the Tacoma goalkeeper, and into the top left corner. The strike, along with an impressive 90% passing accuracy, earned him USL Team of the Week Honors as well. He finished the season with five goals, tying his career-high for single-season scores.

This is the Republic FC’s fourth nomination for Goal of the Month this season, with 18-year-old Julian Chavez bringing home the trophy in October.