USL Week 9: League Blitzes 2d Round of Open Cup
Sixteen USL teams swarmed into the 3d round of the US Open Cup last week. MLS sides wait in the wings however with the top-flight league set to enter in Round 4. Meanwhile all of the added minutes played by conference leaders might be just the thing to give some mid-table clubs an opportunity to gain ground in league play.
Here’s a closer look at a couple of this weekend’s match-ups which could give one or more teams exactly that chance.
Rio Grande Valley FC (H) v. LA Galaxy II
Last Time Out: San Antonio continue to set a torrid pace at the top of the Western Conference table. The club remains undefeated in 2017 with 23 points on 9 matches played. RGV sit 10 points off that pace. LAG II are more than 15 points behind. Last week RGV downed visiting Swope Park Rangers, 1-0, while LAG II were winners away to New York Red Bulls II, 2-1.
Players To Watch For: LAG II currently share worst goal differential in the entire league with Portland Timers 2. Manager Mike Munõz’ official team roster lists quite a few keepers. Five total. He needs to find one that his team can count on. Soon.
RGV have been streaking of late winning 4 of their last 5. The team have conceded only 1 goal over that same stretch. Their 2 rostered keepers, Borja Angloitia and Calle Brown, have each registered a shutout in the last two games. Two keepers, two shutouts, two wins. That added to offensive production coming from across the entire field is their winning combination.
How To Watch: Click below for the live stream, 8:30p, ET, May 20, 2017.
FC Cincinnati (H) v. Bethlehem Steel FC
Last Time Out: Bethlehem traveled to Toronto FC II and came away with the win, 1-0. FC Cincinnati lost at home to Orlando City B, 0-2.
Players To Watch For: FCC’s Djiby Fall is one of the league leaders in goals scored with 6 for the season. But 4 of those came in just one match, a 4-0 victory over Saint Louis FC. He did not score in an earlier match between Cincinnati and Bethlehem, an 0-2 loss on April 9. BS FC’s Seku Conneh accounted for all of the scoring in that game.
The two clubs also played again on April 29. Bethlehem were again the home side and the winners, 1-0. The two teams meet this weekend in Cincinnati for the last scheduled match between them for this year. Third time lucky for FCC?
How To Watch: Click below for the live stream, 7pm, ET, May 20, 2017.
Next: US Open Cup Round 2 Review
…and ICYMI: USL League Office Enjoyed a “Royal Visit” from Bruce Arena
The once and future head coach of the USMNT, Bruce Arena, visited south Florida this past week to tout this summer’s CONCACAF Gold Cup tournament. While there he stood in front of a USL logo and said some nice things about the league. Check it out below.