USL Week 14: Review, Preview and How to Watch
USL This Week: Two Advance in Open Cup, San Antonio Returns to Earth
Two USL clubs advanced to the 2017 US Open Cup Round of 16 to be played next week. FC Cincinnati defeated interstate rivals Columbus Crew SC (MLS), 1-0, before more than thirty thousand home side supporters. It was the second time FCC have defeated another Ohio-based squad in the tournament. They eliminated AFC Cleveland (NPSL) in FCC’s first Open Cup match on May 17.
Cincinnati now look to continue their run through the upper midwest when they host Chicago Fire (MLS) on June 28.
Sacramento Republic FC also advanced, defeating Real Salt Lake (MLS) at home, 4-0. Sacramento’s run through the tournament, coupled with the club’s 2 game win streak in league play make a good argument for their current status as “soon to be MLS-ified.” SR FC might find the going a bit tougher in the next round however. Sacramento must travel to the StubHub to meet LA Galaxy (MLS) next Wednesday. It will be the first road match of this year’s competition for the visitors from California’s capital.
The West May Have Already Been Won (maybe not)…
Sacramento’s in-league win streak has allowed them to make up a tiny sliver of ground on the USL’s Western Conference table last week. SR FC are currently in third place in the west, trailing both Real Monarchs of SLC and San Antonio FC.
Monarchs continued their ridiculous run unabated with another win this past Monday at home over Reno 1868. But San Antonio actually showed a human side. SA FC drew away to Oklahoma City on June 10 and actually conceding a goal at home to Tulsa a week later. San Antonio still won that second game, 3-1, but it was the first goal conceded by them since an April 25 match away to Seattle Sounders FC 2. (They won that one too.)
But the East is Wild!
In the USL Eastern Conference everything has lately become a lot tighter at the top of the table. Bethlehem Steel are making a good argument for being the hottest team in the conference having won 4 of their last 5. Current third place Tampa Bay Rowdies, while by no means being the coldest, have definitely slowed to a crawl. TBR have bookended a run of 4 draws with a pair of losses over their last 6 games. Conference leading Charleston Battery, meanwhile, have managed to post just 9 points over their own last 6.
The long and the short of it is that every team in the top half of the Eastern Conference table is still within striking distance as the halfway point of the season inches closer.
Here’s a couple of interesting matches coming up this weekend.
Rochester Rhinos (H) v. Orlando City B
Last Time Out: Rhinos defeated Ottawa Fury FC at home, 1-0, last Saturday. OCB lost away by the same score to the same team just three days later.
Players To Watch For: Rochester are almost as hot right now as are Bethlehem Steel. But not quite. Neither Rhinos nor Orlando’s Lions score a lot. The two played to a 1-1 draw at Orlando earlier this month. If he is available and draws the start, Orlando’s Hadji Barry usually makes the most of his time on the pitch. In goal for Rochester, Tomas Gomez has conceded just 7 times in 10 starts. He’s also managed 5 clean sheets including blanking an improving Fury last time out.
How To Watch: Click below for the live stream, Friday, June 23, 7:05p ET.
Portland Timbers 2 (H) v. Reno 1868 FC
Last Time Out: Portland T2 lost at home to Oklahoma City Energy FC, 1-3, nearly two weeks ago on June 16. Last Saturday Reno became the conference leaders’ latest victims, losing 1-2 away to Real Monarchs.
Players To Watch For: PT 2 have won only once in 14 tries thus far this season. They also hold both the worst goal differential and lowest point total of any team in either conference. That’s not good. All of which raises the question, does good offense promote good defending or is it the other way around? For this match, Reno bring Dane Kelly — USL’s top gun in 2017 — and the second best goals scored total currently in the league. PT 2 might want to try starting with defense. At least this week.
How To Watch: Click below for the live stream, Saturday, June 24, 9p ET.
Next: Seattle Sounders Look to Gold Cup For Help