On Saturday, the USL Championship Playoffs will get underway, and you’ll catch choose video games on CBS Sports activities, and but once more, Danny Cruz’s Louisville Metropolis FC would be the crew to beat as they stake their declare to be among the best groups in USL historical past. After huge departures through the offseason of Elijah Wynder and Wilson Harris, Louisville did what they do greatest and reloaded the squad to return again higher. Louisville have set a league file with 73 factors in solely 30 video games en path to profitable the Gamers’ Defend for the second consecutive season.
Whereas having the most effective file within the league did not result in an look within the USL Cup remaining, issues really feel totally different this season. That they had an unbeaten file at residence behind a balanced assault led by Phillip Goodrum’s 13 objectives and Taylor Davila’s 9 assists. Solely permitting eight objectives of their residence matches, Lynn Household Stadium was actually a fortress, they usually will not have to go away the confines of residence for the complete playoff run.
Cruz, 35, additionally turned the youngest supervisor to file 100 league victories, doing so in solely his 169th sport in cost, they usually ended the season on a 16-match unbeaten streak. No crew has completed what Louisville did this season through the expanded 30-game season, and something however a championship could be a shock at this stage.
However whereas I’ve already given my champion, what is the path to get there? You may as well create your own bracket on the USL website here.
Convention quarterfinal schedule
All instances Japanese
Saturday, Nov. 1
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC vs. Hartford Athletic | 6:30 p.m. | ESPN+
Louisville Metropolis FC vs. Detroit Metropolis SC | 7 p.m. | CBS Sports activities Golazo Community
North Carolina FC vs. Loudoun United FC | 7:30 p.m.| ESPN+
FC Tulsa vs. Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC | 8 p.m. | ESPN+
New Mexico United vs. San Antonio FC | 9 p.m. | ESPN+
El Paso Locomotive FC vs. Phoenix Rising FC | 9:30 p.m. | ESPN+
Sunday, Nov. 2
Charleston Battery | 2 p.m. | CBS Sports Network
Sacramento Republic FC vs. Orange County SC | 9 p.m. | CBS Sports Network
Chuck Sales space’s bracket
Courtesy of USL
Convention quarterfinals
Within the west, issues start with FC Tulsa persevering with their sturdy season with a house victory, however then issues get dicey. Phoenix ended the season on a robust run, solely shedding one among their final 10 matches, and whereas there have been loads of attracts sprinkled in, they’re going to have sufficient in them to maneuver out of the primary spherical. New Mexico and Sacramento may have no points with their residence matches.
Within the east, the primary spherical will even go largely chalk with Louisville profitable their first match, however Ryan Martin’s Loudoun United are poised to spring an upset, making the playoffs for the primary time in membership historical past as they take down North Carolina FC. In Pittsburgh, the Riverhounds are nonetheless led by interim supervisor Rob Vincent as Bob Lilley remains to be on administrative depart. Underneath Vincent, the Riverhounds went unbeaten of their three matches to shut the common season and may take that momentum into the playoffs.
Quarterfinals
To the shock of nobody, Pittsburgh’s run will finish with a visit to Lynn Household Stadium, whereas Charleston will even care for Loudon United at residence. The later rounds are when chalk can rise to the highest, however that is not at all times the case as New Mexico United take out Sacramento, and Phoenix upset the quantity one-seeded Tulsa FC.
Semifinals
Phoenix go to New Mexico after the quarterfinal upset of top-seeded Tulsa FC, and the guests experience the fan assist to a spot within the USL remaining, whereas the east sees the highest two seeds battle. Charleston will put up a battle, seeking to fend off Louisville Metropolis, nevertheless it will not be sufficient with Louisville making the USL remaining for the primary time since 2022, the place they misplaced to San Antonio.
Ultimate
It feels bizarre that Louisville have not gained a USL Championship remaining since 2018, however that is the season that the drought involves an finish. They are going to host the ultimate for the third time, with Louisville taking down New Mexico United so as to add to Cruz’s rising legacy.
