The bracket for the 2016 USL Cup Playoffs was finalized on Sunday afternoon with 16 teams competing in the postseason, which kicks off next weekend with quarterfinals for the Western and Eastern Conferences.
Sacramento Republic FC will look to claim their second USL championship in three seasons as they kick off their postseason by hosting Orange County Blues FC on Saturday, Oct. 1 in a quarterfinal match at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are on sale at Ticketmaster.com.
The bracket for the 2016 USL Cup Playoffs was finalized on Sunday afternoon with 16 teams competing in the postseason, which kicks off next weekend with quarterfinals for the Western and Eastern Conferences.
Sacramento Republic FC will look to claim their second USL championship in three seasons as they kick off their postseason by hosting Orange County Blues FC on Saturday, Oct. 1 in a quarterfinal match at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are on sale at Ticketmaster.com.
The boys in Old Glory Red enter the playoffs as the No. 1 see in the West, with New York Rd Bulls II claiming the top spot in the East. Meanwhile, the Blues and Orlando City B claimed the eighth and final berths in their respective conferences during this week’s dramatic regular season finales.
The 2016 USL Cup will air live on ESPNU on Sunday, October 23 at 5 p.m. PT. Every other match of the 2016 USL Cup Playoffs will be available on the league’s Match Center, with updates from across the league also available via Twitter, Facebook, Vine and Instagram. Republic FC matches will also be streamed live at www.sacrepublicfc.com/matchday, with live updates available on Twitter.
The Western Conference saw numerous twists and turns on Saturday night as five teams fought for the final spot in the playoffs and the remaining postseason contenders battled for top seeds. In addition to Republic FC, the Swope Park Rangers Rio Grande Valley FC and Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC all earned home pitch advantaged for the conference quarterfinals. The Blues posted an impressive 4-0 victory over Switchbacks on Saturday evening, jumping past the Portland Timbers 2 on goal differential to clinch the final playoff berth.
Meanwhile in the East, Orlando earned a 2-0 win against Bethlehem Steel FC on Sunday afternoon to inch out Wilmington Hammerheads for the final postseason spot in the conference.
The No. 4-seed Rangers will host the No. 5-seed LA Galaxy II in the opening match of this season’s playoffs on Friday night at 5:30 p.m. PT, followed by No. 3-seed Switchbacks vs Whitecaps FC 2 at 7 p.m. PT.
On Saturday, defending USL champions Rochester Rhinos kick off a tripleheader of action on Saturday night in first match of the Eastern Conference action as the No. 4-seed Rhinos welcome the No. 5-seed Charlotte Independence to Rhinos Stadium for a 3:05 p.m. kickoff.
Next in the West, No. 2-seed Rio Grande Valley FC hosts No. 7-seed OKC Energy FC for a regional rivalry clash at 5:30 p.m.. No. 1 seed Republic FC wrap up the evening of USL playoff action as they host No. 8-seed Orange County Blues FC at Bonney Field at 7:30 p.m.
In the final day of quarterfinal action on Sunday, No. 1-seed New York Red Bulls II play host to No. Orlando City B while No. 3-seed FC Cincinnati hosts the No. 6-seed Charleston Battery at 1 p.m. The weekend’s action concludes that night as No. 2-seed Louisville City FC hosts No. 7-seed the Richmond Kickers at Louisville Slugger Field at 4 p.m.
The 2016 USL Cup Playoffs will continue with the conference semifinals over the weekend of Oct. 7-9, with the conference finals set to be played on the weekend of Oct. 14-16.
The boys in Old Glory Red enter the playoffs as the No. 1 see in the West, with New York Rd Bulls II claiming the top spot in the East. Meanwhile, the Blues and Orlando City B claimed the eighth and final berths in their respective conferences during this week’s dramatic regular season finales.
The 2016 USL Cup will air live on ESPNU on Sunday, October 23 at 5 p.m. PT. Every other match of the 2016 USL Cup Playoffs will be available on the league’s Match Center, with updates from across the league also available via Twitter, Facebook, Vine and Instagram. Republic FC matches will also be streamed live at www.sacrepublicfc.com/matchday, with live updates available on Twitter.
The Western Conference saw numerous twists and turns on Saturday night as five teams fought for the final spot in the playoffs and the remaining postseason contenders battled for top seeds. In addition to Republic FC, the Swope Park Rangers Rio Grande Valley FC and Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC all earned home pitch advantaged for the conference quarterfinals. The Blues posted an impressive 4-0 victory over Switchbacks on Saturday evening, jumping past the Portland Timbers 2 on goal differential to clinch the final playoff berth.
Meanwhile in the East, Orlando earned a 2-0 win against Bethlehem Steel FC on Sunday afternoon to inch out Wilmington Hammerheads for the final postseason spot in the conference.
The No. 4-seed Rangers will host the No. 5-seed LA Galaxy II in the opening match of this season’s playoffs on Friday night at 5:30 p.m. PT, followed by No. 3-seed Switchbacks vs Whitecaps FC 2 at 7 p.m. PT.
On Saturday, defending USL champions Rochester Rhinos kick off a tripleheader of action on Saturday night in first match of the Eastern Conference action as the No. 4-seed Rhinos welcome the No. 5-seed Charlotte Independence to Rhinos Stadium for a 3:05 p.m. kickoff.
Next in the West, No. 2-seed Rio Grande Valley FC hosts No. 7-seed OKC Energy FC for a regional rivalry clash at 5:30 p.m.. No. 1 seed Republic FC wrap up the evening of USL playoff action as they host No. 8-seed Orange County Blues FC at Bonney Field at 7:30 p.m.
In the final day of quarterfinal action on Sunday, No. 1-seed New York Red Bulls II play host to No. Orlando City B while No. 3-seed FC Cincinnati hosts the No. 6-seed Charleston Battery at 1 p.m. The weekend’s action concludes that night as No. 2-seed Louisville City FC hosts No. 7-seed the Richmond Kickers at Louisville Slugger Field at 4 p.m.
The 2016 USL Cup Playoffs will continue with the conference semifinals over the weekend of Oct. 7-9, with the conference finals set to be played on the weekend of Oct. 14-16.
QUARTERFINALS
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Friday, Sept. 30
No. 4 Swope Park Rangers vs. No. 5 LA Galaxy II, 5:30 p.m. PT
No. 3 Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC vs. No. 6 Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2, 7 p.m. PT
Saturday, Oct. 1
No. 2 Rio Grande Valley FC vs. No. 7 OKC Energy FC, 8:30 p.m. PT
No. 1 Sacramento Republic FC vs. No. 8 Orange County Blues FC, 10:30 p.m. PT.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Saturday, Oct. 1
No. 4 Rochester Rhinos vs. No. 5 Charlotte Independence, 3:05 p.m. PT
Sunday, Oct. 2
No. 1 New York Red Bulls II vs. No. 8 Wilmington Hammerheads FC/Orlando City B, 1 p.m. PT
No. 3 FC Cincinnati vs. No. 6 Charleston Battery, 1 p.m. PT
No. 2 Louisville City FC vs. No. 7 Richmond Kickers, 1 p.m. PT
QUARTERFINALS
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Friday, Sept. 30
No. 4 Swope Park Rangers vs. No. 5 LA Galaxy II, 5:30 p.m. PT
No. 3 Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC vs. No. 6 Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2, 7 p.m. PT
Saturday, Oct. 1
No. 2 Rio Grande Valley FC vs. No. 7 OKC Energy FC, 8:30 p.m. PT
No. 1 Sacramento Republic FC vs. No. 8 Orange County Blues FC, 10:30 p.m. PT.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Saturday, Oct. 1
No. 4 Rochester Rhinos vs. No. 5 Charlotte Independence, 3:05 p.m. PT
Sunday, Oct. 2
No. 1 New York Red Bulls II vs. No. 8 Wilmington Hammerheads FC/Orlando City B, 1 p.m. PT
No. 3 FC Cincinnati vs. No. 6 Charleston Battery, 1 p.m. PT
No. 2 Louisville City FC vs. No. 7 Richmond Kickers, 1 p.m. PT
CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS
To be played Oct. 7-9 at higher seed
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Republic FC/Orange County winner vs. Swope Park/Los Angeles winner
Rio Grande Valley/OKC winner vs. Colorado Springs/Vancouver winner
EASTERN CONFERENCE
New York/Orlando/Wilmington winner vs. Rochester/Charlotte winner
Louisville/Richmond winner vs. Cincinnati/Charleston winner
CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS
To be played Oct. 7-9 at higher seed
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Republic FC/Orange County winner vs. Swope Park/Los Angeles winner
Rio Grande Valley/OKC winner vs. Colorado Springs/Vancouver winner
EASTERN CONFERENCE
New York/Orlando/Wilmington winner vs. Rochester/Charlotte winner
Louisville/Richmond winner vs. Cincinnati/Charleston winner
CONFERENCE FINALS
To be played Oct. 14-16 at higher seed
Conference semifinal winners
CONFERENCE FINALS
To be played Oct. 14-16 at higher seed
Conference semifinal winners
2016 USL CUP
Sunday, Oct. 23
Eastern Conference champion vs. Western Conference champion, 5 p.m. ET (ESPNU)
2016 USL CUP
Sunday, Oct. 23
Eastern Conference champion vs. Western Conference champion, 5 p.m. ET (ESPNU)
