League News

Midfielder Luis Felipe Earns Team of the Week Honors

Sacramento, Calif. – On Tuesday, the USL Championship announced Republic FC's Luis Felipe was named to the Week 24 Team of the Week Bench for his performance in the Club’s 3-1 win over Tacoma Defiance.

Sacramento, Calif. – On Tuesday, the USL Championship announced Republic FC’s Luis Felipe was named to the Week 24 Team of the Week Bench for his performance in the Club’s 3-1 win over Tacoma Defiance.

The midfielder finished the match with 90% passing accuracy for the contest, while winning 72% of his duels. He also netted his fourth score of the season- the tenth of his career in USL Championship competition- in the 77th minute. After fielding the ball in space from an Emil Cuello cross, he rocketed a spectacular shot into the top right corner from 35 yards out to give Sacramento some insurance late.

This is Felipe’s fourth Team of the Week Selection this season, and third to Team of the Week Bench. He last earned the honor following a game-winning goal for Republic FC on September 5 against Las Vegas Lights FC.

Luis’ goal was also nominated for USL Championship Fans’ Choice Goal of the Week for Week 24. Voting is open now at USLChampionship.com and runs through Thursday, October 7 at 9:00 a.m. PT.

Republic FC is back in action tomorrow, October 6 when the club takes to the Bay Area for the season’s final showdown with NorCal rival Oakland Roots SC. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m. from Laney College, and the match will be streamed live on ESPN+.

Luis’ goal was also nominated for USL Championship Fans’ Choice Goal of the Week for Week 24. Voting is open now at USLChampionship.com and runs through Thursday, October 7 at 9:00 a.m. PT.

Around the Leagues: Excitement Runs Rampant in the Global Game

The U.S. Men’s National Team is one week closer to kicking off their October Octagonal schedule, and the exhilaration in the Atlantic Division continues to match that of the Pacific Division in the USL Championship. Merseyside stole the limelight in the Premier League over the weekend, and the Pacific Northwest clubs of Major League Soccer once again made statements to the rest of the league with the regular season winding down.

USL Championship

Late goals out West were both a blessing and a curse over the weekend. Oakland Roots SC won the possession battle, but dropped crucial points on Saturday at Laney College after conceding a late equalizer to Las Vegas Lights FC. In the Mountain Division, Hadji Barry leveled late for Colorado Springs against El Paso Locomotive FC at Weidner Field to help Switchbacks FC move up to second in the table.

USL Championship

Miami FC’s 3-2 comeback win over Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC that saw two scores in the last 10 minutes helped the Florida side pull level with Pittsburgh on points in the Atlantic Division, while Charlotte’s 5-1 win over Loudoun United FC made the Atlantic Division a must-follow for the remaining four weeks of the season.

Memphis 901 FC’s unbeaten streak ran to four with a timely 3-0 win at FC Tulsa that kept the club’s hopes of a first postseason berth alive. Laurent Kissiedou scored twice for Memphis in the win.

CONCACAF World Cup Qualifiers

The United States Men’s National Team arrived in Austin ahead of their first of three October matchups in CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying. The Stars and Stripes will open up against Jamaica on Thursday, October 7 from Q2 Stadium in the Texas state capital.

Gregg Berhalter’s USMNT has a quick turnaround after Thursday’s showdown with the Reggae Boyz, traveling to Panama for the second leg of October play before hosting Costa Rica to close out the month at Columbus’ Lower.com Field.

CONCACAF World Cup Qualifiers

Premier League

The Merseyside clubs of the Premier League stole the show in the seventh matchweek of England’s men’s topflight.

Liverpool and Manchester City’s 2-2 draw was a back-and-forth affair that included a world-class goal from Mo Salah in the 76th minute, but Kevin De Bruyne made sure Man City didn’t leave empty-handed with an equalizer five minutes later. In Manchester, Andros Townsend’s goal in the 65th minute helped Everton steal a point from Old Trafford.

Brentford’s ascent up the Premier League table continued Sunday with a 2-1 win over West Ham, while Tottenham picked up its first league win since August 29 after downing Aston Villa 2-1 on an own goal that sealed the win in the 71st minute.

Premier League

The Merseyside clubs of the Premier League stole the show in the seventh matchweek of England’s men’s topflight.

MLS

Portland’s 1-0 win over Inter Miami on Sunday ran PTFC’s unbeaten streak to eight games, while the Seattle Sounders made a statement with a 3-0 win over the Colorado Rapids that kept Brian Schmetzer’s club at the top of the Western Conference.

Montreal Impact snapped a two-game losing streak and jumped over the playoff line after two goals from Romell Quioto carried the Impact to a 2-1 win over Atlanta United, and New York Red Bulls grabbed a critical three points for their playoff hopes after a 1-0 win over FC Cincinnati on a goal from Andrew Gutman in the 73rd minute.

MLS

Vote Now: Luis Felipe’s 77th Minute Score Nominated for Goal of the Week

SACRAMENTO, California (October 4, 2021) – Luis Felipe’s 77th minute score from Saturday’s 3-1 victory over Tacoma Defiance has been nominated for USL Fan’s Choice Goal of the Week for Week 24. Voting is open now and runs through Thursday, October 7 at 9:00 a.m. PT at USLChampionship.com.

After fielding a cross from Emil Cuello, the midfielder carried the ball into space before rocketing an uncontested shot from 30+ yards out past Tacoma goalkeeper Christian Herrera and into the top left corner. The spectacular score was his fourth of the season, and his 10th career goal in USL Championship competition.

This is Luis’ second nomination for Goal of the Week in 2021. He previously secured the honor in Week 15 following Republic FC’s 3-1 win over New York Red Bulls II on July 31st. Saturday’s goal is the sixth by a Republic FC player nominated for Goal of the Week this season, and first since JuJu Chavez took home the honor with following 88thminute score against Las Vegas Lights FC on September 5.

Republic FC is back in action this week, taking to the Bay Area for a meeting with Oakland Roots SC on Wednesday. Kickoff is set for 7:00PM from Laney College and the match will be broadcast live on ESPN+.

What to Watch Across the USL Championship: Week 24

Playoff positioning will take on a more prominent role in Week 24 across the USL Championship. While some postseason tickets may be all but booked, home-field advantage and a higher playoff seed is very much still in play.

Pacific Division

Orange County SC secured its second win in three matches with a 2-1 result over Oakland Roots SC, dropping the East Bay side down the table. LA Galaxy II climbed two posts with its third straight win on Wednesday, a 3-0 result over Phoenix Rising FC that now has Los Dos sitting at 32 points with 7 matches remaning. Sacramento, Oakland and Tacoma remain in the hunt for the division’s top four slots, with a matchup against each opponent coming in the next six days.

Miami FC vs. Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC

Miami dropped three points last weekend to Charlotte before taking their frustrations out on Loudoun United in a 6-1 midweek fixture. Christian François, who has scored in both previous meetings this year with Riverhounds SC, recorded his second brace in four matches in the win over Loudoun. The Florida side can move into second in the Atlantic Division – and more imprtantly, a home-field advantage situation – with three points against Pittsburgh this weekend.

Pittsburgh is looking for its first win since September 11 after dropping a 1-0 contest to Charlotte and salvaging a point from Charleston in a physical 3-3 affair thanks to Alex Dixon’s equalizer in the 87th minute. Three points for the Hounds can push them over the 50-point plateau for the third time in four years. Pittsburgh and Miami have combined for 89 goals this season.

Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC vs. El Paso Locomotive FC

El Paso wasn’t able to push a win over the line in Austin with a late equalizer by Bold FC, but Locomotive FC redeemed themselves with a 1-0 win over Real Monarchs over the weekend. Now unbeaten in its last five matches, El Paso faces a clash of the titans in the Mountain Division with a Saturday kickoff against one of the league’s most potent offenses in Colorado Springs.

Switchbacks FC is also undefeated in its last five outings after a 3-1 win over Austin this past Saturday, and doing so without Michee Ngalina in the Starting XI means the Colorado side’s attack won’t be too depleted down the stretch. This weekend’s test against an El Paso defense with three clean sheets in its last four matches is a must-win, though, if Switchbacks wants to gain ground on the top spot in the Mountain Division.

FC Tulsa vs. Memphis 901 FC

Kyle Murphy’s strike in the 31st minute against Indy Eleven was all Memphis needed to stay afloat in the Central Division race before a 1-1 draw with Louisville City FC moved 901 FC closer to the playoff line. Murphy bagged the game’s first goal against LouCity as well.

Murphy has scored in both meetings with Tulsa this year, and a win in Oklahoma can put 901 FC level on points with fourth-place OKC Energy FC.

A draw against Sporting Kansas City II may have hurt Tulsa’s chance at hosting in the postseason, but a good showing this weekend is still vital for a side looking for table separation and its first win since September 8.

Murphy has scored in both meetings with Tulsa this year, and a win in Oklahoma can put 901 FC level on points with fourth-place OKC Energy FC.

Around the Leagues: Domestic, International Competition Creates Fireworks

Fall competition has once again taken the beautiful game by storm. While World Cup Qualifiers are set to resume for the United States Men’s National Team, playoff pictures are tightening up across MLS, the NWSL and the USL Championship. Across the pond, action is heating up in the Premier League as Brentford and Arsenal are making noise in England’s topflight.

USL Championship

Phoenix Rising FC became the first team to clinch a spot in the 2021 USL Championship postseason with a 2-1 win at Tacoma Defiance on Saturday. Santi Moar provided his third game-winner in the last six games with a 90th-minute winner against the Pacific Northwest side to continue his six-game scoring streak.

Elsewhere in the Pacific Division, Orange County SC eased pressure with a 2-1 win at Oakland Roots SC on Saturday. Chris Wehan made game-winning magic of his own for New Mexico United, giving The Black and Yellow a much-needed 1-0 road win over San Antonio FC. Wehan bagged his second straight game winner over the weekend to give the Mountain Division playoff hopefuls three wins in its last five games as a possible third consecutive postseason appearance approaches.

Golden Boot frontrunner Hadji Barry added to his tally in Switchbacks FC’s 3-1 win over Austin Bold FC on Saturday, helping Colorado Springs put a stop to Bold FC’s four-game unbeaten run. Barry’s score against the Texas side gave him 24 goals on the year, one shy of Cameron Lancaster’s record-setting 25 in 2018.

OKC Energy jumped over the playoff line over the weekend with a 2-0 win over Indy Eleven, their first victory since September 1. After the postponement of the two sides’ July 10 meeting at Taft Stadium, OKC and Indy will face off again on Wednesday.

USL Championship

CONCACAF World Cup Qualifiers

The United States Men’s National Team returns to CONCACAF World Cup Qualifier action with three October matches, including two on U.S. soil. The USMNT’s home games will take place at two of Major League Soccer’s newest crown jewels in Austin FC’s Q2 Stadium and Columbus Crew’s Lower.com Field.

September’s slate for the USMNT began on frustrating terms with back-to-back draws against El Salvador and Canada before Gregg Berhalter’s side broke through for a 4-1 win in Honduras to close out the month. Fans may remember Honduras going ahead 1-0 early, but the more favorable moment of that night victory was Ricardo Pepi’s header in the 75th minute – the FC Dallas homegrown’s first international score – that broke a 1-1 deadlock and led the United States to pour it on from there.

The Octagonal calendar has now turned to October, where the Stars and Stripes face three new opponents in Jamaica (October 7 in Austin), Panama (October 10 in Panama) and Costa Rica (October 13 in Columbus).

This will be the USMNT’s third game against the Reggae Boyz in 2021 after taking the 1-0 win in the Gold Cup quarterfinals on Matthew Hoppe’s 83rd-minute goal at AT&T Stadium. After traveling to Panama for the second leg of the Octagon’s October slate, the USMNT will return home to face Costa Rica at the home of the Columbus Crew.

CONCACAF World Cup Qualifiers

Premier League

Brentford’s first topflight season in 74 years is shaping up to be must-see entertainment. In an instant classic on Saturday at Brentford Community Stadium, the Bees erased a second one-goal deficit after Yoane Wissa’s 82nd-minute equalizer to earn a 3-3 draw with UEFA Champions League contenders Liverpool.

The Bees were not the only London side to turn heads this weekend.

After being on opposite sides of the Premier League table on August 29, a revamped Arsenal took bragging rights in the first North London Derby of the season on Sunday with a 3-1 win at the Emirates Stadium. The statement win from Mikel Arteta’s side signified a drastic changing of the guard in north London, as the Gunners surpassed Spurs in the Premier League table.

Manchester City pulled level with Chelsea in the table after to a 1-0 win over the Blues on Saturday, while Aston Villa stunned Manchester United after Bruno Fernandes missed a penalty in stoppage time. Everton bounced back from last week’s loss to the Villains with a 2-0 win over Norwich City at Goodison Park on Saturday.

Monday saw the return of the M23 Derby between Crystal Palace and Brighton & Hove Albion with no shortage of dramatics. Wilfried Zaha converted from the spot in first half stoppage time for Palace, but Brighton’s Neal Maupay equalized in the 95th minute to steal a point.

Premier League

The Bees were not the only London side to turn heads this weekend.

Major League Soccer

The Pacific Northwest stole the show in the men’s domestic topflight this weekend.

A top-of-the-table clash saw Seattle upstage Sporting Kansas City to take hold of the top spot in the Western Conference table. In the Rose City meanwhile, the Portland Timbers put a hurt on Real Salt Lake with a 6-1 score line. Vancouver Whitecaps picked up a 1-0 win on Saturday, and thanks to a San Jose win over LAFC, all three clubs are now deadlocked at 33 points – three outside the playoff line – with a little over a month remaining in the regular season.

Kacper Przybylko’s goal in the 70th minute helped Philadelphia cool off Atlanta United in the Eastern Conference, as the Union and Portland now move into first-round bye positioning with top-four spots.

Minnesota United and D.C. United are the newest members of this year’s playoff picture after respective wins over the Houston Dynamo and FC Cincinnati. D.C.’s win over the Queen City side was the final game at the helm for FCC boss Jaap Stam.

Austin FC secured a morale-boosting win over the Los Angeles Galaxy thanks to two milestone goals. Moussa Djitté scored his first MLS goal, while Orrin McKinzie Gaines became the first Austin native to score for the club.

Major League Soccer

The Pacific Northwest stole the show in the men’s domestic topflight this weekend.

NWSL

Weekend victories from the Houston Dash and Washington Spirit mean the two clubs are still level with 26 points at identical 7-7-5 records for the league’s sixth playoff spot. It was both sides’ first NWSL wins since August.

Rachel Hill’s game winner in the 65th minute pushed Chicago Red Stars’ unbeaten streak to five with a 2-1 home win over Portland, while Pacific Northwest rival OL Reign secured a 3-0 win over Orlando Pride to gain ground on the Thorns’ first-place spot and the NWSL Shield.

Gotham FC stole three points from the North Carolina Courage for the club’s first win since July 25, meaning spots three through eight in the league table are now separated by just four points with five weeks remaining in the regular season.

NWSL

What to Watch Across the USL Championship: Week 23

Momentum will play a big part across the USL Championship this weekend with clubs looking to extend winning streaks and snap losing streaks. A historic scoreless run is primed to keep going in Tampa Bay while the Pacific Division continues to toss and turn with results that can change the trajectory of a club’s postseason fate.

Pacific Division Update

A five-game winning streak for Phoenix Rising FC can stretch to six with three points on Saturday at Tacoma. Meanwhile, the Defiance will try to snap a four-game winless streak after falling to the Indomitable Club on Wednesday in Washington. Oakland Roots SC’s climb through the Pacific Division table continued Wednesday with a home win over San Diego Loyal SC, and the East Bay side now sits fourth in the division ahead of Saturday’s match at Orange County SC.

Pacific Division Update

Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC vs. Austin Bold FC

What started out as consecutive wins for the first time all season for Austin Bold FC has quickly turned into a potential four-game unbeaten streak after a 1-0 win at FC Tulsa over the weekend and a 2-2 draw with El Paso on Wednesday. Saturday is Colorado’s fourth straight game against a Texas club after draws with RGV Toros and El Paso, followed by a win over RGV this past weekend.

An Austin win can put Colorado on its heels with just two points separating the sides, while a win or draw for Switchbacks FC will have them solely in second place in the Mountain Division.

Colorado has the second-highest goal total in the Western Conference, but Austin has conceded the third-fewest goals in the conference. Hadji Barry leads the west with 23 goals, while on the other sideline, Austin’s Elliot Panicco paces the Western Conference with nine clean sheets.

Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC vs. Austin Bold FC

An Austin win can put Colorado on its heels with just two points separating the sides, while a win or draw for Switchbacks FC will have them solely in second place in the Mountain Division.

Hartford Athletic vs. Tampa Bay Rowdies

A much-needed midweek win over Real Monarchs snapped a five-game losing streak to keep Hartford in the Atlantic Division playoff picture, but now, their first of back-to-back home games against divisional opponents will be the litmus test the Connecticut side must pass to cross over the playoff line. Juan Obregón Jr. will play a big role in Saturday’s matchup after scoring three goals in his last five games.

Meanwhile, Tampa Bay’s USL Championship record shutout streak currently stands at 801 minutes. The Florida club is riding six straight wins, eight straight clean sheets and is unbeaten in its last nine matches.

Hartford Athletic vs. Tampa Bay Rowdies

Indy Eleven vs. OKC Energy FC

Energy FC picked up a point against Birmingham Legion FC last weekend with 50 percent possession, their most since August 14 against this Sunday’s opponent in Indy Eleven. OKC remains two points above the playoff line despite being winless in their last three matches.

Indy Eleven has signed 2018 USL Championship MVP Emmanuel Ledesma to beef up its attacking midfield in their push for the playoffs ahead of Sunday’s game in Oklahoma. Wednesday’s 1-0 loss to Memphis did not help the push, dropping the club to seventh in the Central Division. With spots four through seven separated by just two points, though, Indy can make up for its midweek blemish with three points on Sunday.

Indy Eleven vs. OKC Energy FC

Around the Leagues: Playoff Pushes Draw Closer Domestically

Another week of soccer around the world has continued following the international break for World Cup qualifying earlier in the month. As September has continued, the Premier League table has begun to take shape while the playoff push in domestic leagues has begun to intensify as the fall months draw closer.

United Soccer League

With the push for playoffs on the mind of nearly every USL club, divisional matchups are becoming increasingly crucial as the final weeks of the season approach.

Since the start of September, Tampa Bay has been on a hot streak, giving them distance between Miami and Pittsburgh in the Atlantic. Unbeaten since August 6, the Florida side has won six in a row and eight of their last nine. The Atlantic Division is not yet theirs, however, as Pittsburgh sits just five points back.

Phoenix remains on top of the Pacific Division, and entering week 22 holds a 16-point lead over second place San Diego. Behind them however sit five clubs all within ten points of each other- meaning a string of wins for Sacramento, Tacoma, San Diego, Oakland, or Orange County could seriously shake things up. With a number of important divisional matches yet to be played, it’s possible the Pacific Division turns into the most interesting down the stretch in USL.

United Soccer League

With the push for playoffs on the mind of nearly every USL club, divisional matchups are becoming increasingly crucial as the final weeks of the season approach.

Premier League

After five matches played, the Premier League table is starting to take shape. Three clubs remain unbeaten through the season’s first month, with Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United, and Brighton occupying the top four. Three of those clubs- Chelsea, Liverpool, and Manchester, remain the lone undefeated on the table thus far, while Chelsea and Liverpool join Manchester City as the only three who have yet to concede a second score this season.

Following two consecutive losses coming out of the international break, Tottenham Hotspur will have an advantageous matchup to get back on track this week. They’ll take on an Arsenal squad that has struggled so far this season, even coming off their first two wins of the season.

Norwich City’s struggles out of the gate have continued. Week 5 action saw the club fall 3-1 to Watford in what was their 15th consecutive loss in the Premier League dating to the 2019-2020 season. The Canaries have a steep climb back from their tough start, but with a number of clubs struggling to gain their footing early in the season, a string of victories could quickly put them back in the mix.

Premier League

USWNT

Team USA’s women round up their last of two friendlies with Paraguay tomorrow night. Wednesday’s meeting in Cincinnati comes on the heels of a 9-0 win on Cleveland last week that saw Carli Lloyd net five scores- tying Alex Morgan’s record from the 2019 world cup for goals in a single match.

Following their match with Paraguay, the USWNT will have a month break before they return to action in October with two fixtures against South Korea.

USWNT

Following their match with Paraguay, the USWNT will have a month break before they return to action in October with two fixtures against South Korea.

MLS

The west has become rather wild in recent weeks, as Sporting KC has upended Seattle for the top spot by a single point. A lot will ride on their Sunday meeting in Kansas City, which is the first of their two remaining contests this season. Colorado Rapids aren’t far behind either club, sitting just two points back of a first place tie after draws with Vancouver and Portland.

Philadelphia put themselves in playoff position with a 3-1 victory over Orlando City last week. Since winning two of three to close out August, Orlando has slid in September, dropping three straight since a 3-2 win over Columbus Crew.

The Eastern Conference remains controlled by New England Revolution, who is unbeaten in their last three matches and have lost just once since July 3. A tough matchup with Orlando awaits them this weekend, especially with an additional contest this week on Wednesday in Chicago.

MLS

What to Watch Across the USL: Week 22

This weekend in the USL Championship will see a continued postseason pursuit of playoff hopefuls. Austin Bold FC, Charlotte Independence and Indy Eleven are all making noise in their respective divisions at the right time, while out west, Oakland Roots SC is in hot pursuit of a playoff spot in a wild Pacific Division.

Pacific Division Update

A seven-goal thriller between Phoenix Rising FC and LA Galaxy II saw the Arizona side pad its lead in the Pacific Division, and a midweek win over Las Vegas Lights on Wednesday gave Rising FC 50 points for the fourth time in five seasons. On the horizon for Rising FC is a Saturday showdown with Orange County SC.

Northern and Southern California will clash on Saturday when an upstart Oakland Roots SC squad hosts LA Galaxy II at Laney College. Roots SC can continue its late season push and make it nine of its last 10 without a loss, while Los Dos’ recent form has seen them win just once since August 14.

Indy Eleven vs. Louisville City FC

Coming off a 1-0 win over Sporting Kansas City II that changed the trajectory of its playoff fate, Indy Eleven is looking to continue its push up the Central Division table with a new face on the back line in Liam Doyle from San Antonio FC.

Doyle’s first test could not be any taller: an offensively potent Louisville City FC side on Saturday hungry for three points after outplaying OKC Energy FC but settling for a 1-1 draw. LouCity leads the Eastern Conference with 45 goals on 337 shots for an impressive 18 percent conversion rate, while Indy has conceded 33 times on the year.

Austin Bold FC vs. FC Tulsa

Consecutive wins for the first time all season have Austin Bold FC in the fourth playoff spot in the Mountain Division ahead of this Saturday’s interdivision clash at FC Tulsa. Tulsa was forced to settle for a 1-1 draw against Birmingham Legion FC last weekend, seeing their five-game win streak come to a halt while remaining two points beneath Legion FC in the Central Division.

Xavier Báez has three goals on four shots in his last five games for Austin, who will try to stretch their back-to-back victories into a three-game win streak. For Tulsa, Darío Suárez has scored in the club’s last three matches while logging a goal or assist in five of the last six contests dating back to August 22.

Charlotte Independence vs. Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC

Charlotte has gone 5-1-3 in its last nine matches with five clean sheets, while Pittsburgh has gone 9-2-3 in its last 14. Riverhounds SC is coming off a season-high five goals in a 5-0 rout of Loudoun United on Saturday, but Independence has danced that dance too with a combined 7-0 score line in its last two matches.

Saturday’s matchup in the Queen City features two of the top goal scorers in the Eastern Conference, between Pittsburgh’s Russell Cicerone (14 goals) and Charlotte’s Irvin Parra (9 goals). In net, Pittsburgh’s Daniel Vitiello and Charlotte’s Brandon Miller have a combined 11 clean sheets between the two of them.

Around the Leagues: Flipped Scripts Make for Dramatic Weekend

Playoff hopefuls turned into playoff contenders with big performances at the right time, and drama at the top of the tables added to the chaos that only late-season soccer can bring. In the Premier League, a return for the ages and a now-crowded top of the table were the weekend’s big tickets.

USL Championship

Phoenix Rising FC’s Aodhan Quinn became the third player in USL Championship history to record 35 career goals and 35 career assists in Rising FC’s 4-3 win over LA Galaxy II on Saturday. Los Dos’s form in its last five, 1-1-3, have dropped them down the Pacific Division table.

Oakland Roots SC played to a scoreless draw with a dangerous San Diego Loyal SC team in the East Bay and have now gone unbeaten in eight of their last nine matches ahead of a key game this weekend with Tacoma Defiance.

Austin Bold FC’s climb in the Mountain Division continued over the weekend. The Texas club earned consecutive wins for the first time all season, with a 1-0 win over New Mexico United to move above Rio Grande Valley FC for final playoff transfer spot in the division.

Miami FC ran its unbeaten streak to eight games over the weekend with a 2-0 win at Memphis 901 FC while a highly contested matchup between FC Tulsa and Birmingham Legion FC ended in a 1-1 stalemate to keep Legion FC two points clear of Tulsa for second place in the Central Division. The top of the Atlantic Division continued to come down to the wire after Tampa Bay (49 points – 6-0 with over New York Red Bulls II) and Pittsburgh (47 points – 5-0 win over Loudoun United) steamrolled through the weekend.

Indy Eleven kept its playoff hopes alive with a late 1-0 victory over Sporting Kansas City II while OKC Energy FC overcame Louisville City FC’s dominance to score a 1-1 draw and keep LouCity’s lead in the Central Division at a mere four points.

Premier League

The long-awaited return to Old Trafford for Cristiano Ronaldo did not disappoint, with the Portuguese international scoring twice in Manchester United’s 4-1 win over Newcastle United over the weekend.

Manchester City enacted revenge on Leicester City for the FA Community Shield defeat with a 1-0 win over the Foxes on Kelechi Iheanacho’s penalty in the 89th minute. Meanwhile in North London, Arsenal picked up its first win of the season with a 1-0 victory over Norwich City.

Former Gunner Patrick Vieira picked up his first win as Crystal Palace manager with a 3-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur. The first three goals conceded by the other North London side this season effectively dropped first-place Spurs to seventh in the English topflight. Chelsea, Everton and Liverpool all secured three points to enter a four-way tie with United at the top of the table.

Chelsea and Tottenham headline this weekend’s Premier League slate with a London derby on Sunday.

Major League Soccer

Atlanta United made major strides towards the postseason this weekend with a convincing 3-0 win over Orlando City on Friday. Atlanta has now gone 4-1-0 since appointing Gonzalo Pineda as manager on August 12 and currently sits a point under the Eastern Conference playoff line.

The New England Revolution erased an early deficit to pad their Supporters Shield case with a 2-1 win over New York City FC on Saturday, while DC United remained in the thick of the playoff race with a 1-1 draw against the New York Red Bulls.

Real Salt Lake erased a pair of one-goal deficits yesterday at Banc of California Stadium, but an own goal did the Utah side in. LAFC took all three points to tie RSL in the Western Conference table at 30 points.

NWSL

Orlando Pride got back to winning ways on Saturday with a 3-1 win over Racing Louisville, while Sophia Smith’s goal in the 57th minute kept Portland Thorns atop the NWSL table by a slim three points.

Bizarre circumstances surrounding COVID-19 protocols gave OL Reign a 3-0 victory over Washington Spirit to keep the Tacoma club in second place with 32 points.

Reign has now won an impressive eight of its last 11 matches and will put that streak to the test this weekend against Orlando Pride before a highly anticipated clash with the Thorns on October 2.

Bizarre circumstances surrounding COVID-19 protocols gave OL Reign a 3-0 victory over Washington Spirit to keep the Tacoma club in second place with 32 points.

Reign has now won an impressive eight of its last 11 matches and will put that streak to the test this weekend against Orlando Pride before a highly anticipated clash with the Thorns on October 2.

What to Watch Across the USL: Week 21

Late season drama in the USL Championship is upon us. Pivotal divisional soccer is on the docket this weekendas another week of high-level matchups awaits. While the Pacific Division enjoys its share of twists and turns, other divisions are seeing their respective playoff races close in. This weekend will move us one step closer to a clearer playoff picture.

Pacific Division Update

After a surprise setback to Oakland Roots SC, Phoenix Rising FC has won its last two matches with three goals in each win and enters the weekend 11 points clear of second in the division with a USL-best +26 goal differential. Up next for Rising FC is an LA Galaxy II side struggling to find its footing in the playoff race with two wins and a draw in its last five matches.

While Rising FC stands on solid playoff ground, the rest of the divisional playoff picture is ripe with opportunities for teams in the Pacific. Three points separate three positions out west, as San Diego Loyal SC (33 points), Orange County SC (31 points), Tacoma Defiance (30 points) and Republic FC (26 points) all look for prime postseason standing. With most of the teams in the hunt with two matchups remaining against each of the division leading foes, there is plenty of time for a climb up the table.

FC Tulsa vs. Birmingham Legion FC

FC Tulsa squeaked by Indy Eleven on Wednesday with a late penalty by Dario Suárez and is now six points out of first in the Central Division and two points out of second after reaching a club-record four game winning streak. Birmingham Legion FC, who has Tulsa on their heels in the division table, squandered a shot for first place last week after conceding twice in stoppage time against Memphis to drop much needed points. Needless to say, Saturday night in Tulsa will be a matchup of two sides with a crucial three points on the line.

Birmingham’s Neco Brett continues his chase for the USL Golden Boot with 12 goals on the season, while Rodrigo da Costa sits not too far behind with eight for FC Tulsa. Da Costa and the rest of the Tulsa offense have amassed 36 goals on the year, while Birmingham’s Matt Van Oekel has been a force in net with six clean sheets.

Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC vs. Rio Grande Valley FC

Brett is not the only member of the Golden Boot watch list in action. Frontrunner Hadji Barry, recently named USL Championship Player of the Month, will lead Switchbacks FC againstvisiting RGV FC Toros in their second straight home game after a three-game road trip. The two sides met on August 14 in Texas as Colorado Springs dropped a season-high five goals on RGV in a 5-2 win.

RGV is clinging to the fourth playoff spot in the Mountain Division with a one-point lead over Austin Bold FC. After losing three of their last five games, Toros will be poised for three points that will bump them up to third, and more importantly, give them a more comfortable postseason standing. Second place Colorado Springs holds a five-point advantage on RGV in a close divisional race with five points separating second and fourth place.

Louisville City FC vs. OKC Energy FC

Sunday evening in Oklahoma pits together two sides hanging onto their playoff seeds in the Central Division. City FC retains its lead atop the divisional table at four points clear of Birmingham Legion FC, while Energy FC is a single point above the playoff line despite coming off a 3-0 loss to Sporting KC II.

LouCity is 2-1-0 against OKC this season with neither side suffering a home setback in the fixture ahead of this weekend’s clash. However, the East’s highest scoring team has been shut out twice in their last four matches, a fix they’ll need to make to best an Energy defensive unit that has posted seven clean sheets on the year. OKC will be looking for their first win over the East’s highest scoring club this season, having dropped their first two meetings and split points in their most recent matchup on August 22.