Fun fact: three of the five teams that got red cards won their matches this week. We’re also doing something a little unusual. I wrote up a bunch of pre-game notes, but never published them. I’ll include them here in italics.
FC Tulsa 1 – 0 Sacramento Republic
This was a rare Friday match-up played out in Tulsa. Not gonna lie, it wasn’t great. Tulsa was very restrained, holding tight in the back and not being as aggressive as they usually are. Sac had moments of the quick pass, one-two combo play I expect, but the finishing either wasn’t there or stifled by Tulsa’s towering defense. I watched this play out until the 84th minute; the score was 0 – 0. By then my pork tenderloin was perfectly cooked on the BBQ and I was hungry. I don’t have the soccer on during dinner, so imagine my surprise when I checked the score later and saw that Tulsa had won?! Sure enough, in the 87th minute Tulsa earned a corner, their sixth of the match. Arthur Rogers stepped up to the flag; his deliveries had been solid all evening. The looping ball was met by Taylor Calheira, who flicked it into the net. Queue the mayhem.
Hartford Athletic 1 – 2 El Paso Locomotive FC
Pre-game: 2025 hasn’t been kind to Hartford. Outside of their 3 – 0 win over the NPSL’s New York Shockers in the Open Cup, it’s been nothing but losses. Worse than that, they are the only USL team that has not scored a goal in league play. El Locos have no problem scoring; they do have a problem conceding. Their first two games were wild affairs, each with late drama that resulted in a draw. They have to feel positive despite traveling the nearly 2,500 miles and will expect to put a beat down on the hapless hosts.
Review: On a chilly sub-50 degree afternoon, El Paso’s Beto Avila warmed up the visitors with an 11th minute goal, controlling a deflected shot and coolly putting it away. But there was good news for Hartford when Mamadou Dieng got their first goal of the campaign in the 29th minute. It came off a solid build-up and was well deserved for the host team. But El Paso kept applying pressure throughout the second half and Wahab Ackwei headed in the game winner in the 86th minute from a corner kick. Tough blow to Hartford.
Loudoun United FC 2 – 0 Rhode Island FC
Pre-game: After three games on the road, where they grabbed six points, Loudoun finally gets to play at home! Rhode Island totally understands that scenario… this is their third away game in a row after a first week bye. They’ve traveled to South Carolina, Phoenix and now Virginia. You have to like Loudoun in this one.
Review: My gut was correct. Loudoun’s Abdellatif Aboukoura scored twice between the 35th and 40th minute; both the result of some significant individual excellence. When Yanis Leerman saw a second yellow in the 67th, Rhode Island had a glimmer of a chance for a comeback but couldn’t find the net. I’m not entirely sure what had turned Loudoun around, but they’re certainly one of the more exciting teams to watch right now.
Louisville City FC 2 – 0 Detroit City FC
Pre-game: A big Eastern Conference showdown here, with both teams sitting on seven points.
Review: Let’s give a shout to the Detroit away kit. The vertical grey-green front has a classic look. But aesthetics couldn’t help them against a purple-clad Louisville City. Ray Serrano put the hosts up in the 19th minute when his left-footed shot couldn’t be handled by Detroit’s keeper. The visitors had the better of the possession but never really threatened, and when substitute Jansen Wilson finished from the top of the box 13 minutes from time, it was all over. The win was Louisville’s 11th in a row at home.
Lexington SC 2 – 3 San Antonio FC
Pre-game: This is a proper fixture. The only undefeated team in the league squares up against an equally undefeated (though they have a draw) newbie upstart in Lexington. Both teams have been fire. I expect this match to produce at least four goals and one will be an absolute show-stopper.
Review: Score was 2 – 2 before the 27th minute. Who has two thumbs and called it? This guy! The I can’t believe this match wasn’t broadcast, as it was probably the best one of the weekend.
Indy Eleven 2 – 3 Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC
Pre-game: I had no pre-game on this one.
Review: With over 10,000 fans in attendance Indy kicked off its home opener in fine style when Maalique Foster’s left-footed strike found the net in the 20th. But Marco Micaletto dampened the crowd’s spirits with a lovely volley just before halftime. Colorado then turned up the heat, getting two quick scores in the 62nd and 64th. Indy got a 98th minute consolation goal, which just boosted Aodhan Quinn’s tally.
Miami FC 0 – 1 New Mexico United
Pre-game: If it wasn’t for the Roots and Hartford, Miami would be the worst team in the league. New Mexico, while not as strong as last year, should cruise through this to an easy win.
Review: This was, outside of their US Open cup win, the best offensive effort for Miami this year. They had five shots on frame from fourteen efforts, including an unlucky looper that came off the post. Their new goalkeeper Bill Hamid kept them in the match, but Luiz Fernando beat him on the inside in the 70th minute off the counter. The most telling thing about this game was the silence. Not only were the stands empty, but there was zero crowd involvement. Most other games have a supporters section where chants, drumming, etc. are the norm. Not Miami.
North Carolina FC 2 – 1 Charleston Battery
Pre-game: This one is called the Southern Derby, though these two aren’t close to each other. Both sides are squarely in the middle of the table, so this one could realistically go either way.
Review: Charleston’s bye week didn’t do them any favors, as evinced by their performance tonight. Their lone goal came late into the first half stoppage and from a questionable handling call from the referee. Regardless, it was a big night for NCFC, who not only got their first home win this season, but their first ever win over the Battery since joining the USL Championship.
Pittsburgh Riverhounds 2 – 0 Birmingham Legion FC
Pre-game: This is a classic black and gold battle between two USL stalwarts. Stats and run of form would favor Pittsburgh, but the Legion are capable of surprising opponents at any time.
Review: Honestly, Birmingham were lucky not to be down multiple goals at halftime. The black and gold hooped ‘Hounds utterly dominated the game up until the first whistle, and Robbie Mertz’s 36th minute goal was entirely deserved. When Danny Griffin converted the second after a lovely build-up, this one was over.
Monterey Bay 3 – 1 Phoenix Rising FC
Pre-game: After years of squatting in the lower table of the West, Monterey have burst out of the gates since dropping their season opener at San Antonio. They’re coming into this match with three consecutive wins, and will be hoping to take down a Phoenix Rising team that is exciting to watch, even if their results have been underwhelming.
Review: This game wasn’t broadcast, so I’m going off the stat lines and highlights. Based on the former, all I can say is WTF happened down in Monterey? It took under two minutes for the visitors to draw their first yellow. The ensuing free kick led to the host’s first goal. By halftime the scoreline was 1 – 1 courtesy of Rémi Carbral, but six yellows had been shown. Spicy. In the 62nd minute Rising’s Pape Boye got his second yellow. Once again, Monterey Bay scored off the free kick. When Rising’s Carl-Fred Sainte got a straight red in the 68th and Monterey stepped up to the dead ball, you know what I was thinking… Didn’t happen that time, though. It was Anton Søjberg off a header in the 73rd that sealed it.
Oakland Roots 0 – 0 Las Vegas Lights FC
Pre-game: What an enigma the Roots are. They’ve scored more goals (5) than 75% of the Eastern Conference, but sit dead last in the league. That’s what happens when you concede an average of 3 goals per game. They’ll be looking to earn a point and put an end to their run of losses (five-in-a-row going back to last year).
Review: I’ll admit, it wasn’t the most exciting match. Both teams were somewhat reserved, probing and testing each other without going all out. The game really opened up in the final 10 minutes. Roots had a goal called back for offsides; seconds later their new keeper Kendall McIntosh made a strong save. But it’s indicative of how a team’s season is going that a nil-nil draw is considered a good outcome.
