USLC Week Seven: Republic Running Away

With both Sacramento and Charleston topping their respective Conference tables, the leaders look to extend their advantages with home matches against respectable opponents. Lou City, who are visiting the aforementioned Charleston Battery, will be on the prowl to draw even in the East and pull back a few goals to right the ship on their unlikely negative goal difference. San Diego, second in the West host an uncharacteristically poor Tampa Bay Rowdies. These, amongst a multitude of soccer scenarios are covered in this week’s USL Championship Weekend Preview.

San Diego Loyal vs Tampa Bay Rowdies (4/23 3PM PST 6PM EST)

  • Must watch cross conference match:
    San Diego Loyal (3-1-2 14 points) vs Tampa Bay Rowdies (1-3-2 5 points)
    The last match of Week 7 might be the most interesting; Sunday afternoon/evening we get two heavyweights with the Loyal off to a good start hosting Tampa Bay. Offensively, San Diego are still not humming along just yet and I know it is very early, but for me this road trip for the Rowdies (away to San Diego then away to Detroit City) should see them walking away with at least 4 points it they don’t want to fall too far being in their respective Eastern Conference. So far, the Rowdies are struggling finding the back of the net, but if they are going to win this game, I think they need at least two goals.

Charleston Battery vs Louisville City FC (4:30 PM PST 7:30 EST)

Must watch Eastern Conference Match:
Charleston Battery (4-0-2 14 points) vs Louisville City FC (4-2-0 12 Points)
Louisville City FC gets a tough follow-up after having just faced San Antonio; traveling to Charleston will not be easy. It keeps getting said, that it's early, but Ben Pirmann (Coach of the Year for 2022 with Memphis 901) has shown with a roster of better players he still has it and he is the early favorite for the kudos again this year. The question we’re left with is, will the Charleston Battery be ready for the unanimously perceived powerhouse of the East? 

Colorado Springs Switchbacks vs New Mexico United (5 PM PST 8 PM EST)

Must watch Western Conference Match:
Colorado Springs Switchbacks (3-2-1 10 points) vs New Mexico United (1-2-1 4 points)
Will the real team stand up?  I think both of these teams have huge questions coming in.  The Switchbacks were blown out in Sacramento, can they rebound against its I25 rival? For New Mexico it seems like the same old question.  Can they finish? After a road win against The Miami FC, it has been a struggle, and let's face it NMU has not faced the best of the West or the East yet!  So can Zach Prince put together a game plan on the road in a series that NMU has dominated so far?  Or can the Switchbacks step up and show they are one of the top teams out West again?

The Rest of This week’s fixtures:
sat - April 22

  • Indy Eleven vs Monterey Bay - 4p (PST) / 7p (ET)

    • Harry Says: So, I will confess something, I am not a fan of how Indy Eleven was built. I just think that the USL Championship is built for teams that are young and fast - which is how Monterey Bay Union is built. However, for Indy 11, this game with Monterey Bay might help them get out of the slump and score some goals - they have just 2 goals in 5 games. Alternately, Union have allowed 10 goals in 6 games! The problem for Indy is that they will hold possession, but without scoring, what's the point? Sorry, but I think Monterey Bay takes this by multiple goals!  

  • RGV Toros vs Memphis 901 FC - 5p (PST) / 8p (ET)

    • Harry Says: Mama said if I don't have anything nice to say don't say anything at all! I will say only the diehards will watch this match, both teams are struggling. I do like RGV at home with the wide field where dreams go to die. For Memphis, I just don't understand what they are doing. For RGV they need to get healthy which from reports sounds like that is closer to happening especially at the forward position

  • San Antonio FC vs Phoenix Rising - 5:30p (PST) / 8:30p (ET)

    • Harry Says: Champions Night in San Antonio, a Sell out crowd (or close to) and add to the fact that, despite San Antonio FC winning the title last year, there is one team who had their number!  However, this is a new Phoenix RIsing under Juan Guerra and it will be very interesting to see how they match up. For San Antonio FC, they have brought in three players, including former 2021 ULSC Best XI, Jorge Hernandez.
      Note: SAFC lost last week, and the last time they lost back to back games was back in 2020 where they lost the last three matches of the year.        

  • El Paso Locomotive vs Pittsburgh Riverhounds - 6:30p (PST) / 9:30p (ET)

    • Harry Says: These teams mirror each other to me. Both are great organizations, and both are led by great strikers Luis Solignac (ELP) and Albert Dikwa (PIT). However the difference is that one team has a GOAT in coaching and that is Bob Lilley of Pittsburgh. For the game expect a very low scoring game in El Paso, who is coming off a bye week. So, hopefully some of the injuries have healed. I think a draw is the most likely result of this game.

  • Sacramento Republic vs Detroit City FC - 7p (PST) / 10p (ET)

    • Harry Says: This game has a trap game feel all over it. Sacramento is coming off some big results and Detroit City is limping into this match, but let's not forget the history of Detroit City! Republic has been very strong defensively, while DCFC is struggling scoring and are winless in 4!  I don't think Rodrigo Lopez will let it happen, but…

  • Orange County SC vs Birmingham Legion - 7p (PST) / 10p (ET)

    • Harry Says: The Legion travels to Orange County after getting run out of Loudoun. Legion are the better team, but will a cross country flight to the West Coast even things out? Outside of last week's loss, Legion have been very good defensively, but they are going against the golden boot winner Milan Iloski. For OCSC, coming off a win over Indy Eleven, they will look to make it two wins over the east, before they return in in conference play!

sun - April 23

  • Loudoun United vs Oakland Roots - 1p (PST) / 4p (ET)

    • Harry Says: This is a tricky game to forecast. Is Loudoun ready to be more consistent? Oakland is a solid team but not great - Meanwhile, Loudoun United is at home where they have been playing good soccer, so I will give Loudoun the slight lean to get the three points. Zach Ryan and Kalil Elmedkhar have been on fire. 

  • Miami FC vs Las Vegas Lights - 1p (PST) / 4p (ET)

    • Harry Says: Sunday afternoon footy when the struggling Las Vegas travel to fellow strugglers, THE Miami FC. This will be interesting to see how these two teams play this game as both host a MLS club in midweek US Open Cup games just days later. Both need to find a way to get three points now, though, and while I normally would lean towards the home team… give me the Lights and Ledesma in this one.

by Harry Austin & Joshua Duder