After a weekend of highs and lows - week 8 saw the top teams extend their leads and the bottom teams start to make moves. Questions are being asked of even legendary managers who nobody could imagine would be in this spot and one club has had enough. Harry brings us all the news, notes, and scores from the week which was.

Must watch Eastern Conference Match

Detroit City FC 0 - 1 Tampa Bay Rowdies
Go to Harry’s Corner on my thoughts on Detroit City FC (1-1-6 4 points) but this game is just like the rest of the season so far for DCFC. For the Tampa Bay Rowdies (2-2-4 8 points), 17 shots, but only 5 on goal and the goal is off a penalty kick by Charlie Dennis (79th minute)? I know they got the 3 points on the road, but the Rowdies are still not clicking on offense.

Must watch Western Conference Match

San Diego Loyal 1 - 1 El Paso Locomotive
El Paso Locomotive (4-1-3 13 points) is back, with a strong performance on the road against San Diego. And I am not sure you will find a better team goal than that of Denys Kostyshyn off the assist by Luis Solignac, but that goal was set up by several passes by the entire Locomotive team. For San Diego Loyal (4-2-2 14 points) coming off a heartbreaking loss in Seattle midweek in Open Cup action, they rebounded well with the tying goal by Tumi Moshobane (assist Nick Moon). Both teams put on a great match for the neturals and one that the return match will be very interesting.

Must watch cross conference match

Phoenix Rising 3 - 1 Loudoun United
Phoenix Rising FC (2-4-1 10 points) bossed this game and showed that they will be a contender for a home slot for the playoffs. Loudoun United (3-1-3 10 points) while improved from last year still has room especially on the road. The first half was the manuel Arteaga and Jose Hernandez show for Rising. Each scored and assisted on the two goals (33rd and 36th minute) Right before the end of the half Kevon Lambert had an own goal to pull Loudoun back into the match (on the scoreboard). Baboucarr Nije scored at 90+1 to put the game away. But this was one of those games, where the score was much closer than the actual game action.

Eastern Conference Action

Indy Eleven 1 - 1 Pittsburgh Riverhounds
Indy Eleven (1-3-3 6 points) and Pittsburgh RIverhounds (2-4-2 10 Points) played the game everyone thought it would be tight and physical. Defenses dominated the match. THe Riverhounds goal was scored by Albert Dikwa (5th goal) with the assist by Luke Biasi in the 18th minute. Indy equalized with a great goal by Jake Blake who one-timed a rebound into the back of the net in the 81st minute

Memphis 901 FC 1 - 1 Louisville City FC
What a week for Memphis 901 FC (1-2-2 5 points) beating ATL United and getting a draw against Louisville City ( 4-2-2 14 points). However, this game did not start out well with Memphis giving up a goal on the first corner attempt by LouCity in the 9th minute Sean Totsch drove home the strike by Ray Serrano. Memphis 901 answered in the 52nd minute by Luiz Fernando, who finished the goal off a deflected shot.

Birmingham Legion 3 - 2 Hartford Athletic
Eastern Conference leaders Birmingham Legion (5-1-2 13 Points) closed up the week of action for the USL Championship with a hard fought win over Hartford Athletic (1-2-4 5 points). Hartford opened the scoring in the 36th minute with a goal from Jeciel Cedeno with the assist from Prince Saydee and it stayed that way till the half. Then it was the Enzo Martinez show in the second half with two goals and an assist. Legion answered in the 65th minute by Enzo, only to see Kyle Edwards equal back in the 67th minute. Enzo Martinteez capped his brace in the 76th minute to draw it. And then Legion got the winner at 90+3 with a walk off goal by Alex Crognale.

Western Conference Action

San Antonio FC 1 - 1 Las Vegas Lights
For Las Vegas Lights (0-5-1 5 points) they weathered the storm by San Antonio FC (3-5-1 13 Points) at the start of the game. In the first 5 minutes, the Lights were able to avoid going down by SAFC missing two penalty kicks. In fact Las Vegas scored in the 12th minute,by Justin Ingram who cleaned up a rebound off a shot by Preston Tabortetaka. San Antonio equalized in the 42 minute with a free kick goal by Cristian Parano.

New Mexico United 3 - 1 Orange County SC
New Mexico United (2-1-3 7 points) had a great week and finally opened the bank with three goals against Orange County SC (1-3-4 6 points). Orange County's only goal was an own goal by Josh Suggs of New Mexico in the 58th minute. While Greg Hurst had a brace (Goals in 22nd and 63rd minute) and Sergio Rivas had the night cap in the 74th minute. However the star of the night belonged to Josh Dooling who had three assists!

Monterey Bay Union 0 - 0 Rio Grande Valley FC
Have to admit Rio Grande Valley FC (1-4-2 7 points) played much better this week, but still struggled to finish. Monterey Bay Union (3-3-2 12 points) has to be disappointed in this result at home. Each team had 1 shot on goal. Which says everything.

Cross Conference Action

FC Tulsa 1 - 1 Sacramento Republic
I had a feeling that FC Tulsa (1-4-3 7 points) would get a result, I predicted the win, but a draw against Sacramento Republic (5-3-0 18 points). The first half was pretty even with a slight lean towards FC Tulsa. Sacramento’s goal was a chip by Juan Sebastian Herrera in the 53rd minute (assist to Shane Wiedt), but the question has to be asked: why was Michael Nelson so far out? FC Tulsa answered off a set piece with Moses Dyer scoring the equalizer in the 76th minute. However, if you watched the second half, a draw was kind to FC Tulsa.

Charleston Battery 1 - 2 Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC
In a game that was delayed by weather at the end, it's a good thing that COS Switchbacks (5-1-2 16 points) scored early and often to get the first win against Charleston Battery (4-3-1 15 points). The Switchbacks started out hot scoring in the 4th minute (goal by Maalique Foster and Duke Lacroix with the assist) and 15th minute (goal by Steven Echeverria off a deflection). But in the 27th minute Derek Dodson headed it to Leland Archer.

Oakland Roots 0 - 0 THE Miami FC
If I told you a game finished 0-0, this would've been the game chosen. Oakland Roots (2-2-3 8 points and THE Miami FC (1-5-2 8 points) did not disappoint in its defensive battle, each team had a couple of chances, but failed to convert.

Harry’s Corner Awards

Team of the Week: Colorado Springs Switchbacks. To go on the road and defeat Charleston Battery and then was able to hold them off with all the weather and the lighting delays. The Switchbacks only losses are to San Antonio and Sacramento both on the road.
Goal of the Week: Tough one.. The World Class free kick from Cristian Parano or the team goal from Denys Kostyshyn (ELP) Going to go with the Team goal from El Paso, it is not many times during the season where you see a team execute like the Locomotive did and Denys Kostyshyn.
Keper of the Week: Nate Steinwascher: Kept Detroit City from getting routed by the Rowdies.
Player of the Week: Enzo Martinez (Legion) 2 goals and 1 assist and the key for the Legion comeback against Hartford.
Concerned Team of the Week: It's no secret what the issue is. And its goal scoring. Where will it come from and to me the bigger question, will Detroit City make the moves to solve it? Detroit City has a proud history of being competitive, and this year, if being honest they have not really been competitive like they are used to being. The loss of Antoine Hoppenot is a huge loss in the off season and they did not come close to replacing him. The bright spot for Detroit City is still the defense led by Nate Steinwascher and Stephen Carroll.

by Harry Austin