This is it - the USL League Two Semi Finals - where the four top sides will clash to see who earns a spot in the final. FC Tucson vs Peoria City in Peoria, IL and Seacoast United vs Asheville City SC in Newport News - two fantastic fixtures in two fantastic locations. Ryan Stallings, who has guided us through the league from the first kick, provides an overview of the two games.

FC Tucson vs Peoria City

Sun, 07/28 - 11:00am PST / 2:00pm EST at Shea Stadium in Peoria, IL

How they got here: FC Tucson took one on the chin in their first half Friday against Project 510. The Oakland youngsters looked dangerous through the first thirty minutes, earning a penalty to take a lead where their run-of-play efforts had somehow come up empty. It was one such effort though, that may have turned the match eventually in Tucson’s favor before P510 had even taken their early lead. A chance at open goal in the 26th minute when 510’s Aric Duncan played the ball past FCT’s keeper and began to celebrate what looked like a tap in score was brilliantly saved off the line with a desperation sliding clearance by the Tucson defense. That clearance meant FCT trailed by just the single score rather than at least two goals going into half. The second half was a bit more back and forth than the first had been, but certainly skewed more in favor of FCT in chances. The Arizona men would make good on two of them, a free kick stunner in the 63rd minute from Paul Caliari and a scrum in the box second chance winner in the 88th from Joao Pedro Neves Santos.

Peoria City has felled the two most storied programs in the league in five days time, heady stuff from the third year program. The Carp have proven the discipline to win a variety of ways, following up a 5-5 extra time scoring frenzy and penalties survival against Des Moines with a far less high-flying, no less exciting, defensive showcase in a 1-0 defeat of Flint City. Luke Persenico extended his scoring streak in the postseason to three matches, pouncing on a second chance opportunity in the 62nd minute to score the only goal Peoria City would need to send the Bucks home. The Invasive Fish of Destiny claimed the Central Conference title and now play for a chance to potentially host the national championship match.

Prediction: If the match up out east is the game between two expected heavyweights, this one is the song of two underdogs. Power ranked 17th and 30th to close the regular season, and neither having won their own division, both teams rode no small advantage of home venue and opportunistic play through the first two rounds to play on Friday. There, both the Carp and FCT weathered great opponents to advance to today’s semifinal. With a lot more riding on the line at Shea Stadium beside a national championship berth for each team (both are seeking a USOC spot they might only find through a national title), the teams will be a bit more cagey at kickoff, feeling the other side’s defensive shape out before bringing more methodical attacks to bear on one another. I see Peoria finding scores near either side of the half, and a Tucson comeback effort coming up short this time, the game ending in a 2-1 advantage to the Carp.
Winner Plays the winner of Seacoast United vs Asheville City SC in the FINAL

Seacoast United vs Asheville City SC

Sun, 07/28 - 4:00pm PST / 7:00pm EST at TowneBank Stadium in Newport News, VA

How they got here: Asheville City showed why they were the only undefeated side remaining in the playoffs (Little Rock is also undefeated but did not advance on penalties last week) in their smothering of Corpus Christi Friday afternoon. The Blues showed their talent advantage at every phase, their attack creating chances all across the face of the front and mid lines while their midfield and back line nullified the Sharks’ own dangerous offensive ability. The scoreline could have been 5-0 as easily as it was 1-0, but even with the narrow scoreline this match rarely felt like CCFC would find an opportunity for an equalizer.

Seacoast United teased a much different match in the first half against hosts Lionsbridge than the one wrapped up at the final whistle. The Phantoms were caught twice against run of play, losing their goal advantage in both Lionsbridge opportunities in the first 38 minutes.But Seacoast has lived by the mantra of “a great offense is the best defense” all season long and it paid off for them as they poured on four additional scores from the 42nd minute onward. It was a scoring pace the hosts could not keep up with and the Phantoms spooked Lionsbridge, 6-3, to claim the Eastern Conference title.

Prediction: It’s what may have been the most likely national title match, one game removed from the finale. While the auto tie-in of the Eastern and Southern Conferences pits the season’s number one and two sides against each other in a semifinal rather than championship weekend, it has worked out that these two 2024 season heavyweights would get their chance to line up against one another. I don’t expect tight play from either side, each confident in their abilities that have seen them through this far. The offenses will both find scores, but it’s the Blues’ more complete play, particularly in the back line, that will see them through to the title match with a 4-3 score.

by Ryan Stallings