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 United Soccer League Championship

2014 USL PRO Playoffs Reach Semifinals

September 19, 2014 - United Soccer League Championship (USL) News Release


TAMPA, Fla. - The 2014 USL PRO Playoffs continue on Saturday as the four remaining teams take aim at a place in the 2014 USL PRO Championship Game. The action gets underway on the east coast as the Richmond Kickers host the Harrisburg City Islanders, and then heads west as Sacramento Republic FC and the LA Galaxy II clash for the right to host next week's championship game.

No. 4 Richmond Kickers vs. No. 8 Harrisburg City Islanders

City Stadium, Saturday, 7 p.m. ET

The Kickers host the City Islanders looking to add to their regular-season dominance that saw them take three victories in the three meetings between the teams. Richmond took one-goal wins in each game, including a dramatic 3-2 victory on May 31 that saw Kyle Porter score a stoppage-time winner after the City Islanders had leveled the score in the final minute. Harrisburg enters on a high after knocking off regular-season champion Orlando City in the quarterfinals, however, and will be eager to make its second appearance in the championship game and leave the Kickers waiting for their first.

PLAYOFF HISTORY: The Kickers and City Islanders have not met in the postseason in the USL PRO era, but have seen classic confrontations in their playoff history against one another. Richmond hosted Harrisburg in 2009's USL Second Division semifinals, when a late goal by Matt Delicâte earned a 1-0 victory in extra time. The two teams also met two years earlier in the USL Second Division Championship Game, when the City Islanders won a shootout 8-7 after the teams had played to a 1-1 draw through regulation and extra time for their only league championship to date.

No. 2 Sacramento Republic FC vs. No. 3 LA Galaxy II

Bonney Field, Saturday, 10:30 p.m. ET

Republic FC and the Galaxy II will renew what has become a burgeoning rivalry in the inaugural USL PRO season for both clubs in front of a sold-out crowd at Bonney Field with the right to host the 2014 USL PRO Championship Game on the line. After a 1-1 draw in their first meeting, which also served as Republic FC's inaugural contest, Sacramento claimed back-to-back victories to claim the season series. The Galaxy II hit back in the final game of the regular season with a 2-1 win behind a pair of goals by Jack McBean, and will try to score a second consecutive victory on Sacramento's home turf in what should be an enthralling contest.

PLAYOFF HISTORY: Both sides were playing their first postseason contests in USL PRO when they took victory last Saturday, with Republic FC impressing in a 4-1 win against Wilmington Hammerheads FC. Set pieces proved key for Sacramento as Nemanja Vukovic scored twice and Mickey Daly had a goal and an assist. Los Dos, meanwhile, had to rally past the Rochester Rhinos on goals by Chandler Hoffman and Charlie Rugg, and then hold on for victory after being reduced to 10 men with 25 minutes remaining. As a result, Rafael Garcia - who has served as the team's captain this season - will be unavailable for Saturday's clash in Sacramento.

Every game of the 2014 USL PRO Playoffs can be watched live on YouTube, with live updates also available via Twitter (@USLPRO). For news, match previews and reports from throughout the league, follow USL PRO on Facebook, Google+ and Instagram.


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United Soccer League Championship Stories from September 19, 2014


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