USL United Soccer League Championship

USL PRO Playoff Race Heats Up

July 25, 2014 - United Soccer League Championship (USL) News Release


TAMPA, Fla. - With just more than a month remaining in the USL PRO regular season, the first playoff berth could be claimed this weekend and a new league attendance record is likely to be set, while the fight for the final postseason berths heats up with action on all three days of the weekend.

Orlando City SC remains undefeated at the top of the league standings, and the Lions could be in position to clinch a place in the postseason on Sunday afternoon as they visit the Rochester Rhinos at Sahlen's Stadium (4:05 p.m. ET, YouTube). Should the Harrisburg City Islanders fall to the Richmond Kickers and OKC Energy FC fail to take victory against the Dayton Dutch Lions FC on Saturday, a win for the Lions would send them into the postseason.

Later on Sunday night, Sacramento Republic FC hosts the Pittsburgh Riverhounds (10 p.m. ET, YouTube) with the USL PRO record for total attendance in a single season within reach. Republic FC has already welcomed 110,107 fans through its turnstiles this season, and with another sellout expected at Bonney Field, Sacramento will surpass Orlando's total attendance of 112,748 in 2013.

While Orlando and Sacramento both sit comfortably in the top four, the teams in the bottom half of the playoff positions all face key contests this weekend as inly 10 points separate fifth position from bottom place in the USL PRO standings.

The weekend's action kicks off on Friday night with a key game between Wilmington Hammerheads FC and Arizona United SC (7:30 p.m. ET, YouTube), which are both coming off victories in their last outing. Wilmington has played the fewest games of any team in the league so far, and remains in with a chance of a top-four position should it take advantage of its games in hand. Arizona, meanwhile, is coming off a big win against Orange County last weekend, and is within three points of OKC in eighth place. A positive trip to the east coast would maintain United's momentum in search of a postseason berth in its inaugural season.

Orange County, meanwhile, faces a crucial contest of its own as the LA Galaxy II visit Anteater Stadium on Saturday night (10 p.m. ET, YouTube). The Blues surged into the playoff positions, but have lost three in a row to drop to seventh place, just three points ahead of ninth-placed Charlotte. The Galaxy II have claimed victory in each of the previous meetings between the teams, and another defeat at the hands of Los Dos would put the Blues in a precarious situation with only eight games remaining.

All of the weekend's action can be watched live on YouTube, with live updates also available via Twitter (@USLPRO). For news, match previews and reports from across the league, fans can also follow USL PRO on Facebook, Google+ and Instagram.

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