West Coast Clash Highlights Weekend's Action
August 8, 2014 - United Soccer League Championship (USL) News Release
TAMPA, Fla. - With five weeks remaining in the USL PRO regular season, a potential playoff match-up highlights a weekend slate of eight games across the country. Sacramento Republic FC hosts OKC Energy FC on Saturday night at 8 p.m. PT as the two expansion sides meet in what should be an entertaining clash at Bonney Field.
Republic FC enters the contest on a four-game undefeated streak that has seen it move up to third place in the league standings. OKC Energy FC currently sits seventh, but holds a game in hand on sixth-placed Harrisburg and fifth-placed Rochester, and could make the move all the way up to fifth should it earn all three points on the road.
OKC will likely enter the contest hopeful of that outcome, as Energy FC took a pair of 2-0 wins on its home turf against Republic FC in their two previous encounters. In the last meeting on June 28, Mark Howard and Mikey Lopez both struck for Energy FC. Sacramento will be hopeful of turning the tables, however, having only lost once at home this season, with a 4-0-1 record since taking residence at Bonney Field.
Another key match-up this weekend sees the Harrisburg City Islanders host Orlando City on Saturday at 6 p.m. ET. The City Islanders have used a strong run of form to move into the playoff positions, and have scored three goals in each of their last three games at Skyline Sports Complex. They'll be tested by a Lions side that has conceded just six goals in nine games on the road this season, and is in pursuit of a regular-season championship after clinching a playoff place last weekend.
The Richmond Kickers can join Orlando in the postseason field should they take victory at City Stadium against the Charlotte Eagles on Saturday night. The Eagles were the last side to take victory against the Kickers, who are now on a season-best 19-game undefeated streak, and could see Matt Delicâte tie the USL PRO regular-season scoring record should he notch his 15th of the season.
The weekend's action gets underway on Friday night as the Dayton Dutch Lions and new coach Matt Weston visit the Charleston Battery, and the Pittsburgh Riverhounds host Orange County Blues FC. Saturday night sees a key game out west as the LA Galaxy II host Arizona United SC, while Dayton completes its trip to the Carolinas with a visit to the Wimington Hammerheads, while on Sunday the action moves to Rochester where the Rhinos host Orange County looking to boost their playoff position.
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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United Soccer League Championship Stories from August 8, 2014
- Riverhounds Defeat OC Blues FC 1-0 at Highmark Stadium - Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
- Dayton Draws Battery 2-2 on Late Goal - Charleston Battery
- Blues Welcome New Players to Orange County - Orange County SC
- OKC Energy FC Faces Sacramento Saturday Night - OKC Energy FC
- Dayton Dutch Lions FC Welcomes the Cincinnati Bengals at DOC Stadium - Dayton Dutch Lions
- Hammerheads Receive Stuver on Loan from Crew - Wilmington Hammerheads FC
- Match Preview- Orlando Aims to Extend Lead at the Top of the Table - Orlando City SC
- Match Preview: Sacramento Republic FC V Oklahoma City Energy FC - Sacramento Republic FC
- West Coast Clash Highlights Weekend's Action - USL
- Hammerheads Host Dayton for Pink Out - Wilmington Hammerheads FC
- Dayton Dutch Lions FC Play Back to Back Games in Charleston and Wilmington - Dayton Dutch Lions
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