USL Matchweek 8 – A Hooligan Update | OneFootball

Louisville City 2 – 0 Lexington SC

Because of the other (more world famous) Kentucky Derby happening on Saturday, this specific Kentucky Derby was played Friday. The game was fairly even and uneventful until ex-Real Salt Lake player Forster Ajago, who was making his Lexington debut, went and got himself a straight red in the 49th minute for kicking out at defender Aiden McFadden, catching him in the head. A truly asinine lash out, even though McFadden was holding onto his leg and preventing him from getting up. There is an adage in soccer: the initial foul often gets a pass; the retaliation foul always gets a card. Louisville would go on to control the rest of the game and get their two goals, one from a McFadden header that was later changed to an own goal, the second from Philip Goodrum. Louisville remains the only unbeaten team in the league, though they still trail Loudoun by a point (but have a game in hand).

Rhode Island FC 0 – 0 San Antonio FC

After a long delay and six league games on the road, Rhode Island FC finally got to host a home game in their brand new facility, the Centreville Bank Stadium! With a record-breaking crowd of 10,700 cramming the stadium, expectations were high among the supporters of the 2024 Eastern Conference Champions. Though the result probably proved disappointing, there were many positives for the Ocean State club to take away. They were the first team to hold West Conference leaders San Antonio scoreless all season, and they were superior in nearly all important game metrics (except goals).

Charleston Battery 4 – 2 Hartford Athletic

Hartford’s trip down south could not have started better. Jordan Scarlett nudged in a dangerous corner in the 5th minute to take a shock lead. He would later turn villain when he brought down Matt Myers in the box twenty minutes later, without getting the ball. Cal Jennings converted the spot kick and the teams were level. Battery took control of the half after that, adding another goal in the 38th. Charleston’s win moves them up to third in the East.

Indy Eleven 2 – 2 Detroit City FC

This was a solid draw for Indy. When Hayden White was issued a second yellow in the 60th minute, they were down a goal and salvaging any points seemed remote. Enter Elvis Amoh. The 33 year old Ghanaian, who pounced on a poor clearance from keeper Carlos Herrera in the 27th to cut the score in half in the 27th, once again punished Detroit’s lackadaisical defending in the 65th. He split the center-backs with a run that was met (somewhat fortuitously) by a long clearance from his own half. One touch and a crisp angled shot put the ball on the post, then the net. Detroit have to be kicking themselves, and dropped from third to fourth in the table.

Pittsburgh Riverhounds 0 – 2 North Carolina FC

A one-two punch within the 66th and 72nd minute by Louis Pérez and Pedro Dolabella gave NCFC three points to carry back south, as they dealt the offensively hapless Riverhounds their fourth loss of the season. Pittsburgh does retain their sixth place position in the East.

Tampa Bay Rowdies 2 – 2 Birmingham Legion FC

You talk about clutch goals, and they don’t get more clutch than Pacifique Niyongabire’s goal in the third minute of stoppage to snatch an equalizer.

Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC 1 – 1 Phoenix Rising FC

There was plenty of shooting (the teams combined for 34 shots), but precious little accuracy, in this tie. Colorado Springs’ goalkeeper Abraham Romero earned the team’s third red card of the season when he deliberately handled a chipped ball outside the box, but he likely saved his team a point.

El Paso Locomotive FC 3 – 0 New Mexico United

Jamaican national team goalkeeper Jahmali White put on a show tonight, stopping all six of New Mexico’s on-target shots. On the attacking side, Wilmer Cabrera earned himself a hat-trick with a header and two right-footed strikes. Despite this drubbing, New Mexico actually climbed up to third place, but virtue of the result just below.

Orange County SC 2 – 1 FC Tulsa

Coming into this match, OCSC had outscored FC Tulsa 10 to 1 in their last five meetings. When Lyam MacKinnon’s defender slipped on the surface, he stayed calm and expertly chipped the onrushing keeper to give the home side the lead. It was looking good for the OC until Taylor Calheira took strike off the bounce in the 74th. His shot took a slight deflection and rippled the net. But MacKinnon had one more trick up his sleeve when he took a pass, expertly turned and fired into the near side. That proved to be game winner, giving OCSC a much-needed win.

Las Vegas Lights FC 1 – 0 Loudoun United FC

Upset of the Week! Las Vegas Lights pulled a heist worthy of Danny Ocean’s crew in this one, holding the USL’s most dangerous team scoreless despite 17 shots, 10 corner kicks and 65% possession. Vegas’ Johnny Rodriguez (aka Chuey) got the lone goal. Despite the loss, Loudoun remain atop the East.

Monterey Bay 1 – 1 Miami FC

Under a spectacular Californian spring day, Monterey Bay began this game high on the season and sat in first place in the West. When Ilijah Paul Gindiri slotted a Mayele Malongo pass into the net from close range, they had to be on cloud nine. But Miami FC came to play, and have shed any trappings of the whipping boy facade they had in the beginning of the season. They pushed Monterey’s keep Nicolás Jiménez into eight saves, but Francisco Bonfiglio’s scuffed shot off a corner just managed to elude his diving effort to give the visitors a draw.

Oakland Roots 0 – 1 Sacramento Republic FC

My comrade-in-words The Qooligan was at this game. His report went something like: “Great vibe, positive energy, but the game just wasn’t good. Sacramento scored off a penalty (deserved), but the second half was a chippy affair with lots of excessive injury-related histrionics. Folks watching the CBS broadcast deserved better.”