USL State of the Season: The East | OneFootball

One of the little known side-effects of entering the Jägermeister Cup competition was that the USL regular season lost four games. Teams now play 31 before the final “Decision Day” matches that will determine the top 8 from each conference. Which means we are now approximately two-thirds of the way through the 2025 season, with Gameweek 21 kicking off tomorrow.

So how do things stand? Never fear, dear reader, the Hooligan crew is here to give the high points on the lowdown in the Eastern Conference.

Shoo-Ins

There are few guarantees in a league as mercurial as the USL, but saying that Louisville City and Charleston Battery will be in the playoffs is as close to a sure thing as there is.

Sitting on 47 and 44 points respectively, the two have sat atop the table trading the first and second spots since Gameweek 10. Neither team looks unlikely to stumble anytime soon. Louisville has only lost once this entire season; Charleston’s last defeat was to LouCity two weeks ago.

Contenders

While the remaining ten teams all have a mathematical chance to finish above the playoff line, only two are serious contenders who should cruise into the post-season: Loudoun United (31 pts.) and North Carolina FC (30 pts.)

Loudoun has done well, particularly compared to last season, but they are far too reliant on their dynamic winger Abdellatif Aboukoura. His eleven goals equal the next top four scorer’s total combined. They’ve also had discipline issues; their three red cards resulted in losses from previously winning (or level) positions.

NCFC is the little engine that could. They’ve been sitting stubbornly in either 4th or 5th place for 10+ weeks now, and nothing in their current form indicates that will change.

Bubble Teams

Pittsburg Riverhounds (27 pts.) and Detroit City FC (25 pts.) are the bubble teams, equally likely to make the playoffs as they are to pop and drop out.

The key to Pittsburg’s playoff qualification is to score more goals. They only have 19 so far, and while their defense is resilient (they’ve conceded one more than league leader Louisville City), you cannot win games without goals. Daniel Griffin is their top scorer with four; eight others have featured on the scoresheet.

Detroit City simply cannot hold momentum. There was also that woeful six weeks from May through early June during which they were winless in eight straight games (3D, 5L). Still, they’re holding onto a lower playoff seed mainly due to Darren Smith, whose eight goals have usually come at critical times.

The Clamicos

The media can’t get enough of this self-named derby rivalry, and apparently neither can I.

Firstly, I need to express my surprise at Hartford. They were deep in the dumpster for the longest time, dead last at the end of Matchweek 14 after a loss to equally abysmal Tampa Bay.  But since that ebb, it’s been seven undefeated games (with five wins)! This included a shootout victory over rival Rhode Island in the final Jägermeister Cup match that also advanced them into the next round. The drivers of Hartford’s success are Dieng Mamadou and Kyle Edwards, whose combined 17 goals are 61% of the team’s total.

Speaking of Rhode Island… what is their deal? On the one hand, they have the fewest goals scored of any team in the league (15, one less than dead last Las Vegas). On the other, they’ve conceded the fourth fewest goals (20) in the league. Both are impressive achievements, the latter one is what has kept them clinging to a playoff spot. Fix the attack, Anchors, and you cruise into the harbor.

All the Rest (aka Sitting in the Doldrums)

All four of these teams are no fewer than three points away from Rhode Island. So a single win could move them up into the top eight. Volatility is the norm at this level, which makes for thrilling soccer as every game is played with 100% intensity (or should be).

Indy Eleven & Miami FC

Offensively, Indy Eleven are okay, with good goal distribution throughout the team and the highest total of the bottom four. But defensively, yikes! They have conceded the third most goals in the league (35) and highest in the East. Until that leak is plugged, this side is going nowhere but down.

If pro/rel had been in effect last season, we wouldn’t even have Miami FC. They won three games last year. Three. One player, Francisco Bonfiglio, has scored 58% of their goals this season. He’ll be swooped up by some other team, and Miami will avoid yet another playoff run.

Birmingham Legion & Tampa Bay Rowdies

It’s hard to really pin down anything on Birmingham Legion. They get a lot of draws, but what they excel at is losing close games. Seven of nine league losses were by one goal margins. Sure, like all the bottom teams they suck at defending, but they can score goals – Ronaldo Damus in particular, who has eight on the season. I’m saying it here: Birmingham will not make the playoffs.

One of the OG U.S. soccer clubs, Tampa Bay has hit some rocky times. Rumors are swirling around the team’s future in the Tampa region, as recovery from last year’s hurricane Milton is slow and costly. On top of that, the team is simply not good. Even though they’ve won five of their last ten in all competitions, they’re still in last place. Fans will be hoping for a repeat of last season, in which they seized a playoff spot in the final week, then went on to a strong post-season run.