It was a weekend of big matchups in USL, with a handful of games that held significant implications in the conference tables.
Sacramento Republic FC leapfrogged Seattle Sounders 2 for the top spot in the Western Conference with a 3-0 rout of S2 on Saturday at a sold-out Bonney Field in Sacramento. In the Eastern Conference, the Rochester Rhinos maintained their scalding hot form with a 1-0 victory over Toronto FC II on a stoppage-time winner from Brazilian forward Steevan dos Santos at TFCII’s Sahlen’s Stadium, giving Rochester a league-best 20 points from eight games. But the Charleston Battery stayed hot on their heels with 17 points from seven games with a 3-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Riverhounds on Saturday.
Overall, it was a rough weekend for teams owned by MLS sides.
The Harrisburg City Islanders beat New York Red Bulls II by a 2-1 count and the Austin Aztex defeated Real Monarchs SLC 3-2, while the Portland Timbers 2’s game against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC and the matchup between LA Galaxy II and OK Energy FC were both postponed due to weather.
Here’s a look at one of the key games from last week:
Saturday: Sacramento Republic FC 3, Seattle Sounders 2 0 (USL recap | Highlights | Full game replay)
Rodrigo Lopez had a goal and an assist as the defending champions moved back to the top of the USL’s Western Conference with a victory. Entering on a two-game losing streak, Sacramento took control of the contest early when Lopez found Nemanja Vukovic with a free kick that the defender headed home. Lopez added his sixth goal of the season in the 63rd minute off a give-and-go with Max Alvarez, and two minutes later S2 were reduced to 10 men as Giuliano Frano was sent off after a second yellow card. Adnan Gabeljic rounded out the scoring with his first goal for Sacramento, who jumped back past S2 in the standings while the visitors remained winless on the road.
MLS players on loan
SEA: Aaron Long (90 mins), Damion Lowe (90 mins), Charlie Lyon (90 mins), Jimmy Ockford (72 mins), Darwin Jones (56 mins), Aaron Kovar (34 mins), Victor Mansaray (27 mins)
SAC: none
Sounders 2 recap
This week’s games:
Tue., May 12 – Louisville City FC vs. Wilmington Hammerheads FC, 7:30 pm ET
Wed., May 13 – LA Galaxy II vs. Tulsa Roughnecks FC, 10:30 pm ET
Thu., May 14 – FC Montreal vs. Charleston Battery, 4 pm ET
Thu., May 14 – Saint Louis FC vs. Toronto FC II, 8 pm ET
Fri., May 15 – Seattle Sounders FC 2 vs. OKC Energy FC, 10:30 pm ET
Sat., May 16 – Wilmington Hammerheads FC vs. Rochester Rhinos, 7 pm ET
Sat., May 16 – Pittsburgh Riverhounds vs. Richmond Kickers, 7 pm ET
Sat., May 16 – Harrisburg City Islanders vs. Charlotte Independence, 7 pm ET
Sat., May 16 – Louisville City FC vs. Toronto FC II, 7:30 pm ET
Sat., May 16 – Real Monarchs SLC vs. Portland Timbers 2, 9 pm ET
Sat., May 16 – Orange County Blues FC vs. Tulsa Roughnecks, 10 pm ET
Sat., May 16 – Arizona United SC vs. Austin Aztex, 10:30 pm ET
Sun., May 17 – Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 vs. OKC Energy FC, 5 pm ET
Sun., May 17 – New York Red Bulls II vs. Charleston Battery, 7 pm ET
Sun., May 17 – LA Galaxy II vs. Sacramento Republic FC, 7:15 pm ET
Every game of the 2015 USL season will be streamed live on team YouTube channels. For highlights, visit the USL's official YouTube channel.
