It's down to Swope Park Rangers to defend the honor of MLS in next weekend's USL Cup final.
Sporting Kansas City's USL side is the lone MLS club-aligned team to reach this year's final, playing FC Dallas affiliate OKC Energy to a scoreless draw in Saturday night's semifinal before advancing 7-6 on penalties. They'll face Louisville City FC, who advanced on penalties following a 1-1 draw against New York Red Bulls II in the other semifinal Saturday. Junior Flemming forced extra time and penalties after hitting a second-half equalizer for New York.
As the top-seeded Eastern Conference team, Louisville will host the final Monday, Nov. 13 (9 pm ET | ESPN U) against Swope Park, the fourth-seeded team out of the West.
Swope Park also reached the final last season before losing 5-1 to Red Bulls II. They are aiming to become the second MLS-run team to win a USL title after Red Bulls II became the first.
USL Cup
Nov. 13 |
Louisville City FC vs. Swope Park Rangers |
9 pm ET |
Conference Finals
Eastern Conference
Sat., Nov. 4 |
Louisville City FC 0 (4) vs. New York Red Bulls II 0 (3) |
<a href="http://www.uslsoccer.com/louisvillecityfc-newyorkredbullsii-959357">RECAP</a> |
Western Conference
Sat., Nov. 4 |
Swope Park Rangers 0 (7), OKC Energy 0 (6) |
<a href="http://www.uslsoccer.com/swopeparkrangers-okcenergyfc-959358">RECAP</a> |
Conference Semifinals
Eastern Conference
Sat., Oct. 28 |
Louisville City FC 1, Rochester Rhinos 0 |
<a href="http://www.uslsoccer.com/louisvillecityfc-rochesterrhinos-959105">RECAP</a> |
Sat., Oct. 28 |
Tampa Bay Rowdies 1, New York Red Bulls II 2 (AET) |
<a href="http://www.uslsoccer.com/tampabayrowdies-newyorkredbullsii-959106">RECAP</a> |
Sat., Oct. 28 |
Swope Park Rangers 1, Sacramento Republic FC 0 |
<a href="http://www.uslsoccer.com/swopeparkrangers-sacramentorepublicfc-959109">RECAP</a> |
Sat., Oct. 28 |
San Antonio FC 1 (1), OKC Energy 1 (4) |
<a href="http://www.uslsoccer.com/sanantoniofc-okcenergyfc-959107">RECAP</a> |
Conference Quarterfinals
Eastern Conference
Fri., Oct. 20 |
Louisville City FC 4, Bethlehem Steel FC 0 |
<a href="http://www.uslsoccer.com/news_article/show/846847?referrer_id=2333971">RECAP</a> |
Sat., Oct. 21 |
Rochester Rhinos 2, Charlotte Independence 1 (AET) |
<a href="http://www.uslsoccer.com/news_article/show/847086?referrer_id=2424350">RECAP</a> |
Sat., Oct. 21 |
Charleston Battery 0, New York Red Bulls II 4 |
<a href="http://www.uslsoccer.com/news_article/show/847087?referrer_id=2333971">RECAP</a> |
Sat., Oct. 21 |
Tampa Bay Rowdies 3, FC Cincinnati 0 |
<a href="http://www.uslsoccer.com/news_article/show/847092?referrer_id=2333971">RECAP</a> |
Western Conference
Fri., Oct. 20 |
Real Monarchs SLC 1 (1), Sacramento Republic FC 1 (3) |
<a href="http://www.uslsoccer.com/realmonarchsslc-sacramentorepublicfc-958928" target="_blank">RECAP</a> |
Sat., Oct. 21 |
San Antonio FC 2, Tulsa Roughnecks FC 1 |
<a href="http://www.uslsoccer.com/news_article/show/847108?referrer_id=2333971">RECAP</a> |
Sat., Oct. 21* |
Swope Park Rangers 1 (4), Phoenix Rising FC 1 (2) |
<a href="http://www.uslsoccer.com/news_article/show/847297?referrer_id=2333971" target="_blank">RECAP</a> |
Sat., Oct. 21 |
Reno 1868 FC 0, OKC Energy FC 1 |
<a href="http://www.uslsoccer.com/news_article/show/847109?referrer_id=2333971">RECAP</a> |
*Postponed due to weather, completed Sun., Oct 22.
