Sunday's action began with Loudoun United FC hosting and taking down defending champions Louisville City FC, 3-0, in a tense and physical match at Audi Field. A first-half goal from midfielder Antonio Bustamante initially separated the two sides, but the hosts were helped out further by LouCity defender Alexis Souahy's sending off after 30 minutes. Despite a resolute second half from Louisville City that saw and goal waved off and goalkeeper Chris Hubbard make multiple saves, two late goals for Loudoun United FC broke the visitors and saw LUFC keep as many points home as goals scored. Out west, Portland Timbers 2 hosted LA Galaxy II and came back from a one goal deficit to draw, 1-1, at Providence Park. After going down in the seventh minute after a goal from Galaxy II's Ethan Zubak, Timbers 2 found an equalizer just after the half-hour mark that would get them a point out of the encounter.

PORTLAND, Ore. - Portland Timbers 2 nearly sealed a comeback draw against LA Galaxy II but were heartbroken as the visitors scored a winner in the 90+5 minute of added time through Jose Hernandez to steal all three points at the death. After just seven minutes, Galaxy II's edge to start the match paid off when midfielder Nate Shultz found Ethan Zubak unmarked in the middle of the box, leaving the forward with space and time to head past Timbers 2 goalkeeper Kendall McIntosh and in. Working their way into the game, Portland found their goal in the 32nd minute when Roy Miller played Dairon Asprilla down the line where the forward shuffled his way into the box and picked out the far post with a curling effort to bring his team level. A dramatic second half saw chances for both sides but where Timbers 2 nearly stole a win over their own heading into stoppage, Galaxy II made the most of a late game break that saw Jose Hernández put home a rebounded effort after Augustine Williams hit the crossbar to stun the hosts and earn all three points.

USL Championship Man of the Match

Eric Lopez, LA Galaxy II - Commanding goal for the visitors, Lopez was a key factor in LA's win with his four saves and one clearance helping see his team over the line.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Loudoun United FC collected an impressive win over Louisville City FC on Sunday, sending the visitors back home after a 3-0 loss thanks to goals from Antonio Bustamante, Elvis Amoh, and Moses Nyeman. 

Both sides looked likely to open the scoring early on as physicality quickly become a component to the match at Audi Field. In the 22nd minute, Loudoun United FC did well to open the scoring as a ball played to the top of the box for Bustamante saw the midfielder turn in and curl a well-struck effort past Louisville City FC goalkeeper Chris Hubbard and in. Eight minutes later, the match got worse for the defending champions as defender Alexis Souahy was sent off for dragging back forward Kyle Murphy on the edge of the area as the last defender.

However, LouCity kept the hosts at bay for the remainder of the half and made two impact substitutions at the start of the second half in the form of Brian Ownby and recent arrival Antonie Hoppenot as Head Coach John Hackworth looked to spark his side. Almost immediately into the second half, the substitutions looked to have paid off as Ownby put a loose ball into the back of the net only to see the flag go up on the far side for offside.

Up a man and attempting to control the game, Loudoun United FC withstood an effort off the crossbar from LouCity's Speedy Williams but did plenty on the other end themselves, forcing multiple solid saves from Hubbard. Late on, though, the man advantage proved too much for the visitors to take on as Loudoun's Elvis Amoh and Moses Nyeman both cleaned up crosses in the area to score from point-blank range in the 84th and 87th minutes, putting the hosts three to the good and sealing the match.

USL Championship Man of the Match

Antonio Bustamante, Loudoun United FC - Bustamante was instrumental for his team tonight, enforcing the midfield and creating plays as he scored a goal, assisted on another, and completed nearly 90 percent of his passes while winning three of four duels in 90 minutes of action.