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Gameday Previews – Saturday, March 19

By USLChampionship.com Staff, 03/18/22, 11:40AM EDT

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Rivalry clash between El Paso, New Mexico highlights full slate of 13 games on Saturday night

The second weekend of the 2022 USL Championship season gives us a full slate of 13 games on Saturday night that is highlighted by the renewal of the rivalry between El Paso Locomotive FC and New Mexico United on ESPN Deportes, the home opener for defending title holders Orange County SC, Championship newcomer Detroit City FC, and seven other clubs, and a notable playoff rematch between two sides coming off opening weekend victories.

Here's a look ahead at a full day of action across the league.

New York Red Bulls II vs. Loudoun United FC

Venue: MSU Soccer Park
Kickoff: 1 p.m. ET
Broadcast: ESPN+
538.com Predictor: NY 47%, LDN 28%, Draw 26%

The Lowdown: The New York Red Bulls II host Loudoun United FC in their home opener at MSU Soccer Park with both teams having grabbed a victory already this season. The Red Bulls II return home after earning a 1-0 win against Atlanta United 2 on Wednesday night as Jordan Adebayo-Smith scored his first goal for the club. The hosts have won only once in four prior home meetings with Saturday’s visitors, however, and Loudoun arrives after taking its first season-opening victory in club history last Saturday, a 1-0 victory against Indy Eleven that saw Kimarni Smith score the only goal of the game. After winning only four times in 2022, United could get halfway to that total if it can win for a third time in five visits.

Spotlight Players
New York Red Bulls II – John Murphy:
The 21-year-old former Red Bulls Academy product ran the show for the Red Bulls II against Atlanta and will look to follow that up with a big in the side’s home opener.

Loudoun United FC – Sami Guediri: Stepping up from League One, Guediri had a stellar debut for Loudoun against Indy Eleven to earn Championship Team of the Week honors.

Detroit City FC vs. Charleston Battery

Venue: Keyworth Stadium
Kickoff: 4 p.m. ET
Broadcast: ESPN+
538.com Predictor: DET 44%, CHS 28%, Draw 28%

The Lowdown: Detroit City FC will host its inaugural USL Championship home opener against the Charleston Battery looking to get its first points of the season after a solid debut performance on the road in Week 1. DCFC fell 1-0 to San Antonio FC at Toyota Stadium, but got a standout display from goalkeeper Nathan Steinwascher, whose five saves earned him a berth in the Championship Team of the Week. Charleston got an immediate impact from one of its new arrivals as Sierra Leone international Augustine Williams scored the only goal as the Battery defeated FC Tulsa 1-0 at Patriots Point to give new Head Coach and former United States Men’s National Team player Conor Casey a win in his first game at the club. Charleston will now be the first Championship club to visit Keyworth Stadium for a league contest, where the fans led by the Northern Guard Supporters have created one of the best gameday atmospheres in North American soccer.

Players to Watch
Detroit City FC – Francis Atuahene:
The former FC Dallas forward had two of DCFC’s five shots against San Antonio and will take aim at becoming the first goalscorer in the club’s Championship history on home turf.

Charleston Battery – Enock Kwakwa: The Ghanaian midfielder was officially signed on Friday and could add some steel to the center of the Battery’s midfield as it heads north.

LA Galaxy II vs. San Antonio FC

Venue: Dignity Health Sports Park
Kickoff: 7 p.m. ET
Broadcast: ESPN+
538.com Predictor: LA 17%, SA 61%, Draw 22%

The Lowdown: San Antonio FC will try to make it two wins from two to start the season as it visits the LA Galaxy II for their home opener after Los Dos suffered a heartbreaking defeat in its opening game of the season. Reduced to 10 men late on, the Galaxy II rallied to level thanks to Preston Judd’s first goal of the season against San Diego Loyal SC last Saturday, but an unfortunate own goal by Jalen Neal deep in second-half stoppage time gave the hosts victory at Torero Stadium. San Antonio earned all three points with a 1-0 win against Detroit City FC as Fabien Garcia scored on his debut for the club, and the visitors will be hoping to be a little sharper with their finishing in their first trip to LA since a 1-1 draw between the sides on September 20, 2019.

Players to Watch
LA Galaxy II – Cameron Dunbar:
The pacy winger completed 14 of 15 passes in his 2022 debut but will be looking to get more involved in attack as Los Dos return home.

San Antonio FC – Cristian Bonilla: The Colombian goalkeeper had a solid debut for SAFC against Detroit and will hope to put up a second consecutive shutout to start the season in LA.

Memphis 901 FC vs. Oakland Roots SC

Venue: AutoZone Park
Kickoff: 7 p.m. ET
Broadcast: ESPN+
538.com Predictor: MEM 44%, OAK 29%, Draw 27%

The Lowdown: Both Memphis 901 FC and Oakland Roots SC will try to bounce back from opening day defeats as they square off for the first time in their histories. Memphis had a penalty saved and was then reduced to 10 men as Graham Smith was dismissed after two yellow cards, which paved the way to a 3-0 loss to Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC in Week 1, but the resolute performance 901 FC delivered despite being a man down should offer some optimism for the side overall. Oakland will be looking for a major pickup in its attacking play, meanwhile, after recording only two shots in a 1-0 defeat to Rio Grande Valley FC at H-E-B Park last weekend in Head Coach Juan Guerra’s debut on the sidelines.

Players to Watch
Memphis 901 FC – Laurent Kissiedou:
The Ghanaian had a solid first game of the season, and Memphis will be hoping he can drive the attack from midfield this time out.

Oakland Roots SC – Charlie Dennis: The former League One standout was held without a shot and key pass in his debut for Oakland but showed promise in preseason that he’ll hope to unlock soon.

Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC vs. Harford Athletic

Venue: Highmark Stadium
Kickoff: 7 p.m. ET
Broadcast: ESPN+
538.com Predictor: PIT 54%, HFD 20%, Draw 25%

The Lowdown: Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC hosts its home opener at Highmark Stadium after victory in its season opener as it plays host to a Hartford Athletic side making its 2022 debut after a bye in Week 1. The Hounds took a 3-0 win against Memphis 901 FC as Dane Kelly recorded his 100th regular season goal in the Championship and Alex Dixon notched a pair of assists after Chase Vosvick had made a first-half penalty kick save. Pittsburgh will look to build on that result in a game that features the top two assist leaders in the Championship’s regular season history. The Hounds’ Kenardo Forbes has recorded 45 helpers in the league’s regular season, one ahead of Hartford’s Danny Barrera, who will be looking to make a strong start to the new season as the side welcomes new arrivals such as Jamaican midfielder Andre Lewis, defenders Modou Jadama and Tom Brewitt and Jamaican international Peter-Lee Vassell in attack.

Players to Watch
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC – Kenardo Forbes:
The Jamaican veteran had four chances created against Memphis, continuing to be a creative threat from set pieces and in open play.

Hartford Athletic – Austin Pack: Another newcomer to the Athletic this season, Pack is set to be the starter in goal to replace the departed Jeff Caldwell after a strong 2021 campaign in Charlotte.

Louisville City FC vs. Miami FC

Venue: Lynn Family Stadium
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. ET
Broadcast: ESPN+
538.com Predictor: LOU 48%, MIA 26%, Draw 26%

The Lowdown: Louisville City FC and Miami FC square off in a rematch from the 2021 USL Championship Playoffs after each taking victory in their home openers last weekend. Louisville edged out Atlanta United 2 as a strong attacking display was thwarted by Atlanta goalkeeper Vicente Reyes, only for Wilson Harris to notch a second-half winner on his debut for the hosts. Miami got a big performance from one of its new arrivals as well with Mark Segbers recording a goal and assist in a 2-0 win against the New York Red Bulls II. LouCity defeated Miami 1-0 in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals when these sides last met thanks to a goal by Jorge Gonzalez and will be hoping to defend its home turf again against one of the sides that appears set to challenge in the Eastern Conference this campaign.

Players to Watch
Louisville City FC – Manny Perez:
The former U.S. youth international had a fine debut for LouCity on the right side, and his potential matchup with Miami’s Mark Segbers will be one to watch.

Miami FC – Kyle Murphy: After Segbers got off the mark last week, Miami’s other 2021 All-League arrival this offseason will be keen to get off the mark as well and help the visitors take home victory.

Tampa Bay Rowdies vs. Indy Eleven

Venue: Al Lang Stadium
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. ET
Broadcast: ESPN+
538.com Predictor: TBR 64%, IND 13%, Draw 23%

The Lowdown: The Tampa Bay Rowdies kick off their home slate against Indy Eleven at Al Lang Stadium looking to earn a first win of the season. Tampa Bay was denied three points in its season opener after a 1-1 draw against Birmingham Legion FC at Protective Stadium last Sunday that saw Sebastian Dalgaard’s first-half goal be cancelled out late by the hosts. The Rowdies won 13 of 16 regular season games at home last season, though, and will be aiming to maintain that level of form this campaign, starting against an Indy side that fell 1-0 on the road against Loudoun United FC in Head Coach Mark Lowry’s debut last Saturday. Both Lowry and Rowdies Head Coach Neill Collins were finalists for the Championship’s Coach of the Year last year, with Collins taking home the award, and this will be their first regular-season meeting after Lowry’s arrival in the Eastern Conference after a three-year stint at El Paso Locomotive FC.

Players to Watch
Tampa Bay Rowdies – Sebastian Guenzatti:
The Rowdies’ captain was his usual active self in the club’s opener and will be hoping to get on the scoresheet for the first time this campaign on Saturday.

Indy Eleven – Mechack Jerome: The Haitian defender will be key to holding the Rowdies’ attack in check as the visitors look to earn their first point of the season before he departs on international duty next week.

Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC vs. Monterey Bay F.C.

Venue: Weidner Field
Kickoff: 8 p.m. ET
Broadcast: ESPN+
538.com Predictor: COS 61%, MB 16%, Draw 23%

The Lowdown: Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC will try to build on a winning start to the season as it hosts first-year club Monterey Bay F.C. after goals by Michee Ngalina and Malik Johnson sent the hosts to victory a week ago against defending title-holder Orange County SC. The Switchbacks are now undefeated in their last 10 home games overall, posing a challenge to Monterey Bay as it visits for the first time. MBFC scored its first goals in club history thanks to Seku Conneh and local product Adrian Rebollar but conceded four times in the first half of a 4-2 defeat to Phoenix Rising FC in its Championship debut last Saturday and will need to avoid getting out to a similar slow start against one of the more explosive attacks in the league this weekend.

Players to Watch
Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC – Michee Ngalina:
The Congolese winger marked his return to the Switchbacks’ lineup with a goal and will be hoping for more against MBFC’s newly-assembled defense.

Monterey Bay F.C. – Arun Basuljevic: The attacking midfielder had a solid performance in Phoenix, and will need to be at his best if the visitors are to earn a result on the road here.

El Paso Locomotive FC vs. New Mexico United

Venue: Southwest University Park
Kickoff: 8 p.m. ET
Broadcast: ESPN Deportes
538.com Predictor: ELP 45%, NM 29%, Draw 26%

The Lowdown: The best current rivalry in the USL Championship resumes as El Paso Locomotive FC and New Mexico United meet on national television with the hosts hoping to rebound from defeat in their opener as they play their home opener. Locomotive FC fell 3-1 to Sacramento Republic FC last Saturday night despite a goal in his debut by Emmanuel Sonupe, part of a bright attacking performance that could have delivered more in the final third before Republic FC grabbed victory late. New Mexico took a comfortable 2-0 victory against Las Vegas Lights FC in its opening game last Sunday as new forward Neco Brett found the net, but the visitors will have to break a 23-game home regular season undefeated streak currently held by El Paso, with United the last visiting team to win at Southwest University Park in the regular season on July 24, 2020.

Players to Watch
El Paso Locomotive FC – Diego Luna:
Called up to the U.S. U-20 Men’s National Team camp in Argentina next week, Luna will be aiming to leave on a high note against Locomotive FC’s biggest rival.

New Mexico United – Chris Wehan: The New Mexico playmaker has scored four goals in seven prior contests against El Paso and could be the key to victory for the visitors on Saturday.

FC Tulsa vs. Birmingham Legion FC

Venue: ONEOK Field
Kickoff: 8:30 p.m. ET
Broadcast: ESPN+
538.com Predictor: TUL 37%, BHM 36%, Draw 28%

The Lowdown: Both FC Tulsa and Birmingham Legion FC will be looking for their first win of the season as Tulsa hosts its home opener at ONEOK Field. Tulsa fell 1-0 to the Charleston Battery in its opening game of the season as its attack was unable to break through despite a positive overall display. The hosts will have playmaker Rodrigo da Costa available for selection, too, after his second yellow card against the Battery that resulted in his sending off against the Battery was rescinded by the Independent Review Panel in midweek. Birmingham earned a point in its opening game as newcomer Marlon scored late to earn a 1-1 draw against the Tampa Bay Rowdies, and the Brazilian will now get the chance to face his former club after recording nine goals a season ago for Tulsa before his offseason move to Legion FC. Moving the opposite way was current Tulsa forward J.J. Williams, who recorded five goals a season ago for Legion FC.

Players to Watch
FC Tulsa – Brian Brown:
The Jamaican forward was lively in his debut for Tulsa with four shots overall and will be hoping to notch his first goal for his new club in front of the home fans.

Birmingham Legion FC – Freddy Kleeman: The center back fit in well with alongside Phanuel Kavita and Alex Crognale in Legion FC’s back line and will need to put in a solid performance for the visitors to earn a result.

Las Vegas Lights FC vs. Phoenix Rising FC

Venue: Cashman Field
Kickoff: 10 p.m. ET
Broadcast: ESPN+
538.com Predictor: LV 17%, PHX 63%, Draw 20%

The Lowdown: Las Vegas Lights FC plays host to Phoenix Rising FC in its home opener looking for its second home victory in the series between the clubs after seven prior meetings. Lights FC fell 2-0 to New Mexico United last Sunday in its opening game under new Head Coach Enrique Duran despite some solid individual performances overall. The hosts will now have to contend with a Rising FC side that ran away with a 4-2 victory against Monterey Bay F.C. last Saturday night after scoring four goals in the first half. Among the scorers was Greg Hurst, who ended his Rising FC debut with a goal and assist after making the move up from USL League One club Union Omaha a season ago. Phoenix has won four of seven prior visits to Cashman Field and will be hoping to continue that trend on Saturday.

Players to Watch
Las Vegas Lights FC – Dekel Keinan:
The experienced Israeli center back had six clearances and four interceptions against New Mexico and will need to come up big to keep Phoenix’s attack in check.

Phoenix Rising FC – Santi Moar: The Spaniard wasn’t among the scorers in Rising FC’s opener, but has scored five times in eight career appearances against Las Vegas, his individual high against a team.

Orange County SC vs. Rio Grande Valley FC

Venue: Championship Soccer Stadium
Kickoff: 10 p.m. ET
Broadcast: ESPN+
538.com Predictor: OC 50%, RGV 23%, Draw 27%

The Lowdown: Orange County SC hosts Rio Grande Valley FC in its home opener looking to rebound from an opening defeat in its title defense, and the departure of 2021 leading scorer Ronaldo Damus in midweek. The Haitian forward was transferred to Swedish top-flight club GIF Sundsvall on Thursday, but OCSC might have found his replacement in Milan Iloski, who scored on his debut for the club in a 2-1 defeat to Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC last weekend. OCSC will be looking for a more lively overall performance at home against a Toros side that posted an impressive 1-0 win against Oakland Roots SC in its opening game, restricting the visitors to only two shots as Frank Lopez’s goal proved the difference. The Toros took a 2-0 victory when they visited Championship Soccer Stadium last July, and would love to deliver the same result this time around.

Players to Watch
Orange County SC – Kobi Henry:
The United States U-20 international will be aiming for a strong performance before he heads to camp in Argentina with the national team next week.

Rio Grande Valley FC – Emilio Ycaza: The attacking midfielder had a strong 2022 debut as one of the Toros’ returnees and will be hoping for more of the same as the side hits the road.

San Diego Loyal SC vs. Sacramento Republic FC

Venue: Torero Stadium
Kickoff: 10 p.m. ET
Broadcast: ESPN+
538.com Predictor: SD 46%, SAC 28%, Draw 26%

The Lowdown: San Diego Loyal SC and Sacramento Republic FC will each be looking to build on late victories in their season openers as they square off at Torero Stadium. SD Loyal got a major impact off the bench from newcomer Thomas Amang in its 2-1 win against the LA Galaxy II last Saturday as the Cameroonian scored once and delivered the shot off the crossbar that turned into an own goal deep in second-half stoppage time for the winner for the hosts. Republic FC also saw its newcomers contribute positively, with Douglas Martinez Jr. scoring a late winner in a 3-1 victory against El Paso Locomotive FC before Spanish winger Keko added an insurance goal in his first appearance for the club. Sacramento will be hoping to get out to a more positive start than a week ago, but this game should be a good litmus test for two sides that are aiming for title contention this year.

Players to Watch
San Diego Loyal SC – Kyle Vassell:
A newcomer to the side, Vassell was underwhelming in leading the attacking line overall and will be hoping for a bigger performance.

Sacramento Republic FC – Douglas Martinez Jr.: The Honduran forward notched a goal and assist in his debut for Republic FC and will be hoping for more against an SD Loyal side he played on loan for in 2021.

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