Saturday night’s action in the USL Championship includes some notable rivals – and potential rivals – squaring off in addition to a matchup of the top two teams in last year’s Central Division and some notable names squaring off against their former clubs both on the sidelines and on the field.

Here's a rundown of a full night of action across the league.

Detroit City FC vs. Memphis 901 FC

Venue: Keyworth Stadium
Kickoff: 4 p.m. ET
Broadcast: ESPN+
538.com Predictor: DET 37%, MEM 35%, Draw 28%

The Lowdown: Detroit City FC plays host to Memphis 901 FC with both teams entering in positive form as former DCFC Head Coach Ben Pirmann returns to the club with 901 FC. Memphis has claimed victory in each of its past two outings after Jeremy Kelly scored a second-half goal to lift the side to a 1-0 win against Las Vegas Lights FC last Saturday afternoon at Cashman Field. Kelly has notched a goal and assist in the past two games, with Aaron Molloy and Patrick Seagrist also having found the net for the side. Detroit remained undefeated at Keyworth Stadium through two games this season as Maxi Rodriguez’s second-half penalty kick earned a 1-1 draw with Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC last Saturday, and the hosts will be hopeful of jumping past Memphis after a strong second-half display against one of the Eastern Conference’s presumed contenders.

Spotlight Players
Detroit City FC – Rhys Williams: The right-sided midfielder has delivered some positive displays so far while playing every minute of the season, notching two key passes and six successful dribbles.

Memphis 901 FC – Laurent Kissiedou: The central midfielder notched his first assist of the season against Las Vegas and will be important if Memphis is to come away with a result on the road.

Hartford Athletic vs. Atlanta United 2

Venue: Trinity Health Stadium
Kickoff: 7 p.m. ET
Broadcast: ESPN+
538.com Predictor: HFD 54%, ATL 21%, Draw 24%

The Lowdown: Hartford Athletic will host its home opener against Atlanta United 2 on Saturday night at the newly-named Trinity Health Stadium looking to build on its first point of the season in its most recent outing. Hartford got an early goal by newcomer Joel Johnson in a 1-1 draw against the Tampa Bay Rowdies last Saturday night as the Liberian international provided an early return on his signing. The hosts will be hoping to build on their home success a season ago that saw the side take seven wins under Head Coach Harry Watling as it faces Atlanta for only the third time. The visitors – who split the series with Hartford in 2019 as each side won at home – are coming off their first win of the campaign after Jackson Conway notched the 100th hat trick in the Championship’s regular season last Sunday in a 4-1 win against the Charleston Battery. After being edged out by a late goal in their last trip to Connecticut, Atlanta will be hoping for a better result this time around.  

Players to Watch
Hartford Athletic – Danny Barrera: The league’s Assists Champion is off to a quiet start this season with only one key pass in two games. Expect that to change back on home turf on Saturday.

Atlanta United 2 – Jonantan Villal: Jackson Conway might have stolen the headlines with his hat trick, but Villal also had a big performance against Charleston that included a pair of assists.

Indy Eleven vs. LA Galaxy II

Venue: Michael A. Carroll Stadium
Kickoff: 7 p.m. ET
Broadcast: ESPN+
538.com Predictor: IND 47%, LA 25%, Draw 28%

The Lowdown: Indy Eleven plays its home opener at Michael A. Carroll Stadium with a first meeting against the LA Galaxy II as the hosts try to build on a positive result on the road last weekend. Indy earned a 1-1 draw against rival Louisville City FC at Lynn Family Stadium as Stefano Pinho scored his first goal of the season, giving new Head Coach Mark Lowry his first point in charge since taking the helm last offseason. Los Dos are also coming off a positive result, having taken a 1-0 win against Rio Grande Valley FC on March 23 on a goal by Taylor Davila before getting last weekend off. The Galaxy II had a better away record than at home a season ago, taking seven wins, but suffered defeat in their first trip of the season against San Diego Loyal SC to kick off the campaign.

Players to Watch
Indy Eleven – Noah Powder: The Trinidad and Tobago international has made a slow start to the season, but after a week away on international duty will be looking for a sharper outing on his new home turf.

LA Galaxy II – Daniel Aguirre: The young Galaxy homegrown sits second in the league with 14 chances created in three games and will be a player Indy has to account for in the middle of the field.

Miami FC vs. Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC

Venue: Riccardo Silva Stadium
Kickoff: 7 p.m. ET
Broadcast: ESPN+
538.com Predictor: MIA 42%, COS 31%, Draw 27%

The Lowdown: Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC will try to continue its best start to a season as it visits Miami FC on Saturday night in the first meeting between the two clubs all-time. The Switchbacks took their third consecutive victory of the season last Saturday in a 2-0 win on the road against Birmingham Legion FC as Michee Ngalina scored his second goal of the season before Ben Mines wrapped up the win with a late finish. Colorado Springs is tied for first place in the Western Conference and now in pursuit of its longest winning streak in club history of six games set in its inaugural 2015 season. Miami will be hoping to bring that run to an end, but will want to be sharper in the attacking third after playing to a 0-0 draw against Loudoun United FC in its last outing at Riccardo Silva Stadium. The hosts will have both Speedy Williams and Lamar Walker again available for selection after international duty, with Williams having completed 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifying having appeared in all 14 games of the campaign for Jamaica.

Players to Watch
Miami FC – Othello Bah: The left back could be given the task of keeping Michee Ngalina quiet in the attacking third, if he succeeds it would be a big positive for the hosts.

Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC – Hadji Barry: The 2021 Most Valuable Player has yet to record a goal this season, but with two assists and the side sitting on three wins, that’s perfectly fine for now.

Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC vs. Loudoun United FC

Venue: Highmark Stadium
Kickoff: 7 p.m. ET
Broadcast: ESPN+
538.com Predictor: PIT 63%, LDN 14%, Draw 23%

The Lowdown: Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC will try to make it two wins out of two on home turf this season as they play host to a Loudoun United FC side that has been the big surprise of the campaign so far. Loudoun is the lone team yet to concede a goal in three outings after a 0-0 draw with Miami FC last weekend moved the side to seven points. The visitors will be without one of their key contributors to that success against Pittsburgh, however, with Sami Guediri serving a one-game suspension after a late red card in Miami. The Hounds return home having played to a 1-1 draw on the road against Detroit City FC as Albert Dikwa’s first-half goal was cancelled out by a second-half penalty kick for the hosts. The hosts have a strong history against Loudoun on their home turf, though, having never conceded a goal to Loudoun in four prior victories at Highmark Stadium.

Players to Watch
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC – Jelani Peters: The Trinidad and Tobago defender has made a strong start to the new season, recording 14 clearances and three interceptions on the back line.

Loudoun United FC – Luis Zamudio: United’s goalkeeper is tied for the league-lead with three shutouts but has only had to record four saves thank to impressive displays by the clubs’ back line.

Birmingham Legion FC vs. Louisville City FC

Venue: Protective Stadium
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. ET
Broadcast: ESPN+
538.com Predictor: BHM 38%, LOU 34%, Draw 28%

The Lowdown: Birmingham Legion FC will try to earn its first win of the season as it welcomes current Eastern Conference leader Louisville City FC to Protective Stadium. Birmingham suffered a 2-0 defeat on home turf in its most recent outing against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC last Friday, but after scoring only twice in its opening three games of the season added former United States Men’s National Team forward Juan Agudelo to the squad this week. Agudelo could make his debut against LouCity, the side Birmingham finished a point behind in the Central Division standings a season ago after a fine duel between the clubs throughout the campaign. LouCity saw its perfect start come to an end last weekend after a 1-1 draw against rival Indy Eleven that saw Sean Totsch score a second-half equalizer, but with 10 points from four games the visitors could equal their best start to a season in 2018 with a victory.

Players to Watch
Birmingham Legion FC – Prosper Kasim: With a goal and assist so far this season, Kasim has been a bright spot for Birmingham and Agudelo’s arrival could open more space for the left winger.

Louisville City FC – Manny Perez: The right sided-midfielder has one assists and eight chances created so far and will look to cause problems for Birmingham’s defense in tandem with Brian Ownby.

FC Tulsa vs. New York Red Bulls II

Venue: ONEOK Field
Kickoff: 8:30 p.m. ET
Broadcast: ESPN+
538.com Predictor: TUL 62%, NY 15%, Draw 23%

The Lowdown: FC Tulsa plays host to the New York Red Bulls II in the first meeting between the two sides with Tulsa looking to build on a strong start to the season on home turf against their winless visitors. Tulsa fell 2-1 last Sunday on the road against Sacramento Republic FC but has won two games out of two at ONEOK Field so far this season, most recently taking a 1-0 win against San Diego Loyal SC on March 23. Dario Suarez scored the only goal of that contest, and the Cuban forward could be rejoined in the Tulsa attack by El Salvador international Joaqin Rivas with both he and Ronald Rodriguez back after competing for El Salvador in 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifying over the past week. New York has lost three of four so far this season including a 2-0 setback to Louisville City FC on March 23 in its last outing that saw Lamine Conte earn a second-half red card that resulted in a one-game suspension for Saturday’s contest.

Players to Watch
FC Tulsa – Petar Cuic: The new offseason arrival, Cuic has notched a pair of assists already this season from his central midfield role, including setting up Rodrigo da Costa for Tulsa’s goal in Sacramento last week.

New York Red Bulls II – Serge Ngoma: The young forward has shown promise last season and this, and could prove a handful for Tulsa’s back line if available for selection for the visitors.

San Antonio FC vs. Phoenix Rising FC

Venue: Toyota Field
Kickoff: 8:30 p.m. ET
Broadcast: ESPN+
538.com Predictor: SA 51%, PHX 26%, Draw 23%

The Lowdown: San Antonio FC will try to continue its perfect start to the season as it plays host to a Phoenix Rising FC side in the unfamiliar position of entering a game off back-to-back defeats. San Antonio maintained its winning start last Sunday night as it took a 2-1 victory against South Texas Derby rival Rio Grande Valley FC at H-E-B Park as David Loera scored his second goal of the season. A new arrival at San Antonio this year, Loera will be familiar with Saturday’s foe having spent time on loan at Phoenix last season, and there will also be some well-known faces coming back to San Antonio as well with former SAFC defender Darnell King having been joined this offseason at Rising FC by Marcus Epps. Phoenix is coming off a 3-2 defeat to San Diego Loyal SC last Saturday for its first consecutive losses since the end of the 2018 regular season. The visitors have also not previously taken victory at Toyota Field in five visits (0-3-2), putting the pressure on to deliver a result this time around.

Players to Watch
San Antonio FC – Matt Cardone: After the surprise retirement of Cristian Bonilla in midweek, it could make a return in goal for San Antonio veteran Cardone, who is vying with Jordan Farr for the starters job.

Phoenix Rising FC – Marcus Epps: The winger recorded six goals and four assists a season ago to help San Antonio to success and will be hoping to help his new side achieve its first win at Toyota Field.

Oakland Roots SC vs. Tampa Bay Rowdies

Venue: Laney Stadium
Kickoff: 10 p.m. ET
Broadcast: ESPN+
538.com Predictor: OAK 28%, TBR 46%, Draw 27%

The Lowdown: Oakland Roots SC will return home to face the Tampa Bay Rowdies for the second time after earning its first point of the season in midweek. A goal in second-half stoppage time by Tarek Morad earned Oakland a 2-2 draw with New Mexico United on Wednesday night at Isotopes Park, boosting new Head Coach Juan Guerra’s side after it had let a first-half lead slip. Guerra will face one of his former clubs in Tampa Bay, where he spent two seasons and made 45 appearances. The Rowdies arrive in Oakland with an undefeated record after a 1-1 draw with Hartford Athletic last Saturday that saw Jake LaCava score his third goal of the early season. The visitors will be hoping for a repeat performance of the first meeting between the clubs last September, when Tampa Bay took a 3-0 win at Al Lang Stadium behind goals from Sebastian Guenzatti, Sebastian Dalgaard and Lucky Mkosana.

Players to Watch
Oakland Roots SC – Tarek Morad: After scoring a late equalizer on Wednesday, Morad will get to face one of his former clubs in the Rowdies and hope to contain an attack that has scored seven goals in four games.

Tampa Bay Rowdies – Sebastian Guenzatti: Having found the net when the teams met last season, Guenzatti will be hoping to pick up his first goal of 2022 and close in on the club’s all-time scoring record.

Sacramento Republic FC vs. Monterey Bay F.C.

Venue: Heart Health Park
Kickoff: 10 p.m. ET
Broadcast: ESPN+
538.com Predictor: SAC 61%, MB 15%, Draw 23%

The Lowdown: Sacramento Republic FC and Monterey Bay F.C. will meet for the first time in this potential NorCal rivalry having both earned victory in their most recent outings. Monterey Bay took its first victory in club history last Saturday night as a pair of goals by Chase Boone and 90th-minute winner by Hugh Roberts allowed the side to earn a 3-2 win against the third member of the Championship’s NorCal triangle in Oakland Roots SC. Now it will try to earn a similar result against a Republic FC side that claimed its second win in as many home games this year last Sunday with a 2-1 victory against FC Tulsa. A late goal by Duke Lacroix – assisted by Douglas Martinez Jr. – provided the difference for the hosts, who on Friday announced updated plans for a new downtown stadium that would increase capacity and access for its fans as Republic FC approaches its second decade.

Players to Watch
Sacramento Republic FC – Douglas Martinez Jr.: The Honduran forward has recorded two goals and two assists so far this season, bringing a new edge to the Republic FC attack.

Oakland Roots SC – Kai Greene: The center back has made a solid start at his new club but will need to be on his game to try and limit an improved Republic FC attacking group.