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USL Championship Power Rankings – Week 11

By NICHOLAS MURRAY - nicholas.murray@uslsoccer.com, 05/23/22, 4:00PM EDT

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Memphis continues to make a move with consistency across the ranks central to its rise

Hello, and welcome back to the USL Championship Power Rankings, where Memphis 901 FC’s consistency has it on track for its best season in club history.

Head Coach Ben Pirmann’s side rises to No. 3 in this week’s rankings after running up an 8-0 aggregate score line over its two outings in the past week, which sent Memphis to the top of the Eastern Conference standings after missteps elsewhere. After reaching the playoffs for the first time a season ago, 901 FC is currently on course to host its first playoff game this year after picking up four consecutive victories and eight wins in its last 10 league games overall.

The key to that? They’re getting production across the board. Memphis is one of only four teams in the Championship so far this season with at least four players with three goals, while it’s had 10 players find the net overall. 901 FC is also one of only four teams to currently have at least three players with at least three assists, including league-leader Jeremy Kelly, as seven players have provided at least one helper.

That balance across the lineup – where seemingly everyone can deliver a final pass, and everyone can finish – is a progression for the side from a season ago. Currently, Memphis 901 FC ranks fourth in the league in Big Chances Created with 26 according to Opta, only three back of league-leaders Louisville City FC and the Tampa Bay Rowdies.

That’s the sort of company 901 FC is aiming to be keeping at the end of this season. If the opening third of Memphis’ campaign is anything to go by, it’s well on the way.

Atlanta United 2 Birmingham Legion FC Charleston Battery Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC Detroit City FC El Paso Locomotive FC Hartford Athletic Indy Eleven
LA Galaxy II Las Vegas Lights FC Loudoun United FC Louisville City FC Memphis 901 FC The Miami FC Monterey Bay F.C. New Mexico United
New York Red Bulls II Oakland Roots SC Orange County SC Phoenix Rising FC Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC Rio Grande Valley FC Sacramento Republic FC San Antonio FC
San Diego Loyal SC Tampa Bay Rowdies FC Tulsa

Biggest Movers

Rank

 

Team

Change

Summary

1 San Antonio FC
(8-2-0)
Week 12: @ RGV

Last Week:
1
After Saturday’s postponement, San Antonio is set to head to face South Texas Derby rival Rio Grande Valley FC this weekend. With the Toros finding their form, this should be a good one.
2 Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC
(8-1-0)
Week 12: @ MB

Last Week:
2
The Switchbacks will have been away from the field for two weeks after this past weekend’s postponement in San Antonio. Will that affect them as they head to face the past weekend’s giantkiller Monterey Bay F.C.?
3 Memphis 901 FC
(8-2-1)
Week 12: ---
7
Last Week:
10
Four wins in a row, and eight goals across two outings this past week? Memphis is rolling and still has one fewer game played than both LouCity and Le Rouge a point behind them.
4 Detroit City FC
(7-2-3)
Week 12: ---
1
Last Week:
5
Le Rouge will be annoyed they couldn’t hold on for a midweek win in Miami, but followed that up with another solid victory at home led by Antoine Hoppenot before their week off from live action.
5 Tampa Bay Rowdies
(5-3-4)
Week 12: ---
2
Last Week:
7
Pound-for-pound, it continues to be hard to find someone who gives as much as Leo Fernandes does for relatively little league-wide acclaim. Another fine goal and performance in the Rowdies’ win against Pittsburgh.
6 Louisville City FC
(8-1-3)
Week 12: v. TUL
3
Last Week:
3
It’s unlikely LouCity got caught by a trap game ahead of Wednesday night’s Open Cup clash with Nashville SC, but a clunky performance certainly wasn’t in the plan to get set for that massive contest.
7 Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
(7-3-1)
Week 12: @ MIA
3
Last Week:
4
The Hounds couldn’t hold onto their lead after a solid start at the Rowdies, and now they get two more solid tests in the next two weeks away at Miami and at home to Detroit.
8 El Paso Locomotive FC
(5-6-2)
Week 12: @ LV
6
Last Week:
14
Finding a way through Sacramento’s defense was crucial last Wednesday night to earn a place in the top seven, and in hindsight that point on the road at Orange County will be satisfactory enough.
9 New Mexico United
(3-2-4)
Week 12: v. PHX, @ IND

Last Week:
9
After having to wait three extra days, New Mexico’s going to be revved up to host Phoenix. Is this the moment for the breakthrough victory for the hosts?
10 The Miami FC
(5-4-3)
Week 12: v. PIT
3
Last Week:
13
Miami’s last-gasp point at home to Detroit was so very necessary, and could provide the kickstart to the season that was evident in Charleston over the weekend.
11 Sacramento Republic FC
(4-3-3)
Week 13: @ OAK
5
Last Week:
6
Republic FC took a season-low six shots against El Paso. For a team with the attacking potential Sacramento has, that was a disappointing display.
12 Orange County SC
(3-3-4)
Week 12: @ ATL

Last Week:
12
OCSC’s attacking duo of Cubo Torres and Milan Iloski is clicking into gear, but the defending title holders still need a little bit more to get moving up the standings.
13 Phoenix Rising FC
(6-4-0)
Week 12: @ NM, @ HFD
2
Last Week:
11
Phoenix has a tough travel week ahead as it heads to New Mexico on Tuesday and then Hartford on Saturday. That’s going to be a real test for this squad’s depth.
14 Rio Grande Valley FC
(5-6-0)
Week 12: @ SA
4
Last Week:
18
The Toros have only played one-goal games so far this season. If it can find a way past San Antonio FC after rallying to victory against San Diego on Saturday night, it could really turn some heads.
15 San Diego Loyal SC
(6-3-2)
Week 12: @ LA
7
Last Week:
8
SD Loyal’s only got one win in its last five games overall after falling to the Toros on Saturday night. It’s still right there in the Western Conference, but it can’t become the latest victim to fall at Los Dos on Saturday night.
16 Indy Eleven
(5-3-2)
Week 12: v. NM

Last Week:
16
Solomon Asante’s debut was a welcome sight during Indy’s 2-0 win on Saturday night. The rest of the performance was adequate, if not quite setting the world on fire.
17 Las Vegas Lights FC
(4-4-4)
Week 12: v. ELP
2
Last Week:
15
Las Vegas’ attacking spark has gone as it sits winless in the past five games. It might not be wise to expect another five-goal performance against El Paso on Friday, either.
18 Oakland Roots SC
(2-4-6)
Week 12: v. SAC
2
Last Week:
20
It’s early for must-win games. Given the circumstances and debut of 18-year-old Timothy Syrel in Saturday’s 1-0 result against the Galaxy II, however, Oakland will be relieved to have earned all three points.
19 Monterey Bay F.C.
(3-7-0)
Week 12: v. COS
4
Last Week:
23
Monterey Bay pulled off the upset of the season so far in Louisville on Saturday. Now, can it do something similar against Western Conference leader Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC on home turf?
20 Birmingham Legion FC
(3-4-4)
Week 12: @ NY
3
Last Week:
17
Legion FC’s attack continues to sputter, costing it points again at home. It’s not that the chances aren’t there – Birmingham’s Expected Goals mark is 14.58xG, above league average – but the finishing just isn’t sharp enough.
21 Hartford Athletic
(2-6-1)
Week 12: v. PHX

Last Week:
21
Hartford will likely get a tired Phoenix Rising FC on its home turf this Saturday night after its game and midweek travel. The Athletic will need to take advantage and continue their current surge.
22 FC Tulsa
(4-7-0)
Week 12: @ LOU

Last Week:
22
Before this past Saturday night, FC Tulsa was the last team to beat Louisville City FC on its home turf. Can the visitors pull off the same result again this weekend?
23 LA Galaxy II
(4-6-2)
Week 12: v. SD
4
Last Week:
19
The Galaxy II’s road woes continued over the past week. Back at home, though, they’ve been a different animal, and one San Diego Loyal SC will need to watch out for.
24 Loudoun United FC
(2-8-1)
Week 12: v. CHS

Last Week:
24
Make it eight defeats in a row for Loudoun after Sunday’s lightning delayed contest. Saturday’s home game with the Battery offers an opportunity for someone, though.
25 New York Red Bulls II
(1-9-1)
Week 12: v. BHM

Last Week:
25
The Red Bulls II continue to struggle in their defeat to Indy Eleven on the road. There’s just not enough attacking punch present.
26 Charleston Battery
(1-8-1)
Week 12: @ LDN

Last Week:
26
The Battery let Miami get the jump on them early, the last thing you need when recovering has not been a strong suit. Still no second-half goals for Charleston this season.
27 Atlanta United 2
(2-8-0)
Week 12: v. OC

Last Week:
27
Atlanta’s set piece goal against Detroit was a thing of beauty. Unfortunately, it came in the middle of another defeat.

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