Detroit City FC and Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC will square off in an intriguing contest with postseason implications for both as Week 30 in the USL Championship’s regular season gets underway on Wednesday night, while the Tampa Bay Rowdies will try to rebound from a setback last time out as they head to the northeast to face Hartford Athletic.

Here’s a look ahead at all the action.

Hartford Athletic vs. Tampa Bay Rowdies

Venue: Trinity Health Stadium
Kickoff: 7 p.m. ET
Broadcast: ESPN+ / SiriusXM FC

The Lowdown: The Tampa Bay Rowdies will try to regain second place in the Eastern Conference and complete a season sweep of Hartford Athletic, with the hosts hoping to break out of their current downward spiral before the season ends. Hartford (4-21-4, 16pts) suffered its seventh consecutive defeat on Saturday night in a 3-0 loss to Detroit City FC at Keyworth Stadium that saw the visitors stymied in attack despite a positive overall display. Hartford outshot its hosts 13 to 9, including six shots on target, but was unable to find a breakthrough as its challenges from set pieces continued, resulting in DCFC’s victory. The Rowdies (16-8-6, 54pts) are also looking to rebound, however, after suffering a 4-2 defeat to Memphis 901 FC on Saturday night that snapped a 10-game undefeated streak on home turf. Cal Jennings scored twice for the side in the defeat, but the absence of both Forrest Lasso and Aaron Guillen on the back line due to injury caused issues for the side. Sitting six points behind Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC for first place in the Eastern Conference, the Rowdies need a win here to stay within touch of the Hounds before their meeting on the penultimate weekend of the season.

Spotlight Players
Hartford Athletic – Elvis Amoh: The Ghanaian forward had a standout finish against the Rowdies when the sides first met earlier this month and will look to lead the line again to add to his goal total this season.

Tampa Bay Rowdies – Cal Jennings: The standout forward has eight goals in the past seven games, including a finish in the Rowdies’ 2-1 win against Hartford to start the month, and is one goal off the league-lead going into Wednesday night’s contest.

Detroit City FC vs. Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC

Venue: Keyworth Stadium
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. ET
Broadcast: ESPN+

The Lowdown: Detroit City FC and Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC will both be vying for a win to solidify their position above the playoff line in their respective conferences after key wins in their most recent outings. Le Rouge (10-13-7, 37pts) moved back above the playoff line with a 3-0 victory against Hartford Athletic that saw defenders Matt Lewis and Michael Bryant both find the net off set pieces and goalkeeper Nathan Steinwascher put in a stellar six-save shutout at Keyworth Stadium. DCFC is now a point ahead of FC Tulsa for the eighth and final playoff position with one additional game to play, but the hosts would move level on points with seventh-placed Birmingham Legion FC if they can manage a repeat of a 2-1 victory against the Switchbacks last season when the teams met for the first time at Weidner Field. Colorado Springs (13-13-4, 43pts) gave itself some breathing space in a tight race for the final three playoff positions in the Western Conference on Saturday, however, with a 2-0 victory against Sacramento Republic FC that saw Romario Williams and Jairo Henriquez both score spectacular finishes. The win was a second in a row for the Switchbacks, who now have a three-point lead on ninth-placed El Paso Locomotive FC, and the visitors will be aiming to build on that momentum and put pressure on the teams below them to catch up over the final three weeks of the campaign.   

Spotlight Players
Detroit City FC – Maxi Rodriguez: The influential midfielder notched an assist last time out and was on the scoresheet for Le Rouge when they visited Colorado Springs last season and will want to put in another good display.

Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC – Speedy Williams: The Jamaican veteran has notched been in a positive run of form of late and could provide a strong two-way influence for the visitors as they look for a third consecutive win.