TAMPA, Fla. – The opening weekend of the 2023 USL Championship Playoffs produced a historic sequence of results in the Eastern Conference as Detroit City FC, Birmingham Legion FC and Louisville City FC all took victories on the road in the Conference Quarterfinals, leaving the No. 3 seed Charleston Battery as the highest remaining in the Eastern bracket.

The weekend marked the first time three lower-seeded teams advanced in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals since the USL Championship created two conferences in the 2015 season. It previously occurred in the Western Conference in 2016.

Things were more settled in the Western Conference, meanwhile, as No. 1 seed Sacramento Republic FC and defending title holder and No. 4 seed San Antonio FC set up a heavyweight clash in the Conference Semifinals next Friday night with hard-fought victories on home turf. Elsewhere, however, No. 6 seed Phoenix Rising FC recorded a remarkable 4-3 victory against No. 3 seed San Diego Loyal SC after extra time on a 119th-minute winner by Dariusz Formella.

2023 USL Championship Playoffs

Eastern Conference Semifinals
Saturday, October 28
No. 3 Charleston Battery vs. No. 7 Birmingham Legion FC, 7 p.m. ET
No.5 Louisville City FC vs. No. 8 Detroit City FC, 7:30 p.m. ET

Western Conference Semifinals
Friday, October 27
No.1 Sacramento Republic FC vs. No. 4 San Antonio FC, 10:30 p.m. ET

Saturday, October 28
No. 2 Orange County SC vs. No. 6 Phoenix Rising FC, 10 p.m. ET

MATCH RECAPS

Eastern Conference Quarterfinals
No. 8 Detroit City FC 1, No. 1 Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC 0

20-year-old Dominic Gasso scored the first goal of his professional career to send Detroit City FC to victory before a Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC club-record crowd of 6,123 fans at Highmark Stadium. A DCFC Academy product who signed professionally with the club earlier this year, Gasso’s sweetly-hit strike with 12 minutes to go was one of only three shots for the visitors on the night. Nathan Steinwascher posted a two-save shutout, including a victory-preserving denial of Championship Golden Boot winner Albert Dikwa in second-half stoppage time.

Full Recap & Highlights | Box Score

No. 7 Birmingham Legion FC 3, No. 2 Tampa Bay Rowdies 0

Tabort Etaka Preston recorded a goal and assist to lead Birmingham Legion FC to an emphatic victory against the Tampa Bay Rowdies before a crowd of 5,249 fans at Al Lang Stadium, sending the side to the Eastern Conference Semifinals for the second time. The Cameroonian put Birmingham ahead four minutes before the halftime break before setting up Diba Nwegbo in the 57th minute to double the side’s lead. Birmingham original Prosper Kasim rounded out the victory with 13 minutes to go as Tampa Bay fell in the Conference Quarterfinals for the first time since 2019.

Full Recap & Highlights | Box Score

No. 3 Charleston Battery 5, No. 6 Indy Eleven 0

Four different players recorded at least a goal and assist for the Charleston Battery as they swept to victory in their first home playoff game since 2018 against Indy Eleven at Patriots Point. Emilio Ycaza opened the scoring with a close-range header from a corner by Arturo Rodriguez before the Battery took control in an 11-minute span around halftime. Augustine Williams struck in the 37th minute, then Rodriguez headed home a cross from Fidel Barajas three minutes later before Barajas added a goal of his own two minutes into the second half as the Battery dominated the clash. Nick Markanich added a goal to his earlier assist in the 63rd minute to wrap up the result.

Full Recap & Highlights | Box Score

No. 5 Louisville City FC 1, No. 4 Memphis 901 FC 1
Louisville City FC advances 5-4 in a penalty shootout

Louisville City FC’s Oscar Jimenez converted from the penalty spot to open the fifth round of a penalty shootout before Memphis 901 FC’s Aiden McFadden hit the right post with the ensuing shot to send the defending Eastern Conference title holders through after a tense game at AutoZone Park. Memphis scored after just 32 seconds through Bruno Lapa – the second-fastest goal in USL Championship Playoffs history – before Cameron Lancaster struck back in the 18th minute to level for LouCity. Memphis had the better chances after halftime and extra time, but were unable to convert, allowing Louisville to keep its potential streak of reaching the Eastern Conference Final for a ninth consecutive year alive.  

Full Recap & Highlights | Box Score

Western Conference Quarterfinals
No. 1 Sacramento Republic FC 1, No. 8 New Mexico United 0

Conor Donovan scored his first goal of the season to lift Sacramento Republic FC to victory against New Mexico United at before a sellout crowd of 11,5609 fans at Heart Health Park. Donovan headed home a cross from Rodrigo Lopez from the left at the back post in the 13th minute to put Sacramento ahead, and goalkeeper Danny Vitiello made the goal stand up as the winner with a pair of excellent saves to earn the shutout.

Full Recap & Highlights | Box Score

No. 2 Orange County SC 1, No. 7 El Paso Locomotive FC 0

Milan Iloski marked his Championship Playoffs debut with his 17th goal of the Championship campaign to send Orange County SC past El Paso Locomotive FC before a sellout crowd of 5,500 fans at Championship Soccer Stadium. Iloski’s precise free kick to the right corner from 20 yards in first-half stoppage time was enough for the hosts, who held the upper hand for most of the contest as El Paso was held to only four shots, none of which tested OCSC goalkeeper Colin Shutler.

Full Recap & Highlights | Box Score

No. 6 Phoenix Rising FC 4, No. 3 San Diego Loyal SC 3 AET

Dariusz Formella scored his second goal of the night in the 119th minute to send Phoenix Rising FC to remarkable victory against San Diego Loyal SC before a sellout crowd at Torero Stadium. Ronaldo Damus had a hat trick for SD Loyal, twice putting the hosts ahead in the first half before Phoenix replied through Panos Armenakas and Danny Trejo to leave the game all square. Rising FC then took the lead six minutes into the second half as Formella struck, but Damus sent the game into extra time with a penalty kick in the seventh minute of second-half stoppage time. San Diego was unable to take advantage of its momentum in the extra half-hour, though, and with a well-worked move Phoenix grabbed the result as Formella curled home a finish to the top-left corner with a minute remaining.

Full Recap & Highlights | Box Score

No. 4 San Antonio FC 1, No. 5 Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC 0

The defending Championship title holders got a second-half goal by Jorge Hernandez to earn victory against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC before 7,304 fans at Toyota Field. Both teams had chances cleared by last-gasp clearances in the first half, but Hernandez put the hosts ahead as SAFC’s high pressure forced a turnover he calmly fired home from 14 yards early in the second half. That proved enough as Jacori Hayes made a pair of key late blocks to help preserve a shutout for San Antonio.

Full Recap & Highlights | Box Score