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USL Championship Power Rankings – Week 5

By NICHOLAS MURRAY - nicholas.murray@uslsoccer.com, 04/08/24, 4:30PM EDT

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Las Vegas is living up to preseason aspirations as defensive, midfield core comes together

The aim for Las Vegas Lights FC was to change the perception of the club under new owner José Bautista and contend for a first trip to the postseason.

While the first two weeks of the season were a little rough, we’re starting to see that change on the field and the aspiration of being in the playoffs? They don’t seem far-fetched at all.

The Lights took their third consecutive victory on Saturday night as 20-year-old Shawn Smart scored his first goal in the professional ranks, knocking San Antonio FC from the ranks of the undefeated at Cashman Field, but it’s the side’s core that is epitomizing the growth Las Vegas has seen over the first five games.

The experienced center back pairing of Emrah Klimenta and Fabien Garcia since Garcia’s arrival in the lineup, and the midfield trio led by anchor J.C. Ngando and flanked by Coleman Gannon and Valentin Noël has tightened up the soft underbelly that both Memphis 901 FC and FC Tulsa took advantage of in the opening two games.

That’s resulted in the first three-game shutout streak in the Lights’ history. They’ve already equaled their win total from a season ago, and the longest winning streak in club history, and have surpassed the two clean sheets the side managed a season ago.

There’s still a long way to go this season, but the changes Bautista and his crew were envisioning on the field are coming to life.

For a club with Las Vegas’ potential, that’s a very good thing.

Here’s how this week’s rankings look.

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

On The Move

6 BHM 4 IND, SA

Rank

 

Team

Change

Summary
1 Louisville City FC
(4-0-0)
Week 6: @ CHS
Last Week:
1		 This is the first time LouCity has recorded five goals in consecutive games in club history. That attack should get a stronger test from the Charleston Battery on Tuesday night, but it’s clicking right now.
2 Sacramento Republic FC
(3-0-2)
Week 6: v. TUL
Last Week:
2		 Trevor Amann and Russell Cicerone took their chances so sharply against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC. You can’t give either of them those sorts of openings.
3 Charleston Battery
(2-0-3)
Week 6: v. LOU, @ IND
Last Week:
3		 The Battery had the better of their visit to Rhode Island but couldn’t find a way through. Still undefeated, though, and Tuesday’s clash with LouCity is going to be must-see.
4 Detroit City FC
(4-0-0)
Week 6: ---		 1
Last Week:
5		 Le Rouge weren’t as good as we’ve seen them against North Carolina, but still won. Hopefully Elvis Amoh and Rhys Williams are back and healthy soon.
5 Orange County SC
(3-0-2)
Week 6: @ SA		 2
Last Week:
7		 Classic road performance by Orange County, which took its two big chances well and didn’t give up much defensively to stay undefeated.
6 Hartford Athletic
(3-1-0)
Week 6: ---		 2
Last Week:
8		 Hartford has three wins out of four after defeating Miami, bouncing back nicely from its first loss of the season. Deshane Beckford’s speed and composure were impressive.
7 Tampa Bay Rowdies
(1-0-3)
Week 6: @ MIA		 1
Last Week:
6		 The Rowdies have always had difficulties at Highmark Stadium, but need to be sharper on the ball, especially in the attacking half.
8 San Antonio FC
(2-1-2)
Week 6: v. OC		 4
Last Week:
4		 No late-game drama to bail out San Antonio this time. Pablo Sisniega’s going to want Las Vegas’ game-winner back as well.
9 New Mexico United
(3-1-1)
Week 6: --- 		2
Last Week:
11		 New Mexico was on the verge of implosion against its biggest rival. The hosts kept their heads and delivered a remarkable comeback to pick up all three points.
10 Monterey Bay F.C.
(2-1-2)
Week 6: v. LV
Last Week:
10		 It came late, but Monterey Bay found a way to take all three points in Oakland. That’s the sort of result that pays big dividends later in the season.
11 Las Vegas Lights FC
(3-2-0)
Week 6: @ MB		 4
Last Week:
15		 Las Vegas has equaled its win total from 2023 and its longest winning streak in club history. The Lights have figured out how to be difficult to play.
12 FC Tulsa
(1-1-1)
Week 6: @ SAC
Last Week:
12		 On one hand, Tulsa produced in attack despite the absence of Phillip Goodrum. On the other, letting a lead go against a 10-man opponent at home is a tough one.
13 Indy Eleven
(1-3-1)
Week 6: v. CHS		 4
Last Week:
9		 Jack Blake is at the top of his game right now. Indy needs to figure out what its best defensive combination is going to be, though, after rolling through four different center back pairings in five games.
14 North Carolina FC
(1-2-2)
Week 6: v. BHM		 1
Last Week:
13		 You can argue North Carolina deserved something out of its trip to Detroit. Rodrigo Da Costa’s shot off the post almost delivered an equalizer, but it wasn’t to be.
15 Phoenix Rising FC
(1-3-1)
Week 6: v. COS		 1
Last Week:
16		 The nerve on Dariusz Formella to put home a Panenka was something, and Remi Cabral’s finishing was sharp, but there’s still plenty of work to be done here.
16 Birmingham Legion FC
(2-2-0)
Week 6: @ NC		 6
Last Week:
22		 Birmingham figured out its balance issues and while it went behind looked much more fluid and confident in Sunday’s second half. Much better.
17 Loudoun United FC
(1-2-1)
Week 6: v. MEM		 3
Last Week:
14		 Every defender in the league needs to know about Tyler Pasher’s left foot at this point. Jacob Erlandson hadn’t done his homework on Birmingham’s game-winner.
18 Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
(0-3-1)
Week 6: @ RI		 3
Last Week:
21		 The Hounds didn’t win but looked much more like themselves against Tampa Bay. If they keep playing like that the results should start to come.
19 Rhode Island FC
(0-1-3)
Week 6: v. PIT
Last Week:
19		 Awesome display by Jackson Lee to pick up the first shutout in RIFC history against Charleston. Holding the defending Eastern Conference title holders to a draw isn’t bad.
20 Memphis 901 FC
(1-3-0)
Week 6: @ LDN		 3
Last Week:
17		 Memphis needed to be more clinical with its finishing. It wasn’t and paid the price when Orange County was.
21 Miami FC
(1-3-1)
Week 6: v. TBR		 3
Last Week:
18		 Teams have got tape on Miami FC and are starting to figure them out. Three goals conceded off corners is the most in the league and needs to get cleaned up.
22 Oakland Roots SC
(1-3-1)
Week 6: @ ELP		 2
Last Week:
20		 Oakland looked much more threatening in the second half after Johnny Rodriguez came on. They need him to get into a groove.
23 Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC
(0-4-0)
Week 6: @ PHX
Last Week:
23		 The Switchbacks were much better in the second half against Sacramento, but by then it was too late. It was a bit easy for Republic FC before the break.
24 El Paso Locomotive
(0-4-1)
Week 6: v. OAK
Last Week:
24		 Locomotive had a huge three points in its grasp and let it slip away against its biggest rival. These defensive issues aren’t going away.

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Tag(s): Power Rankings  San Antonio FC  CO Spring Switchbacks  Orange County SC  Phoenix Rising FC  Sacramento Republic FC  FC Tulsa  Charleston Battery  Louisville City FC  Pittsburgh Riverhounds  Tampa Bay Rowdies  Las Vegas Lights FC  Birmingham Legion FC  North Carolina FC  Indy Eleven  Memphis 901 FC  El Paso Locomotive FC  New Mexico United  Loudoun United FC  Hartford Athletic  Miami FC  Oakland Roots SC  Detroit City FC  Monterey Bay F.C.  Rhode Island FC 

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