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USL Championship Power Rankings – Week 22

By NICHOLAS MURRAY - nicholas.murray@uslsoccer.com, 08/05/24, 4:30PM EDT

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Beasts of the East Louisville City FC, Charleston Battery are rising to the top

Since the introduction of fully-fledged interconference play in the USL Championship, the debate as to which conference is the stronger has received a more definitive answer.

And while it might be a top-heavy answer, this season is looking like the Eastern Conference’s show, with Louisville City FC and the Charleston Battery leading the way.

LouCity’s comprehensive 1-0 win against New Mexico United on Saturday night in a clash between the respective conference leaders was the latest evidence to that fact. Louisville didn’t blow United out of the water, but they didn’t need to. The combination of patience out of possession and speed with the ball carved out the better chances and ended up resulting in the only goal of the game, hammered home by Jansen Wilson late in the first half.

“I can’t say enough of my group tonight,” said LouCity Head Coach Danny Cruz. “It was an absolute battle. We defended the box well. Guys left everything they could on the field. We’re playing at altitude, on the road, after the game on Tuesday. It’s probably one of the games I’m most proud of this season up to this point.”

The tale of the tape doesn’t make for happy reading for New Mexico, which has now suffered defeats to each of the top three in the East having previously fallen on the road to the Charleston Battery (4-0) and the Tampa Bay Rowdies (3-0).

Sacramento Republic FC has also fallen at home to Tampa Bay. Coming off a home defeat to Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC, Head Coach Mark Briggs’ squad gets its shot at Louisville this weekend at Lynn Family Stadium in a must-see contest on ESPN2. With a visit to Charleston also in its future, Republic FC can try to gain points – and confidence for a potential return trip in the Championship Final – in the next few weeks.

With the performances LouCity and Charleston have put together against the West this season, though, they seem the favorites right now to lift the biggest prize at the end of the season.

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Here’s how the rest of 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

4 LV, PIT, HFD 6 IND

Rank

 

Team

Change

Summary
1 Louisville City FC
(15-4-2)
Week 23: v. SAC
Last Week:
1		 LouCity’s performance in New Mexico wasn’t flashy, but it was comprehensive. Well-deserved victory to answer the Battery’s Friday night romp.
2 Charleston Battery
(13-3-7)
Week 23: v. MEM 		2
Last Week:
4		 After a slow first half, the Battery went flat out after the break against Indy. Without Aaron Molloy, that was remarkably impressive.
3 Las Vegas Lights FC
(8-7-7)
Week 23: v. DET 		4
Last Week:
7		 The Lights are undefeated in 10 games after handing New Mexico its first home loss of the season. There’s a chance they’ll host a playoff game, not just be in the postseason for the first time.
4 Tampa Bay Rowdies
(11-4-6)
Week 23: @ PHX		 1
Last Week:
3		 The Rowdies rallied impressively in Monterey Bay but couldn’t hold on in the end. With Louisville and Charleston both winning, the gap to the top two widens.
5 Loudoun United FC
(8-7-6)
Week 23: @ OAK 		3
Last Week:
8		 As frustrating as this season must have been for Kalil ElMedkhar thanks to injuries, it was great to see him bag a pair of goals off the bench against Miami on Saturday night.
6 Rhode Island FC
(6-4-11)
Week 23: @ IND, v. HFD
Last Week:
6		 Rhode Island’s undefeated streak remains intact thanks to Clay Holstad’s late magic. That’s a nice boost before a key week capped by Hartford Athletic’s visit to Beirne Stadium.
7 New Mexico United
(12-6-2)
Week 23: @ IND 		5
Last Week:
2		 New Mexico has been really good but living on fine margins at times this season. That seemed to catch up to them in the past week, but they’re still on top for now.
8 Sacramento Republic FC
(9-4-8)
Week 23: @ LOU		 3
Last Week:
5		 Someone is going to have to figure out how Sacramento is undefeatable on the road but can’t find a result at home, and fast.
9 Memphis 901 FC
(9-8-5)
Week 23: @ CHS
Last Week:
9		 Memphis probably should have come away with all three points against El Paso on Saturday, only for Jamali Waite to put in one of the performances of the season in net for the visitors.
10 Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC
(9-8-4)
Week 23: @ NC 		3
Last Week:
13		 Really solid victory for the Switchbacks at home to Phoenix. With a game in hand on Memphis and Oakland, there’s a top-three spot there for the taking.
11 Birmingham Legion FC
(9-8-5)
Week 23: @ MB 		1
Last Week:
10		 There’s a certain something about Legion putting in its second multi-goal first half of the season and then letting it slip away when it’s been such a strong second-half side this campaign.
12 North Carolina FC
(6-7-8)
Week 23: v. COS		 2
Last Week:
14		 Whatever the record says, Orange County is a tough place to visit. North Carolina went in there and picked up a really good – and important – three points thanks to Justin Malou’s winner.
13 Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
(6-9-7)
Week 23: @ DET, v. SA 		4
Last Week:
17		 The Hounds are moving into gear, as they always seem to at a certain point of the season. Big performance by Eric Dick in goal, yes, but the playoff positions are in sight now.
14 Oakland Roots SC
(10-10-2)
Week 23: v. LDN		 2
Last Week:
12		 Yes, it’s harsh to drop a team in the rankings when it’s got a week off. Sorry, Roots fans.
15 FC Tulsa
(6-6-7)
Week 23: v. OC 		3
Last Week:
18		 Tulsa’s first win in San Antonio in club history was notable in of itself, but the side is also now undefeated in four and has three games in hand on the two teams directly above it in the playoff positions.
16 Detroit City FC
(8-7-5)
Week 23: v. PIT, @ LV		 1
Last Week:
15		 Tough week for Detroit, which could dearly have done with holding on to its lead at home to Rhode Island. It looks like it might be a scrap for the postseason instead of a fight for the top four now.
17 Indy Eleven
(9-7-5)
Week 23: v. RI, v. NM		 6
Last Week:
11		 Indy’s defense imploded in Charleston for a second consecutive visit after last year’s playoff exit. That’s six games without a win for the Boys in Blue, and a big home test against Rhode Island next.
18 Hartford Athletic
(6-11-4)
Week 23: @ RI		 4
Last Week:
22		 A four-point week didn’t quite get Hartford back in the playoff picture but if there’s more where that came from over the rest of this month it could get really interesting.
19 Orange County SC
(8-11-3)
Week 23: @ TUL		 3
Last Week:
16		 OCSC is still above the playoff line, but faltering when it can’t afford to. Friday night’s visit to Tulsa is a serious playoff six-pointer.
20 Monterey Bay F.C.
(7-9-6)
Week 23: v. BHM
Last Week:
20		 Monterey Bay’s late equalizer came with some controversy, no doubt, but was a valuable point that could end up being in the long run. Interim Head Coach Simon Dawkins was thrilled.
21 Phoenix Rising FC
(6-8-6)
Week 23: v. TBR		 2
Last Week:
19		 Rising’s attack made some decent chances in Colorado Springs but wasn’t able to capitalize. The playoff line is still right there, but this team has to start scoring soon.
22 San Antonio FC
(5-11-5)
Week 23: @ PIT		 1
Last Week:
21		 When Luis Solignac’s goal went in, it felt like things might have a chance of going right for SAFC. A third consecutive defeat later, and it’s not looking good.
23 El Paso Locomotive FC
(3-14-4)
Week 23: v. MIA
Last Week:
23		 Jahmali Waite, take a bow. That’s one of the best shot-stopping performances we might see this season.
24 Miami FC
(2-18-2)
Week 23: @ ELP
Last Week:
24		 Miami scored its fastest goal this season, then had its two most consistent performers sent off and suffered another heavy defeat. Nothing is going to plan here.

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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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