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USL Championship Power Rankings – Week 23

By NICHOLAS MURRAY - nicholas.murray@uslsoccer.com, 08/12/24, 4:30PM EDT

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Indy, Legion are the strangest top four challengers we’ve seen in a while

As things stand, there’s a good chance that either Indy Eleven or Birmingham Legion FC might host a playoff game in November.

The sides currently sitting in fourth and fifth place in the Eastern Conference standings might have two of the strangest profiles of teams in that position we’ve seen in a while.

You can start with the fact that both teams currently have a negative goal differential. Since the Championship was divided into two conferences in 2015, an Eastern Conference team hasn’t finished in the top four with a negative goal differential, ever.

Then there’s the on-field product both have delivered. Indy has outperformed its Expected Goals mark (33 goals on 30.21xG) and underperformed its Expected Goals Against mark (36 goals against on 31.32xGA)

On the other hand, Birmingham has underperformed its Expected Goals mark (29 goals on 32.41xG) and outperformed its Expected Goals Against (31 goals against on 34.03xGA).

Legion would, at least, make the playoffs on those numbers, earning the No. 8 seed in American Soccer Analysis’ Expected Points model behind teams like Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC – whose massive scoring deficiency has it underperforming by a margin of 12.3 points. Indy, on the contrary, would be the wrong side of the line in ninth place.

And yet, here we are, with Indy in the U.S. Open Cup Semifinals and Legion on the verge of a sixth consecutive playoff trip and another chance to host in the postseason.

It’s pretty darned strange. Given the way this season is going, it also means it makes all the sense in the world.

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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

Rank

 

Team

Change

Summary

1 Louisville City FC
(16-4-2)
Week 24: v. CHS

Last Week:
1
LouCity has now scored 41 goals at Lynn Family Stadium this season, only 10 shy of Phoenix Rising FC’s record for home goals in a regular season. Says here they pass it.
2 Charleston Battery
(14-3-7)
Week 24: @ LOU

Last Week:
2
The Battery had a surprising wobble early in the second half against 10-playerr Memphis before regaining control. This weekend’s visit to Louisville should be tasty.
3 Las Vegas Lights FC
(8-7-8)
Week 24: @ HFD

Last Week:
3
The Lights have equaled the longest undefeated streak in the league this season at 11 games, and almost grabbed victory late against Detroit on Saturday.
4 Tampa Bay Rowdies
(11-4-7)
Week 24: v. LDN

Last Week:
4
Robbie Neilson’s first-half readjustment was bold but gave the Rowdies as chance to win in Phoenix. It looks more and more like the No. 3 seed is where they’re going to settle, though.
5 New Mexico United
(13-6-2)
Week 24: v. TUL, v. MB
2
Last Week:
7
The difference between the first and second halves against Indy was staggering. If United can produce full games like the second 45 minutes, watch out.
6 Rhode Island FC
(7-5-11)
Week 24: v. OAK

Last Week:
6
Rhode Island rotated heavily and lost its undefeated streak against Indy before ramping up for a Derby Day romp against Hartford. Things are still tight, but things fell RIFC’s way overall.
7 Birmingham Legion FC
(10-8-5)
Week 24: v. DET
4
Last Week:
11
When you’ve got Herculez Gomez shouting out your finish, you’ve done something special. Tip of the hat to Stefano Pinho in a big road win for Legion.
8 Sacramento Republic FC
(9-5-8)
Week 24: v. ELP

Last Week:
8
A heartbreaking end for Sacramento’s road undefeated streak in Louisville, but who suspects Republic FC would love a second chance at that matchup in November?
9 North Carolina FC
(7-7-8)
Week 24: @ SA
3
Last Week:
12
North Carolina’s first consecutive wins of the season couldn’t have arrived at a better time. They’re right in the playoff mix ahead of Saturday’s visit to struggling San Antonio.
10 Oakland Roots SC
(11-10-2)
Week 24: @ RI
4
Last Week:
14
Consecutive wins have steadied the ship for Oakland as Johnny Rodriguez keeps finding the net. They’re closing in on a postseason return.
11 Loudoun United FC
(8-8-6)
Week 24: @ TBR
6
Last Week:
5
Loudoun didn’t give up a lot against Oakland, but Roots took advantage basically every time. The pressure’s going to be on in a tough trip to Tampa Bay this weekend.
12 Memphis 901 FC
(9-9-5)
Week 24: @ MIA, v. TUL
3
Last Week:
9
We really liked what we saw of Memphis down to 10 players early in the second half against Charleston, but that red card was always going to come back to haunt them.
13 Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC
(9-9-4)
Week 24: @ PIT
3
Last Week:
10
The Switchbacks really don’t like coming east, do they? That’s 1-4-0 on the road against the Eastern Conference this season after Saturday’s loss in North Carolina.
14 Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
(6-9-9)
Week 24: v. COS
1
Last Week:
13
On one hand, the Hounds are only three points out of the playoff places. On the other, draws are death at this time of year, especially when you’ve got the fewest games left to play.
15 Indy Eleven
(10-8-5)
Week 24: ---
2
Last Week:
17
Indy’s win against Rhode Island was a positive sign, but it went badly wrong again defensively against New Mexico on Sunday evening. The Boys in Blue have to get their balance back.
16 Orange County SC
(8-11-4)
Week 24: v. ELP
3
Last Week:
19
Far, far better by Orange County in Tulsa only to miss out on the reward of all three points. Danny Stone’s arrival as an assistant coach is an intriguing one.
17 Detroit City FC
(8-7-7)
Week 24: @ BHM
1
Last Week:
16
Le Rouge’s eight-game winless streak is starting to get worrying. As worrying, two tricky road games up next against Birmingham and Tampa Bay.
18 FC Tulsa
(6-6-8)
Week 24: @ NM, @ MEM
3
Last Week:
15
Tulsa continued its undefeated run with another shutout, but all-in-all Orange County looked the more likely winner on Friday night.
19 Phoenix Rising FC
(6-8-7)
Week 24: ---
2
Last Week:
21
Tomás Ángel had some good moments in a better overall performance by Rising. There’s something to build on here, but they can’t afford another step back as has become habitual.
20 Monterey Bay F.C.
(7-10-6)
Week 24: @ NM

Last Week:
20
There were chances for Monterey Bay in Jordan Stewart’s Head Coaching debut, but not enough to earn a result against a good Legion side.
21 Hartford Athletic
(6-12-4)
Week 24: v. LV
3
Last Week:
18
It’s not over for Hartford, but boy was that demoralizing against Rhode Island. Eight points to make up with 12 games to go is not typically a salvageable situation.
22 El Paso Locomotive FC
(4-14-4)
Week 24: @ SAC, @ OC
1
Last Week:
23
Finally, a home victory for 8th Notch to celebrate. El Paso’s probably going to have to play spoiler from here, starting with its two-game trip to California.
23 San Antonio FC
(5-11-6)
Week 24: v. NC
1
Last Week:
22
In the standings, San Antonio is only six points out of eighth place. In reality, do we think they’ve got enough goals in them to make up that margin?
24 Miami FC
(2-19-2)
Week 24: v. MEM

Last Week:
24
Luisinho’s finish was a bright spot in another defeat for Miami. Another win this season is looking very far from likely.

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