Las Vegas Lights FC's dramatic victory against Phoenix Rising FC was its fourth comeback win this season, the most the club had earned in a single campaign in its history. | Photo courtesy Maddy Harmon / Phoenix Rising FC
LAS VEGAS LIGHTS DELIVER RARE STOPPAGE-TIME COMEBACK
Las Vegas Lights FC recorded its fourth comeback victory of the season – and third since August 31 – this past Saturday night when J.C. Ngando (90+6’) and Grayson Dupont (90+9’) both scored in second-half stoppage time to take a 2-1 victory against Phoenix Rising FC.
The result marked the first time in Lights history it had scored twice in second-half stoppage time in a game and moved the side to 18 points gained from losing positions this season. That currently ranks first in the USL Championship and is a single season high in Lights history, surpassing the 13 points gained the side earned in the 2022 season.
The feat of earning victory via two goals in second-half stoppage time is not unprecedented in USL Championship history. One of the most memorable instances of its occurrence came three seasons ago when Memphis 901 FC earned a 3-2 victory against Southern Harm rival Birmingham Legion FC through goals by Roland Lamah (90+3’) and Raul Gonzalez (90+5’) at AutoZone Park.
INDY’S AUGUSTINE WILLIAMS BAGS FIRST HAT TRICK
Indy Eleven's Augustine Williams scored his first hat trick in the USL Championship regular season this past weekend against Miami FC. | Photo courtesy Matt Schlotzhauer / Indy Eleven
Indy Eleven’s Augustine Williams recorded the first hat trick of his USL Championship career on Saturday night in his side’s 4-0 victory against Miami FC, achieving the feat in his 219th regular season contest. The Sierra Leone international is now tied for sixth place in the Championship’s all-time regular season scoring list with 74 tallies in his career.
Williams had recorded 11 two-goal outings prior to his first hat trick, a mark that currently sees him tied for fifth in the league’s history in that category. The player Williams drew level with on 74 goals, former USL Championship All-League selection Corey Hertzog, recorded 13 braces in his career, but is now the lone player in the Championship’s Top 10 regular season scorers to have not registered a hat trick in his career.
MONTEREY BAY F.C. SCORELESS STREAK REACHES SIX GAMES
Monterey Bay F.C. has become the second team to go six games without a goal in the USL Championship this season after its loss to Detroit City FC this past Saturday. | Photo courtesy Keira Winslow / Monterey Bay F.C.
Monterey Bay F.C. became the second club this season in the USL Championship to record a six-game scoreless streak, and only the fifth in the USL Championship’s history, following its 2-0 defeat to Detroit City FC this past Saturday. Monterey Bay’s current scoreless streak stands at 542 minutes as it heads to face Phoenix Rising FC on Friday night.
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC had previously posted a six-game scoreless streak between June 8 and July 6, with the Hounds’ overall scoreless run spanning 585 minutes. The two streaks mark the second time in the USL Championship’s history two teams have suffered a six-game scoreless streak in the same season. In 2017, both the Harrisburg City Islanders and Sacramento Republic FC did so, with the City Islanders’ streak of 616 minutes without a goal the longest in the Championship’s history.
Longest Scoreless Streak in USL Championship Regular Season History
Harrisburg City Islanders – 6 games 616 minutes, (July 22, 2017-August 23, 2017)
Sacramento Republic FC – 6 games, 592 minutes (April 11-May 13, 2017)
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC – 6 games, 585 minutes (June 8-July 6, 2024)
Detroit City FC – 6 games, 562 minutes (March 25-April 29, 2023)
Monterey Bay F.C. – 6 games, 542 minutes (August 24-September 28, 2024)
LOUISVILLE CITY FC EQUALS SINGLE-SEASON HOME WINS RECORD
Lousiville City FC equaled the USL Championship's single-season home wins record this past Saturday with its 13th league victory of the season at Lynn Family Stadium. | Photo courtesy Em-Dash Photography / Louisville City FC
Louisville City FC earned its 13th home victory this regular season with its 4-2 win against Memphis 901 FC this past Saturday, becoming the ninth team to record 13 wins in a home regular season campaign in the USL Championship’s history.
LouCity has recorded 49 goals in its 14 home games this season, two shy of the single-season record set by Phoenix Rising FC of 51 goals in the 2019 campaign. The Boys in Purple will enter Wednesday night’s contest against Miami FC at Lynn Family Stadium with the potential to set new single-season marks in both home wins and home goals.
Most Home Wins in a USL Championship Regular Season
T-1. Louisville City FC – 13 wins, 2024*
T-1. Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC – 13 wins, 2023
T-1. Louisville City FC – 13 wins, 2022
T-1. Tampa Bay Rowdies – 13 wins, 2021
T-1. El Paso Locomotive FC – 13 wins, 2021
T-1. Indy Eleven – 13 wins, 2019
T-1. Phoenix Rising FC – 13 wins, 2019
T-1. Real Monarchs SLC – 13 wins, 2018
T-1. Orlando City SC – 13 wins, 2014
Most Home Goals in a USL Championship Regular Season
1. Phoenix Rising FC – 51 goals (2019)
T-2. Louisville City FC – 49 goals (2024)*
T-2. New York Red Bulls II – 49 goals (2018)
4. Real Monarchs SLC – 47 goals (2019)
5. Charleston Battery – 43 goals (2024)*
Quick Hits
- Louisville City FC’s 4-2 victory against Memphis 901 FC marked the first time the club had rallied to win from a two-goal deficit since an 8-3 victory against Sporting Kansas City II on October 13, 2019.
- Loudoun United FC’s Hugo Fauroux became the 25th goalkeeper to record an assist in the USL Championship’s regular season since the start of the 2014 season as he provided the helper on Kalil ElMedkhar’s stoppage-time equalizer against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC. Fauroux is the first Loudoun goalkeeper to be credited with an assist in league play, and the fourth goalkeeper to record an assist this season.
- Indy Eleven’s Augustine Williams recorded 10 shots in his side’s contest against Miami FC, equaling this season’s single-game high previously set by the Tampa Bay Rowdies’ Manuel Arteaga against Miami FC on August 24.
- Rhode Island FC’s Albert Dikwa scored the fastest goal in club history with his tally after 18 seconds against San Antonio FC this past Saturday. Dikwa’s goal is the second-fastest in the Championship this season to Trevor Amann’s goal after 15 seconds for Sacramento Republic FC against Orange County SC on April 20. It is tied for the 12th-fastest all-time in the league’s regular season history.
- Birmingham Legion FC’s Enzo Martinez and Sacramento Republic FC’s Justin Portillo became the 10th and 11th players to record 250 regular season appearances in the USL Championship this past weekend, with Martinez reaching the mark on Saturday night against Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC and Portillo on Sunday night against New Mexico United.
Oakland Roots SC's Johnny Rodriguez could make his 100th regular season appearance in the USL Championship when Roots visits Memphis 901 FC on Saturday night. | Photo courtesy Mario Cendejas / Oakland Roots SC
Appearances
Approaching 200 regular-season appearances
James Musa (IND) – 198
Wes Charpie (LOU) – 198
Aarón Guillén (TBR) – 197
Matt Mahoney (COS) – 197
Approaching 150 regular season appearances
Thomas Vancaeyezeele (HFD) – 149
Romario Williams (IND) – 148
Approaching 100 regular-season appearances
Alex Lara (MB) – 99
Beverly Makangila (HFD) – 99
Johnny Rodriguez (OAK) – 99
Junior Etou (PIT) – 99
Nick Moon (TBR) – 98
Arturo Rodriguez (CHS) – 98
Morey Doner (MB) – 98
Rhys Williams (DET) – 98
Walmer Martinez (MB) – 98
Emil Cuello (PHX) – 97
Zach Zandi (COS) – 97
Cristian Parano (SAC) – 97
Minutes
Approaching 20,000 regular season minutes
Speedy Williams (COS) – 19,847
Mitchell Taintor (SA) – 19,678
Approaching 15,000 regular season minutes
Russell Cicerone (SAC) – 14,928
Sebastian Guenzatti (IND) – 14,882
Wes Charpie (LOU) – 14,847
Charlie Adams (LV) – 14,822
Kyle Adams (LOU) – 14,811
Approaching 10,000 regular season minutes
Danny Barbir (MIA) – 9,987
Wilson Harris (LOU) – 9,957
Alexis Souahy (NM) – 9,907
Owen Lambe (OC) – 9,861
Rece Buckmaster (SA) – 9,747
Mobi Fehr (MB) – 9,741
Paul Blanchette (OAK) – 9,673
Goals
Approaching 60 regular season goals
Wilson Harris (LOU) – 66
Approaching 50 regular season goals
Luis Solignac (SA) – 47
Approaching 40 regular season goals
Brian Ownby (LOU) – 39
Rodrigo Lopez (SAC) – 38
JJ Williams (RI) – 38
Ronaldo Damus (COS) – 38
Justin Portillo (SAC) – 37
Tyler Pasher (BHM) – 37
Assists
Approaching 50 regular season assists
Enzo Martinez (BHM) – 49
Rodrigo Lopez (SAC) – 46
Brian Ownby (LOU) – 46
Approaching 30 regular season assists
Niall McCabe (LOU) – 29
Jorge Hernández (SA) – 29
Cam Lindley (IND) – 28
Florian Valot (LDN) – 28
Saves
Approaching 300 regular season saves
Danny Vitiello (SAC) – 295
Approaching 250 regular season saves
Tomás Gómez (OC) – 236
Approaching 200 regular season saves
Koke Vegas (RI) – 191
Shutouts
Approaching 50 regular season shutouts
Matt Van Oekel (BHM) – 48
Approaching 40 regular season shutouts
Tomás Gómez (OC) – 38
Approaching 30 regular season shutouts
Tyler Deric (MEM) – 28
Jake McGuire (NC) – 28
Nate Steinwascher (DET) – 28
TAMPA, Fla. – The following is the USL Championship’s discipline report for Week 31 of the 2024 USL Championship season:
Indy Eleven’s Adrian Diz Pe has been suspended for one game following his red card for violent conduct against Miami FC on September 28. Diz Pe will be unavailable for selection in Indy’s contest against Louisville City FC on Saturday.
Miami FC’s Khadim Ndiaye has been suspended for one game following his red card for violent conduct against Indy Eleven on September 28. Ndiaye will be unavailable for selection in Miami’s contest against Louisville City FC on Wednesday.
Rhode Island FC’s Noah Fuson has been suspended for one game following his red card for two cautionable offenses against San Antonio FC on September 28. Fuson will be unavailable for selection in Rhode Island’s contest against the Tampa Bay Rowdies on Saturday.
Rhode Island FC’s Jojea Kwizera has been suspended one game for caution accumulation after receiving his eighth yellow card of the season against San Antonio FC on September 28. Kwizera will be unavailable for selection in Rhode Island’s contest against the Tampa Bay Rowdies on Saturday.
San Antonio FC’s Kevon Lambert has been suspended one game for caution accumulation after receiving his eighth yellow card of the season against Rhode Island FC on September 28. Lambert will be unavailable for selection in San Antonio’s contest against Sacramento Republic FC on Saturday.
Sacramento Republic FC’s Justin Portillo has been suspended one game for caution accumulation after receiving his eighth yellow card of the season against New Mexico United on September 29. Portillo will be unavailable for selection in Sacramento’s contest against San Antonio FC on Saturday.
Due to the postponement of Hartford Athletic’s contest against the Tampa Bay Rowdies on September 28, Jordan Scarlett will serve his one-game suspension incurred for a red card for serious foul play against Oakland Roots SC on September 21 in his side’s contest against Loudoun United FC on Saturday.
Detroit City FC’s James Murphy is no longer on caution accumulation warning after earning a Good Behavior Initiative credit following his third consecutive game without a yellow card against Monterey Bay F.C. on September 28, moving him to six cautions this season.
New Mexico United’s Greg Hurst is no longer on caution accumulation warning after earning a Good Behavior Initiative credit following his third consecutive game without a yellow card against Sacramento Republic FC on September 29, moving him to six cautions this season.
The following players and coaches enter the upcoming matches one caution away from their eighth yellow card of the season and a one-game suspension for caution accumulation.
Here is the breakdown per club:
Hartford Athletic (1): Brendan Burke
Indy Eleven (1): Callum Chapman-Page
Memphis 901 FC (3): Marlon Santos, Akeem Ward, Lucas Turci
North Carolina FC (1): Paco Craig
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (1): Illal Osumanu
San Antonio FC (1): Jorge Hernandez
Tag(s): Features 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