LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Two playoff regulars will square off for the second time in the postseason when No. 1 seed Louisville City FC hosts No. 8 seed Detroit City FC in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals of the 2025 USL Championship Playoffs presented by Terminix on Saturday night as the Players’ Shield winners begin their bid to win a third league title and become the fifth team to do the double in league history. Kickoff at Lynn Family Stadium is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET on CBS Sports Golazo Network. Here’s what you need to know.

How They Got Here

Louisville City FC (22-1-7, 73pts) – Louisville City is coming off a historic campaign, becoming only the second team in league history to win consecutive Players’ Shields while setting a league record with a 2.43 points-per-game mark. Head Coach Danny Cruz’s side lost only once in the regular season, on June 20 on the road against North Carolina FC, ending the season on a 16-game undefeated streak that saw the side post a 12-0-3 record at Lynn Family Stadium, the first time the club had gone undefeated at home in a regular season campaign in its 11-season history. LouCity is undefeated in its past 24 regular season games at home dating back to the 2024 season, while posting a 66.8 percent winning percentage at home across the regular season and playoffs overall.

Detroit City FC (9-11-10, 37pts) – Le Rouge extended their postseason streak to four seasons since joining the USL Championship in 2022, earning the No. 8 seed on the final day of the regular season as a final-game draw on the road against the Tampa Bay Rowdies and defeat for Indy Eleven at Orange County SC secured Detroit’s place in the field. DCFC had an up-and-down campaign in attack as offseason addition Darren Smith recorded 10 goals to lead the team, but the side recorded only 33 goals in the regular season, with its defense providing the key element to earning a playoff berth with nine shutouts and only 35 goals conceded. DCFC has faced this situation before, however, and in 2023 delivered arguably the biggest upset in USL Championship Playoffs history with a 1-0 victory away at Players’ Shield winner Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC. A repeat of that result would surpass that performance, and throw the Eastern Conference bracket into disarray.

All-Time Series

Louisville City FC holds a 7-2-0 record against Detroit City in USL Championship play, having taken a 4-0 victory in the lone the prior postseason meeting between the clubs in the Eastern Conference Semifinals of the 2023 USL Championship Playoffs. That victory is part of a perfect 5-0-0 record for LouCity at home to Le Rouge, over which they have posted a 14 to 2 advantage in goals.

Opta Says

19 – Louisville City FC allowed only 19 goals in the regular season, the first team to allow fewer than 20 goals in a full USL Championship campaign since the double-winning Rochester Rhinos in 2015.

28 – Detroit City FC recorded an Expected Goals mark of 28xG during the regular season, one of only two teams to end with an Expected Goals-per-90 minutes mark below 1.0xG in the league.

Players to Watch

Louisville City FC – Taylor Davila: The 2024 USL Championship Player of the Year finalist has put together another stellar season for LouCity, leading the league’s central midfielders with a +7.22 Goals Added mark in the regular season while recording four goals, nine assists and 55 chances created.

Detroit City FC – Michael Bryant: The veteran center back has been arguably Detroit’s most consistent performer this season, recording 100 clearances, 32 interceptions and winning 23 of 28 tackles to log a team-best +4.55 Goals Added mark. His matchup against LouCity center forward Phillip Goodrum will be crucial.

Uniforms

Discipline Report

Louisville City FC – No suspensions

Detroit City FC – No suspensions

Officials
REF: Greg Dopka
AR1: Brian Marshall
AR2: Seun Yinka-Kehinde
4TH: Luis Diego Arroyo