TULSA, Okla. – Two clubs aiming for the first silverware in their respective histories will square off when No. 1 seed FC Tulsa hosts No. 3 seed New Mexico United in the Western Conference Final of the 2025 USL Championship Playoffs presented by Terminix with both clubs having made their deepest runs in the postseason to reach this point. Kickoff is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. ET on ESPN+. Here’s what you need to know.

How They Got Here

FC Tulsa (16-5-9, 57pts) – The Scissortails claimed their second victory in extra time this postseason last Saturday night as Stefan Lukić scored in the 122nd minute to lift the side to a 1-0 victory against Phoenix Rising FC before a club-record crowd of 7,917 fans at ONEOK Field. Lukić’s winner was his second of the playoffs, having previously scored early in extra time to lift the side to a 1-0 win against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC in the Western Conference Quarterfinals, making him the 16th player to register multiple game-winning goals in a single postseason in USL Championship Playoffs history. The Scissortails will now try to maintain their stellar home form, which has seen them post a 13-game undefeated streak in USL Championship play since the start of May and record shutouts in the past five home games, the longest home shutout streak in club history, to advance to the USL Championship Final for the first time.

New Mexico United (14-10-6, 48pts) – New Mexico advanced to its first Western Conference Final thanks to a dramatic goal by Dayonn Harris in the fourth minute of second-half stoppage time to lift the side to a 2-1 victory against Orange County SC at Isotopes Park last Saturday night. Harris’ goal off Valentin Noël’s assist provided a turnaround moment for United, which had lost late in the same round a season ago, as Noël recorded a goal contribution for a third consecutive game. New Mexico is now on a nine-game undefeated streak across the regular season and playoffs, the longest in USL Championship play in the club’s history. United is the only side to have recorded multiple goals in both of its games in the postseason so far and will hope to carry that form forward as it bids for a first trip to the USL Championship Final.

All-Time Series

FC Tulsa and New Mexico United have each won three times in eight prior meetings with two contests ending all square, but the Scissortails evened the series this year as they swept two regular season meetings including a 5-2 victory at ONEOK Field on August 9.

Opta Says

12 – FC Tulsa has recorded 12 goals from substitutes across the regular season and playoffs, second-most in the league, with forward Stefan Lukić accounting for six of those tallies.

14 – New Mexico United has scored 14 goals in the final 15 minutes and stoppage time across the regular season and playoffs, trailing only Tulsa’s 16 goals in the same timeframe.

Players to Watch

FC Tulsa – Delentz Pierre: The center back has put in two solid performances over the Scissortails’ two shutouts in the postseason, winning 18 of 29 duels and recording five interceptions, as he looks to return to the USL Championship Final for a second consecutive year after doing so with Colorado Springs in 2024.

New Mexico United – Zico Bailey: The central midfielder has been one of the key figures in United’s lineup over its first two victories and will be hoping his fortune in the final third improves this time around after posting a combined 1.35 Expected Goals + Assists without a goal contribution so far this postseason.

Uniforms

Discipline Report

FC Tulsa – No suspensions

New Mexico United – No suspensions

Officials
REF: Greg Dopka
AR1: Rhett Hammil
AR2: Austin Holt
4TH: Matthew Corrigan