NEWS & NOTES

FC TULSA’S STEFAN LUKIĆ SCORES LATEST EXTRA TIME GOAL IN USL CHAMPIONSHIP PLAYOFFS HISTORY

FC Tulsa’s Stefan Lukić scored the game-winning goal in the second minute of extra time in his side’s 1-0 victory against Phoenix Rising FC in the Western Conference Semifinals of the 2025 USL Championship Playoffs presented by Terminix. In turn, the Serbian recorded the latest goal scored in USL Championship Playoffs history.

Lukić’s goal surpassed the 120th-minute goal by Erik Holt of Real Monarchs SLC which proved the game-winner in the Monarchs’ 2-1 victory against El Paso Locomotive FC in the 2019 Western Conference Final. 

Latest Extra Time Goal in a USL Championship Playoffs Game
1. Stefan Lukić, FC Tulsa – 121:09 vs. Phoenix Rising FC, 11/8/25
2. Erik Holt, Real Monarchs SLC – 119:02 vs. El Paso Locomotive FC, 11/9/19
3. Dariusz Formella, Phoenix Rising FC – 118:55 at San Diego Loyal SC, 10/22/23
4. Paolo DelPiccolo, Louisville City FC – 117:04 at Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC, 11/2/19
5. Edward Kizza, Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC – 115:51 at Birmingham Legion FC, 10/23/22
6. Dillon Powers, Orange County SC – 115:42 at Memphis 901 FC, 11/2/24
7. Emil Cuello, Phoenix Rising FC – 115:03 at Orange County SC, 10/28/23

The Serbian forward has also become the 16th player in USL Championship Playoffs History to record two game-winning goals in the same postseason, a feat that has now been accomplished in each postseason since 2016, including by Lukić’s current Head Coach Luke Spencer for Louisville City FC in the 2018 campaign. No individual player has yet recorded three game-winning goals in the same postseason in the USL Championship era.

NEW FACES HIGHLIGHT USL CHAMPIONSHIP CONFERENCE FINALS WEEKEND

The Eastern and Western Conference Semifinals of the 2025 USL Championship Playoffs saw three clubs advance to the Conference Finals for the first time in club history, with FC Tulsa, New Mexico United and Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC each advancing at home on Saturday night to join Rhode Island FC – making its second consecutive trip – as the final four teams standing.

It marks the first time three clubs will be competing in the Conference Finals weekend for the first time since the 2019 postseason, when Indy Eleven, El Paso Locomotive FC and eventual title-winner Real Monarchs SLC advanced alongside Louisville City FC.

PITTSBURGH RIVERHOUNDS SC SHUTOUT STREAK ENTERS TOP FIVE IN CLUB’S USL-C ERA

Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC recorded its fourth consecutive shutout on Saturday night, going through extra time for a second consecutive weekend before advancing in a penalty shootout against Detroit City FC before a club-record crowd of 6,220 fans at Highmark Stadium.

With consecutive extra time contests, the Hounds’ shutout streak is now at 422 minutes, with the side last having conceded in the 88th minute against Indy Eleven on October 11. That ranks as the fourth-longest shutout streak across the regular season and playoffs for the club in the USL Championship era, and its longest since the abbreviated 2020 season.

Longest Shutout Streak by Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (Regular Season & Playoffs)
1. 698 minutes – 8/17/19 to 10/1/19
2. 575 minutes – 6/2/18 to 7/21/18
3. 519 minutes – 8/22/20 to 9/26/20
4. 422 minutes – 10/11/25 to present*
T-5. 419 minutes – 6/24/23 to 7/22/23
T-5. 419 minutes – 3/24/18 to 4/21/18

Quick Hits

- FC Tulsa has posted five consecutive home shutouts for the first time in club history, moving to a 513-minute shutout streak through its two postseason games. The Scissortails had previously recorded a four-game home shutout streak between June 22-August 9, 2024, as the club reached a 441-minute shutout streak.

- New Mexico United is undefeated in its last nine games across the regular season and playoffs, the longest undefeated streak in club history in USL Championship play.

- Rhode Island FC has advanced in five consecutive postseason road games against opponents from the Eastern Conference, having yet to host a playoff game in its short history.

- The 58 combined fouls by FC Tulsa and Phoenix Rising FC were the most on record in a USL Championship contest across the regular season and playoffs, surpassing the 53 combined fouls recorded by the Charleston Battery and Rhode Island FC on October 19, 2024.

- Ten players who competed in the USL Championship and League One this season have been called up for the final games of FIFA World Cup Qualifying in the Concacaf region this week, with the contests on Thursday, Nov. 13 and Tuesday, Nov. 18 set to determine the three automatic qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and two countries that will advance to the intercontinental playoff next March.

USL Championship & League One Call-Ups to FIFA 2026 World Cup Qualifying

Haiti (4) – Duke Lacroix (Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC), Garven Metusala (Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC), Carl Sainté (Phoenix Rising FC), Woobens Pacius (Tampa Bay Rowdies)

Guatemala (2) – Rubio Rubín (Charleston Battery), Arquimedes Ordoñez (Loudoun United FC)

Jamaica (1) – Jahmali Waite (El Paso Locomotive FC)

Trinidad and Tobago (3) – Denzil Smith (AV ALTA FC), Nathaniel James (Portland Hearts of Pine), Noah Powder (Westchester SC)

Discipline Report – Week 37

TAMPA, Fla. – The following is the USL Championship’s discipline report for Week 37 of the 2025 USL Championship season:

There are no new suspensions to report.