Checking on the USL Championship: Golazos galore, congestion conundrum and derby drama

There are individual exciting moments in the USL Championship; string enough of them together and you have an overall can't-miss week like this past one.

Spare a thought for the nice people at the USL offices, because there were a lot of great goals this past week and only five can be nominees for Goal of the Week. Some strikes which could handily win the competition in a normal week might not even get nominated this time around, but it’s hard to complain about having too many great goals.

Now less than two months from the end of the season, teams’ schedules can get a bit busy and tricky in the home stretch, with seven clubs playing on Wednesday and Saturday this past week. All seven managed to get a win in one of the matches, but six lost the other match while Las Vegas Lights FC was able to at least come away with a draw.

It was a wild week in the USL Championship, and I’m actually a bit worried we might not be able to handle it if things get even crazier in the last few months of the season.

Talkin’ Tejas

The final South Texas Derby of the year between SAFC and Rio Grande Valley FC ended in a dramatic 2-2 draw Saturday night at SAFC’s Toyota Field. The Toros remain at the bottom of the Western Conference standings, the complete opposite end to SAFC, but shocked the high-flying hosts with two goals in less than two minutes to hold a 2-0 lead at halftime before SAFC fought back to ultimately equalize in second-half stoppage time.

SAFC missed the chance to be the first team to clinch a playoff spot and has had close calls in three of its last four home matches now, but it will take some pride in rescuing a draw. The Toros have now drawn three straight matches, which isn't really helping their chances of making up the seven-point gap between them and a playoff spot.

El Paso Locomotive FC lost 3-1 at home against San Diego Loyal SC on Saturday as both sides created plenty of chances but the visitors were more clinical. Dylan Mares’ Olimpico was a thin silver lining for the Locos and rightfully earns the title of The Striker’s USL Championship Goal of the Week, but El Paso has lost five of its last six matches and sits just above the playoff line with multiple teams, who have games in hand, chasing it.

Considering Cali

Orange County SC drew Las Vegas Lights FC 1-1 at home on Wednesday, with each team scoring via a clinical finish in the box after a lucky bounce off an opponent. Milan Iloski scored the lone goal for OCSC, continuing his hot streak of seven goals in five matches which puts him ahead in the Golden Boot race with 19 overall, four more than the next closest player. Like the Toros, though, OCSC sits seven points from a playoff place and can’t afford to drop many more points from here on out.

Examining everybody else

Detroit City FC won 2-1 away to Birmingham Legion FC on Wednesday, instantly setting the bar high for this week's goals. Connor Rutz had enough space in the box to hold his run and contort himself for a well-executed bicycle kick which evaded the goalkeeper to open the scoring roughly an hour in. Although in the final spot above the playoff line, Detroit should feel safe for now with eight points separating it and the team closest to it, FC Tulsa.

Just a few hours later, Sacramento Republic FC beat Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC 3-0 at home and provided a different golazo for fans’ viewing pleasure. Matt LaGrassa received the ball and somehow snuck it through a crowd of players from 30 yards out to double the Republic’s lead and already give Rutz some competition for Goal of the Week.

Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC stumbled in its mission to finish in the East’s top four and have a home playoff match as it drew 2-2 at home against New York Red Bulls II on Saturday. Robbie Mertz opened the scoring for Pittsburgh with a half-volley, yet another of the sumptuous strikes around the league this week, and his team doubled its lead before the Baby Bulls equalized with goals either side of halftime.

Like the Locos, Atlanta United 2 also had a memorable consolation goal as it lost 3-1 away to Loudoun United FC on Saturday. Jackson Conway displayed fantastic technique with his overhead kick to level the match 1-1, but his team ultimately fell behind again and never came back. Both teams are also virtually out of the playoff hunt now, so any spectacular moment, even in a loss, is magnified and savored just a bit more.

Tulsa did what it had to in order to stay in the race for a playoff place, winning 1-0 at home over Indy Eleven on Saturday night thanks to a goal in the 90th minute. It’s still eight points away from a playoff place but has won three of its last four matches, including two against teams currently in playoff places, so form is on Tulsa’s side.

There was nothing pretty or exciting about the way Louisville City FC won 1-0 away to Detroit on Saturday, scoring the lone goal from the penalty spot and having two players sent off. That scrappy result was enough to put Louisville back in control of the race for home field advantage throughout the playoffs, though, now sitting two points behind SAFC with a game in hand.

Finally, Phoenix Rising FC made a huge play on Wednesday without even stepping on the field, mutually agreeing to part ways with longtime head coach Rick Schantz. Having served in that role since the start of the 2018 season, Schantz had an 80-34-21 record across all competitions as he led Phoenix to two conference championships and one regular season title, and he was named USL Championship Coach of the Year in 2019.

And though this is a League One goal, we couldn't resist throwing this last one from Union Omaha goalkeeper Kevin Piedrahita, 26 seconds into its 4-1 win over North Carolina FC. It was the first time a goalkeeper had scored in League One since it began play at the start of 2019.

Take a bow, Kevin. Congrats on growing the 2022 legend for the team that captured hearts during its Open Cup run.