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USL Championship Power Rankings – Week 27

By NICHOLAS MURRAY - nicholas.murray@uslsoccer.com, 09/09/24, 5:00PM EDT

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New Mexico’s ability to find ways to win has tilted the Western Conference in its favor

The basic numbers for New Mexico United don’t scream this is a team that should be on top of the Western Conference.

It ranks fourth in the conference in goal differential at +6, ranks third in goals scored with 38, and third in goals conceded with 32 allowed.

United’s Expected Points total this season per American Soccer Analysis sits at 40.87, good for second behind Sacramento Republic FC in the West but only narrowly ahead of Memphis 901 FC (40.76xP) and Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC (39.95xP).

Add it up and United is a team that can be frustrating even for its own Head Coach Eric Quill.

“I think with the ball for 70 yards, we’re the best in the league,” he said on Friday night after the side took a 1-0 win against Miami FC at Isotopes Park. “But the field is longer than 70 yards, and we've got to start punishing people more in the final 30 yards of the field when our moments are there if we’re really going to be considered the best.”

But you know what? This is also a team that compared to its rivals finds ways to win. It’s already smashed its single-season wins record with 16 victories this campaign, including a 9-2-2 record at home.

That’s how you get a 10-point lead in the Western Conference, putting up results while others falter. New Mexico might not have numbers that jump out at you, but it has the resolve to find a way. That’s going to make it hard to catch for Republic FC and the rest of the pack.  

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Here’s how the rest of this week’s rankings look.

Birmingham Legion FC Charleston Battery Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC Detroit City FC El Paso Locomotive FC Hartford Athletic Indy Eleven
Las Vegas Lights Loudoun United FC Louisville City FC Memphis 901 FC The Miami FC Monterey Bay F.C. New Mexico United
North Carolina FC Oakland Roots SC Orange County SC Phoenix Rising FC Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC Rio Grande Valley FC Sacramento Republic FC
San Antonio FC Tampa Bay Rowdies FC Tulsa

On The Move

5 COS, NC 4 OAK

Rank

 

Team

Change

Summary
1 Louisville City FC
(19-5-2)
Week 28: @ TUL
Last Week:
1		 LouCity missed out on continuing its streak of multiple goals in every home game this season, but its first home shutout since May will have more than made up for it.
2 Charleston Battery
(16-4-8)
Week 28: @ COS
Last Week:
2		 The Battery’s comeback against Sacramento was a major statement, and the first time Republic FC had lost after leading at halftime this season.
3 New Mexico United
(16-7-3)
Week 28: @ DET
Last Week:
3		 United Head Coach Eric Quill is still looking for more sharpness in the final third, but his side got the job done against Miami FC and now has a 10-point lead on Sacramento at the top of the West.
4 Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC
(12-10-5)
Week 28: v. CHS		 5
Last Week:
9		 The Switchbacks were superb in building a four-goal lead against the Tampa Bay Rowdies before having to hold on late. Huge win considering the weekend’s other results.
5 Las Vegas Lights FC
(10-8-8)
Week 28: @ TUL; v. MB
Last Week:
5		 The Lights can move level on points with Sacramento and Colorado Springs on Wednesday night if they can add to their two-game winning streak when they visit FC Tulsa.
6 Sacramento Republic FC
(11-6-8)
Week 28: vs. PHX		 2
Last Week:
4		 Republic FC made a great start in Charleston but couldn’t find ananswer for the Battery’s in-game adjustments. Tough defeat, and it makes the path to first place more difficult.
7 Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
(8-9-11)
Week 28: @ TBR 		4
Last Week:
11		 Yes, Pittsburgh has only won five games in its 10-game undefeated streak, but that was a stifling victory against Rhode Island, and everyone around them is faltering in the Eastern playoff race.
8 North Carolina FC
(8-9-9)
Week 28: @ MEM		 5
Last Week:
13		 North Carolina’s attack has found its groove over the past two games. If its defense can keep up as it did against Oakland, its playoff bid could take off rapidly.
9 Rhode Island FC
(8-6-13)
Week 28: @ OC		 3
Last Week:
6		 RIFC got stymied by the Hounds but it’s still in a good position for a top-four finish regardless. This weekend’s trip to Orange County won’t be easy, though.
10 Tampa Bay Rowdies
(12-7-7)
Week 28: @ BHM; vs. PIT		 2
Last Week:
8		 The Rowdies fightback was good but came way too late. The lack of defensive depth was on show again as the Switchbacks attack took the game away from the visitors.
11 Oakland Roots SC
(12-11-4)
Week 28: v. SA		 4
Last Week:
7		 Roots has conceded five goals on three separate occasions this season, the most of any team in the league. When it goes wrong defensively, it can snowball quickly.
12 Memphis 901 FC
(11-10-6)
Week 28: vs. HFD; vs. NC
Last Week:
12		 Memphis is still in a good spot going into its double-game week, but needs to cash in on home turf to put the pressure on the others vying for a top-four finish.
13 Loudoun United FC
(9-10-7)
Week 28: v. BHM 		3
Last Week:
10		 Loudoun dropped below the playoff line after its loss in Louisville, but more concerningly it has been held scoreless in three consecutive games for the first time since 2021.
14 Phoenix Rising FC
(8-8-9)
Week 28: @ SAC		 3
Last Week:
17		 The goal came from the penalty spot, but Rising was more than good value for its win against Tulsa. That’s consecutive wins for the first time this season, finally.
15 Detroit City FC
(10-8-9)
Week 28: v. NM		 1
Last Week:
14		 A close call on the goal line nullified Detroit’s best chance against El Paso, but there just wasn’t a tremendous amount of attacking threat otherwise.
16 Hartford Athletic
(8-12-6)
Week 28: @ MEM; @ MIA		 1
Last Week:
15		 Michee Nglina hobbling off in the first half was not the sight anyone in Hartford needed. If he’s not available, it’s hard to see a path to playoffs for the Athletic.
17 Indy Eleven
(10-9-7)
Week 28: v. ELP		 1
Last Week:
16		 There’s a lot of talent in Indy’s attack on paper, so it’s perplexing it’s not coming together as it might be. They’re still in a good position, but the pressure’s starting to build.
18 San Antonio FC
(7-12-7)
Week 28: @ OAK		 3
Last Week:
21		 San Antonio picked up the win it needed against Monterey Bay F.C., but the side had only three shots outside Luis Solignac’s penalty kick. We’re still doubtful of SAFC’s playoff chances as a result.
19 Birmingham Legion FC
(10-11-5)
Week 28: vs. TBR; @ LDN
Last Week:
19		 Legion has had the Rowdies’ number in recent meetings. They need to use Wednesday night as a springboard to better form down the final stretch of the season.
20 FC Tulsa
(7-9-9)
Week 28: vs. LV; vs. LOU 		2
Last Week:
18		 Tulsa’s still in a playoff position, but the overperformance its underlying numbers showed it took to get there is starting to balance out. It needs a response back at home this week.
21 El Paso Locomotive FC
(5-15-6)
Week 28:@ IND		 1
Last Week:
20		 Locomotive might have grabbed victory against Detroit, and they’ve posted three consecutive shutouts defensively. The foundation for better days might be coming together.
22 Orange County SC
(8-14-4)
Week 28: v. RI
Last Week:
22		 OCSC hopefully made the most of its weekend off. This weekend’s game against Rhode Island FC is going to be crucial to get a playoff push back on track.
23 Miami FC
(3-22-2)
Week 28: v. HFD
Last Week:
23		 Khadim Ndiaye made sure Miami’s loss in New Mexico wasn’t by a wider margin. He’s come up with some big stops despite the club’s struggles.
24 Monterey Bay F.C.
(7-13-7)
Week 28: @ LV
Last Week:
24		 MBFC’s eight-game winless streak is its longest of the season. It probably deserved something from the game for the way it played against San Antonio, but this is how it’s going right now.

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Tag(s): Power Rankings  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 

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