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USL Championship Power Rankings – Week 30

By NICHOLAS MURRAY - nicholas.murray@uslsoccer.com, 09/30/24, 4:30PM EDT

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LouCity’s resilience on display again as it drives toward first Players’ Shield in club history

If there’s a trait it’s useful to have when it comes to making a postseason charge, resiliency is one.

We saw it last season in Phoenix Rising FC’s never-say-die run to the title in the playoffs, but this regular season it’s been a notable trait for the top three point-getters in the USL Championship.

Louisville City FC’s 4-2 comeback victory on Saturday night against Memphis 901 FC was a prime example. Down to a pair of well-executed goals by the visitors inside 20 minutes, LouCity dug in and thanks to Taylor Davila’s standout attacking display with two goals and one assist were full value for their 13th home win of the season.

“I think it shows the resiliency that we have in that locker room,” said LouCity Head Coach Danny Cruz. “Obviously, it's not the way you want to start the game, especially here at home... At the same time, it’s not easy to respond the way that the group did, and ultimately, when you look at how we closed out the game, the players have a lot to be proud of.

“Memphis is a good team. It's a difficult opponent to play. But three points here at home and four in the back of the net, the players should be proud.”

LouCity has now claimed 16 points from losing positions this season, only one fewer than its closest rival in the Eastern Conference, the Charleston Battery. Out West, New Mexico United has built its lead in the standings partially via 16 points from losing positions, while Las Vegas Lights FC’s incomprehensible comeback in Phoenix moved it to a league-leading 18 points gained, a catalyst for its likely first postseason berth.

In general, teams would always tend to prefer to play with a lead. When they’re tested, though, is when you might find out what a team is really made of.

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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 SAC 7 NC

Rank

 

Team

Change

Summary
1 Louisville City FC
(21-6-2)
Week 31: vs. MIA; @ IND		 3
Last Week:
4		 Trailing by a pair of goals after 20 minutes, LouCity rolled up its sleeves and got to work against a good Memphis 901 FC side. Four goals later, it had its 13th home win of the season, tying the league record.
2 Charleston Battery
(17-5-8)
Week 31: vs. DET
Last Week:
2		 The Battery’s chances of catching LouCity were slim before the bye weekend, but it feels gone now. Still, they can lock up a top-two finish this week at home to Detroit.
3 Sacramento Republic FC
(13-8-8)
Week 31: @ SA		 5
Last Week:
8		 Republic FC hadn’t scored four goals at home since its dramatic extra time win against the San Jose Earthquakes in the Open Cup. Luis Felipe Fernandes had a goal and assist in that one, too.
4 New Mexico United
(18-9-3)
Week 31: -- 		3
Last Week:
1		 Tough night for United, which was second-best for most of its visit to Sacramento. The bye week gives a chance to reset for the final drive to the No. 1 seed in the West.
5 Las Vegas Lights FC
(12-8-10)
Week 31: vs. OC
Last Week:
5		 We want to hear Grayson Dupont’s rendition of “Luck be a Lady Tonight” from Guys and Dolls after that game-winner. What a ridiculous ending for the Lights to grab victory.
6 Detroit City FC
(13-8-9)
Week 31: @ CHS
Last Week:
6		 Le Rouge keep driving forward with an impressive victory in Monterey Bay F.C. It’s great to see Ben Morris in this sort of form, he and Maxi Rodriguez could each get to double-digit goals now.
7 Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC
(13-10-7)
Week 31:--		 4
Last Week:
3		 The Switchbacks missed out in a big way in conceding late to Loudoun United, especially given they had the chances to have put the game away before the late equalizer.
8 Rhode Island FC
(10-7-13)
Week 31: vs. TBR		 1
Last Week:
9		 Albert Dikwa and Noah Fuson pulling out the Wonder Twins celebration is top tier. Fuson’s red card late in San Antonio wasn’t smart, hopefully it won’t be too costly as he pursues the Golden Playmaker award.
9 Memphis 901 FC
(12-11-7)
Week 31: vs. OAK 		2
Last Week:
7		 Memphis was in great position in Louisville but couldn’t hold off the onslaught in the end. Notable stat – 901 FC hasn’t conceded more than two goals at home this season, but it’s allowed 3+ on the road four times.
10 Loudoun United FC
(10-11-8)
Week 31: @ HFD 		1
Last Week:
11		 Welcome to the goalkeeper assist club, Hugo Fauroux. What a time for the first goalie assist in Loudoun’s history, keeping the side ahead of Hartford in the playoff positions.
11 Hartford Athletic
(10-12-7)
Week 31: vs.LDN		 2
Last Week:
13		 Athletic will wait for a reschedule date for what looks like a crucial visit to Tampa Bay, but this weekend’s game at home to Loudoun United could be decisive in Athletic’s playoff push.
12 Tampa Bay Rowdies
(13-9-7)
Week 31: @ RI		 2
Last Week:
14		 The Rowdies will try to regroup for their trip to Rhode Island this weekend, one of two road games before closing out the season at home, and could need a result to regain control of third place.
13 Birmingham Legion FC
(12-12-6)
Week 31: vs. NC 		3
Last Week:
16		 Legion showed serious gumption to come back in Pittsburgh and secure a valuable point. Stefano Pinho’s finish was superbly taken.
14 Indy Eleven
(12-10-7)
Week 31: vs. LOU		 3
Last Week:
17		 Augustine Williams is the third player in Indy history to notch a hat trick, and his third finish looked like that of a player who’s found his confidence. That’s a great sign for the Boys in Blue.
15 Orange County SC
(10-14-5)
Week 31: @ LV		 3
Last Week:
18		 Not everything went perfectly for OCSC this week, but it has seven points from the past three games and notched three shutouts in a row for the first time since the 2018 season. That’s something to feel good about.
16 Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
(8-10-12)
Week 31: @ MIA 		1
Last Week:
15		 Dropping points at home is going to be the death of the Hounds’ playoff chances. They needed to make more of their second-half chances against Birmingham.
17 North Carolina FC
(9-11-9)
Week 31: @ BHM		 7
Last Week:
10		 Should North Carolina end up the wrong side of the playoff line at the end of the season, losing to El Paso on the road is one of the games they’ll look back at with regret. It’s just not consistent enough.
18 Phoenix Rising FC
(9-11-9)
Week 31: vs. MB		 6
Last Week:
12		 That it’s Phoenix suffering defeats in dramatic late fashion instead of inflicting them on opponents as was common five years ago means we’re completely through the looking glass here.
19 FC Tulsa
(8-11-10)
Week 31: vs. ELP 		2
Last Week:
21		 Tulsa had to have victory in Oakland. Now it’s put itself into a position to be in the playoffs, but it can’t let up against El Paso this weekend.
20 El Paso Locomotive FC
(6-16-7)
Week 31: @ TUL		 3
Last Week:
23		 Locomotive had an argument for deserving a win before Joaquin Rivas’ late penalty kick against North Carolina FC. In the end, it turned out to be the second-best Expected Goals mark the side has recorded this season.
21 San Antonio FC
(8-14-7)
Week 31: vs. SAC		 2
Last Week:
19		 The defensive solidity San Antonio seemed to have reestablished has gone up in smoke the last two games. It’s never conceded a goal as early as 18 seconds in club history before, as it did against Rhode Island.
22 Oakland Roots SC
(12-14-4)
Week 31: @ MEM		 2
Last Week:
20		 Roots are in a tailspin and can’t get out of it right now. Four consecutive defeats, four consecutive games without a goal. There’s still a cushion to the teams below Oakland, but it’s narrowing.
23 Monterey Bay F.C.
(7-14-9)
Week 31: @ PHX		 1
Last Week:
22		 Monterey Bay’s scoreless streak is now at 542 minutes. That’s all you really need to know about its playoff prospects at this point.
24 Miami FC
(3-25-2)
Week 31: @ LOU
Last Week:
24		 Indy Eleven's Augustine Williams is the 10th player to record a multi-goal game against Miami FC this season, while Miami hasn’t scored in its past four outings.

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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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