In a league like the USL that’s often decided by the ability to run the show in transition, Week 21 decisively skewed in the other direction. Clubs that could stay steady at the back, control the middle third of the pitch, and pick their moments fared the best. Results across the East and West continued to muddy the playoff bubble picture, but a handful of contenders at the top end of the table showed why they’re in it to win it.
When the dust settled, which clubs improved their stock and which tumbled down the table? I’m power ranking all 25 teams in the USL Championship to find out.
1. Orange County SC
Trending: +2
Result: 2-1 win at Monterey
In their first match in 14 days, Orange County continued to prove that they’re the most opportunistic team in the USL Championship. There’s rarely – if ever – been a team in league history that’s so good at playing against the ball, waiting for their opportunity, and then striking forward. The hyper-disciplined defensive posture is the obvious headline for OCSC, yet the efficiency of this attack is every bit as crucial to the West’s top seed.
Against Monterey in Week 21, Danny Stone didn’t get away from that formula. Orange County’s press continued to bring intensity at every level, pressing up against the opposing goalkeeper in the first phase and marking relatively tightly through the midfield. Trust was the word at the heart of the system; OCSC willingly accepted that teenage fullback Nicola Ciotta might be targeted on the switch and believed in his ability to make stops.
