If you’re looking for late drama, the USL Championship playoffs have you covered. Two of this weekend’s four games were essentially decided on the last kick. Another went to a penalty shootout, and the “least” dramatic match took 81 minutes to find a cathartic winner. The defensive trends we saw in the first round didn’t go away, but the clubs that combined solidity with pragmatic in-game changes were able to advance.
With the playoff field down to four teams, which of the remaining contenders are in the best position to win it all? I’m ranking the conference finalists, explaining how they got the job done, and eulogizing the teams we lost. Let’s dig in.
1. New Mexico United
Result: 2-1 win v. Orange County
No team in the USL entered the conference semis in better form than New Mexico United. They put in the first round’s best performance last weekend, slicing through San Antonio to extend what became an eight-match unbeaten streak. The closest run-in during that stretch? A 3-3 home draw against Orange County, Saturday’s combatant for the right to advance to the Western Conference Final.
