We’re down to only two months left in the season and boy did August go out with some pure chaos. Two matches tied the most goals scored in a match record as Chattanooga vs. Tormenta and Fuego vs. Madison went to 4-4 draws on late-match heroics. Meanwhile, NOCO broke the winless streak, Richmond fell further from last season’s glory and Omaha extended its streak to a now-record-breaking six wins in a row.
Let’s see where the clubs ended up in our power rankings.
1) Union Omaha
Last week: 2
Record: 12-7-5 (2nd)
Matches since last ranking: WIN at Greenville
This week: off
The Owls reach number one in our rankings for the first time this season with a decisive 2-1 win at Greenville. Joe Brito and Steevan Dos Santos put the visitors up 2-0, and a stoppage-time response from Greenville’s Jacob Labovitz wasn’t enough. Omaha now has six wins in a row, a new USL League One record. They continue to play solid football from top to bottom, from the starting 11 to the bench, and now sit one point out of first place.
Speaking of first place, they’ll have Labor Day weekend off ahead of a midweek home match against NCFC. We’re calling that one a must-watch.
2) North Carolina FC
Last week: 1
Record: 13-5-5 (1st)
Matches since last ranking: LOSS vs. NOCO
This week: vs. Fuego
The ten-match unbeaten streak came to an end at the hands of Northern Colorado in a hard-fought match previewing a possible playoff matchup. The play wasn’t anything to be ashamed of, with plenty of solid chances that just didn’t find the net. Lucky for NCFC, this wasn’t a playoff match, and there’s plenty of time to adjust strategy. After giving up a first-half goal, David Garcia equalized with a header early in the second half. Unfortunately they’d concede a second goal a little later, and saw several solid chances to equalize again come up short (or over).
They’ll host Fuego on Saturday, and after Fuego’s four goals this weekend against Madison, they’d better take this one seriously.
3) Hailstorm FC
Last week: 4
Record: 11-7-5 (3rd)
Matches since last ranking: DRAW at Tormenta; WIN at NCFC
This week: vs. Charlotte
Is Northern Colorado back? After a six-match winless streak (which followed a 12-match undefeated streak), Hailstorm took down top-of-the-table NCFC on the road. Trevor Amann added yet another goal to his pursuit of the Golden Boot, and Bruno Rendón reminded everyone of the importance of his presence, adding the winning goal in the second half. We’re pretty sure that mid-week draw at Tormenta might have gone differently had Rendón been available to anchor the defense.
The challenge to re-establish their place at the top of the table continues on Saturday, as they host Charlotte.
4) Charlotte Independence
Last week: 3
Record: 11-7-7 (4th)
Matches since last ranking: DRAW at Knoxville
This week: at Northern Colorado
There are worse things than taking a road draw against a team fighting for a playoff spot when your position is fairly (but not completely) secure. You get a point, and you prevent the outsider from gaining the three that they desperately need. But giving up an 89th-minute goal after holding your opponent to zero shots on target up to that point has to sting just a little.
For now, The Jacks are concentrating more on breaking into the top two than fighting for a general spot. But a trip to Northern Colorado this weekend will put them to the test.
5) Greenville Triumph
Last week: 5
Record (10-6-8, 6th)
Matches since last ranking: WIN at Chattanooga; LOSS vs. Omaha
This week: at Lexington
Greenville managed three of six possible points this week, which was about expected. First, they took care of Chattanooga on the strength of first-half goals from Lucas Coutinho and Jacob Labovitz. They survived the trademark late second-half Red Wolves onslaught to take the win. But they couldn’t get past a surging Omaha side over the weekend, falling 2-1. Labovitz added another goal on the week, but it was too little too late, coming in stoppage time.
They’ll travel to Lexington on Friday, suddenly a dangerous place to visit. While Greenville has a slightly comfortable four-point lead over Tormenta and Knoxville for that final playoff spot, some insurance points would be nice.
6) Forward Madison
Last week: 6
Record: 10-7-7 (5th)
Matches since last ranking: DRAW at Fuego
This week:
It was a wild one in Fresno this weekend, as the Mingos gave up four goals for the second match in a row, and had to come from behind just to secure a draw against last-place Fuego. But for the neutral observer, this one was chock-full of dramatic storylines. Madison went down a man when Jacob Crull received consecutive yellows, resulting in a Fuego penalty conversion that put the hosts up 4-2. But the other storyline was Christian Chaney scoring two on his old squad, the second of which secured the draw. Newcomer Pierre Da Silva had his first goal in the match, and assisted on Chaney’s match-drawing goal.
Like Greenville, Madison has a slightly comfortable five-point cushion separating the club from Tormenta and Knoxville. But they really need to handle matches against lower-ranked teams to build up more insurance. They’ll head to Chattanooga on Saturday, a place that is known to produce upsets.
7) Tormenta FC
Last week: 8
Record: 9-5-11 (7th)
Matches since last ranking: DRAW vs Northern Colorado; DRAW at Chattanooga
This week: vs. Knoxville
On the bright side: that offensive prowess we knew they had is out in full force, with six goals in two matches this week. Kazaiah Sterling was responsible for three, and Pedro Fonseca two more. The downside: the defense gave up just as many, resulting in two consecutive draws. The two of six possible points is disappointing, considering Greenville took a loss over the weekend, and just one win would have put Tormenta within one point of the playoffs. Instead, they’ll have to battle from four points back moving into the critical September month.
This sets up a pivotal matchup with Knoxville this weekend. The two clubs are currently the only serious contenders to pick off the sixth and final playoff spot. Will the winner of this match end up as the last serious contender?
8) One Knoxville SC
Last week: 7
Record: 8-8-9 (8th)
Matches since last ranking: DRAW vs. Charlotte
This week: at Tormenta
Knoxville managed to squeak a point out of an otherwise frustrating match against Charlotte in which they were held to no shots on target until the 89th-minute Dani Fernández goal to equalize. However, they remain in the hunt, as their fellow just-outside-the-bubble playoff-contending rivals Tormenta also failed to gain more than draws last week.
This sets up a matchup between the two in Statesboro on Friday. A win by either side may separate the clubs for good heading into September.
9) Lexington SC
Last week: 9
Record: 7-6-11 (9th)
Matches since last ranking: WIN vs. Richmond
This week: vs. Greenville
It may be too late to make a serious run at the playoffs, but Lexington continues to play like they’re still in it. This presents a danger to any contender who has to face them for the rest of the season. The 1-0 win over a hapless Richmond side likely dealt the Kickers’ season a death blow and propelled Lexington back into 9th place. They seemed to run all over an uninspired Richmond during the second half, and won a penalty conversion to seal the win. Atês Diouf converted for his 10th goal of the season.
Can they yank Greenville down this weekend as well?
10) Richmond Kickers
Last week: 10
Record: 6-9-10 (10th)
Matches since last ranking: LOSS at Lexington
This week: vs. Fuego
Richmond put up an uninspiring performance against Lexington, dropping to tenth place, nine points out of the playoff race, and all but ending any hope the fans had at a return to the playoffs. Center-back Dakota Barnathan took a red card and will miss this week’s matchup against Fuego, a team that just managed to score four against Madison. Nothing seems to be going right for this squad these days, with only one point in their last five matches.
11) Red Wolves SC
Last week: 12
Record: 5-6-14 (11th)
Matches since last ranking: LOSS at Greenville; DRAW vs. Tormenta
This week: vs. Madison
It seems the Red Wolves are relishing their role as league spoiler as we head into the final weeks of the season. While they didn’t quite manage to upset Greenville, they certainly gave them a scare with one late-match goal on several attempts. Then it was a wild back-and-forth match against Tormenta, ending in a 4-4 draw, and frustrating their visitors’ attempt at moving closer to the playoffs. Ropapa Mensah notched the first goal for his side and then once again provided stoppage time heroics to draw the match.
They’ll host Forward Madison on Saturday, another side they’d love to drag down.
12) Fuego FC
Last week: 12
Record: 5-3-15 (12th)
Matches since last ranking: DRAW vs. Madison
This week: at Richmond; at NCFC
Chaos reigned supreme as Christian Chaney returned to Fresno for the first time since his off-season departure. Fuego flipped the script on Madison as Jose Carrea-García scored in the first minute of play. Madison would answer minutes later, and the pace was set for a wild night in California. Fuego went up 4-2 in the second half on a Qudus Lawal penalty kick conversion, their biggest lead and most goals scored in a match all season. But despite being up a man after a Madison red card, they’d end up conceding two more goals, including the match-drawing goal to Chaney of all people.
Still, the draw prevented Madison from moving any closer to a home playoff match. Fuego heads to Richmond and NCFC this week. While Richmond is all but out and only playing to salvage some pride, NCFC is battling for the top of the table. Fuego would love to throw some upset magic their way.