USL 2020

The United Soccer League is scheduled to resume regular season play Saturday, July 11th, followed by single elimination playoffs. The 35 teams are divided into eight groups based on geography to reduce travel. They'll complete a 16 games schedule, although the number will be different for each team, based on how many matches they played before the pandemic shut it down. Some played two, most played one, a few didn't play any. Louisville City FC has received permission from the Commonwealth of Kentucky to open their new stadium at half capacity with strict guidelines in place for supporters and their unnamed opponent on July 11th. It will be with either Indy Eleven, Saint Louis FC or Sporting KC II.

 

That stadium is nice!!!! I can’t believe that is a USL stadium. Makes St. Louis FC’s stadium look like a dump.

 

Well the St Louis team is folding after the end of the season and we will be without any pro soccer until the MLS team starts in 2023. I guess I'll see if the Ambush are still playing indoor. It's something.

 

Louisville City FC advanced to their sixth consecutive Eastern Conference final last evening with a 2-0 victory over Saint Louis FC, thus ending the franchise's six year run in USL. Now their fans will have to wait three years for the start of the MLS expansion St. Louis City SC to begin play. The USL club was a class act, and the rivalry was a good one. We played them five times this season due to the pandemic, winning 3, losing 1 with 1 draw. It was much closer than that. I was genuinely concerned that the fifth time would be the charm for them since they obviously knew each other so well. I'm sad for their loyal supporters, who always showed up in droves to support their team when they traveled here. It'll be a long three years for those folks.
As for Louisville City, we play the Tampa Bay Rowdies next Saturday night at home before Phoenix hosts El Paso three hours later. If City wins, they'll advance to their fourth consecutive League Championship Final.

 

Good luck to Louisville City.

I'll be rooting for El Paso in the other game. Phoenix' winning goal in the 114th minute against Sacramento Republic was not a header, it was punched in. But the refs couldn't look at the replay. Still aggravated about that one.