The 2020 USL Championship playoffs was the post-season championship of the 2020 USL Championship. It was the tenth edition of the USL Championship playoffs. The playoffs began on October 10, and originally scheduled to conclude with the USL Championship Final on November 1. The Final was then cancelled the day before because several Tampa Bay Rowdies players and staff tested positive for COVID-19. The championship would not be awarded.[1]
| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Teams | 16 |
| Final positions | |
| Champions | Tampa Bay Rowdies (Eastern Conference) Phoenix Rising FC (Western Conference) |
| Tournament statistics | |
| Matches played | 14 |
| Goals scored | 37 (2.64 per match) |
| Attendance | 25,836 (1,845 per match) |
| Top goal scorer(s) | Corey Hertzog (3 goals) |
Real Monarchs were the defending USL Championship champions, but failed to qualify for the playoffs.
Qualified teams
editGroup A
Group B
Group C
Group D
Group E
Group F
Group G
Group H
Format
editThe top two teams in each group will qualify for the 2020 Championship playoffs. They will begin on October 10, featuring a single-elimination, 16-team bracket. Under the revised season format, four group winners in each conference will earn hosting rights for the Eastern and Western Conference quarterfinals. Following the opening round, hosting rights will be determined by regular season record. All playoff matches will stream live on ESPN+ except the Championship final on ESPN.[2][3]
Conference tables
editWestern Conference
edit| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts | PPG | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Reno 1868 FC | 16 | 11 | 2 | 3 | 43 | 21 | +22 | 36 | 2.25 | Conference Quarterfinals |
| 2 | Phoenix Rising FC | 16 | 11 | 3 | 2 | 46 | 17 | +29 | 35 | 2.19 | |
| 3 | San Antonio FC | 16 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 30 | 14 | +16 | 33 | 2.06 | |
| 4 | El Paso Locomotive FC | 16 | 9 | 2 | 5 | 24 | 14 | +10 | 32 | 2.00 | |
| 5 | Sacramento Republic | 16 | 8 | 2 | 6 | 27 | 17 | +10 | 30 | 1.88 | |
| 6 | New Mexico United | 15 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 23 | 17 | +6 | 27 | 1.80 | |
| 7 | FC Tulsa | 15 | 6 | 2 | 7 | 21 | 16 | +5 | 25 | 1.67 | |
| 8 | LA Galaxy II | 16 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 29 | 32 | −3 | 26 | 1.63 | |
| 9 | Orange County SC | 16 | 7 | 6 | 3 | 18 | 18 | 0 | 24 | 1.50 | |
| 10 | San Diego Loyal SC | 16 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 17 | 18 | −1 | 23 | 1.44 | |
| 11 | Austin Bold FC | 16 | 5 | 4 | 7 | 30 | 26 | +4 | 22 | 1.38 | |
| 12 | Tacoma Defiance | 16 | 4 | 10 | 2 | 25 | 32 | −7 | 14 | 0.88 | |
| 13 | Colorado Springs Switchbacks | 16 | 2 | 7 | 7 | 19 | 28 | −9 | 13 | 0.81 | |
| 14 | Real Monarchs | 16 | 3 | 11 | 2 | 14 | 25 | −11 | 11 | 0.69 | |
| 15 | Las Vegas Lights FC | 16 | 2 | 9 | 5 | 24 | 34 | −10 | 11 | 0.69 | |
| 16 | Rio Grande Valley Toros | 14 | 2 | 9 | 3 | 17 | 28 | −11 | 9 | 0.64 | |
| 17 | OKC Energy FC | 16 | 1 | 8 | 7 | 12 | 29 | −17 | 10 | 0.63 | |
| 18 | Portland Timbers 2 | 16 | 3 | 13 | 0 | 20 | 50 | −30 | 9 | 0.56 |
Source: USL Championship
Rules for classification: 1) points per game; 2) points; 3) total wins; 4) total goal differential; 5) total goals scored; 6) disciplinary points; 7) coin toss or drawing of lots.
Rules for classification: 1) points per game; 2) points; 3) total wins; 4) total goal differential; 5) total goals scored; 6) disciplinary points; 7) coin toss or drawing of lots.
Eastern Conference
edit| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts | PPG | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Louisville City FC | 16 | 11 | 3 | 2 | 28 | 12 | +16 | 35 | 2.19 | Conference Quarterfinals |
| 2 | Hartford Athletic | 16 | 11 | 3 | 2 | 31 | 24 | +7 | 35 | 2.19 | |
| 3 | Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC | 16 | 11 | 4 | 1 | 39 | 10 | +29 | 34 | 2.13 | |
| 4 | Tampa Bay Rowdies | 16 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 25 | 11 | +14 | 33 | 2.06 | |
| 5 | Charleston Battery | 15 | 9 | 3 | 3 | 26 | 15 | +11 | 30 | 2.00 | |
| 6 | Charlotte Independence | 16 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 24 | 22 | +2 | 28 | 1.75 | |
| 7 | Birmingham Legion FC | 16 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 29 | 19 | +10 | 25 | 1.56 | |
| 8 | Saint Louis FC | 16 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 22 | 21 | +1 | 25 | 1.56 | |
| 9 | Indy Eleven | 16 | 7 | 7 | 2 | 21 | 19 | +2 | 23 | 1.44 | |
| 10 | North Carolina FC | 15 | 6 | 8 | 1 | 17 | 21 | −4 | 19 | 1.27 | |
| 11 | Memphis 901 FC | 15 | 4 | 7 | 4 | 24 | 31 | −7 | 16 | 1.07 | |
| 12 | Sporting Kansas City II | 16 | 5 | 10 | 1 | 21 | 30 | −9 | 16 | 1.00 | |
| 13 | Miami FC | 16 | 4 | 8 | 4 | 20 | 34 | −14 | 16 | 1.00 | |
| 14 | New York Red Bulls II | 16 | 5 | 11 | 0 | 30 | 37 | −7 | 15 | 0.94 | |
| 15 | Atlanta United 2 | 16 | 3 | 10 | 3 | 23 | 33 | −10 | 12 | 0.75 | |
| 16 | Philadelphia Union II | 16 | 2 | 11 | 3 | 20 | 45 | −25 | 9 | 0.56 | |
| 17 | Loudoun United FC | 13 | 1 | 9 | 3 | 10 | 28 | −18 | 6 | 0.46 |
Source: USL Championship
Rules for classification: 1) points per game; 2) points; 3) total wins; 4) total goal differential; 5) total goals scored; 6) disciplinary points; 7) coin toss or drawing of lots.
Rules for classification: 1) points per game; 2) points; 3) total wins; 4) total goal differential; 5) total goals scored; 6) disciplinary points; 7) coin toss or drawing of lots.
Bracket
edit| Conference Quarterfinals October 10 | Conference Semifinals October 17 | Conference Finals October 24 | USL Championship Cancelled | ||||||||||||||||
| A1 | Reno 1868 FC | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| B2 | LA Galaxy II | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
| A1 | Reno 1868 FC | 2 (4) | |||||||||||||||||
| B1 | Phoenix Rising FC (p) | 2 (5) | |||||||||||||||||
| B1 | Phoenix Rising FC (a.e.t.) | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
| A2 | Sacramento Republic FC | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
| B1 | Phoenix Rising FC (p) | 1 (4) | |||||||||||||||||
| Western Conference | |||||||||||||||||||
| C1 | El Paso Locomotive FC | 1 (2) | |||||||||||||||||
| C1 | El Paso Locomotive FC (p) | 2 (4) | |||||||||||||||||
| D2 | FC Tulsa | 2 (2) | |||||||||||||||||
| C1 | El Paso Locomotive FC (p) | 1 (5) | |||||||||||||||||
| C2 | New Mexico United | 1 (3) | |||||||||||||||||
| D1 | San Antonio FC | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
| C2 | New Mexico United (a.e.t.) | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
| B1 | Phoenix Rising FC | Ø | |||||||||||||||||
| H1 | Tampa Bay Rowdies | Ø | |||||||||||||||||
| E1 | Louisville City FC | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
| F2 | Pittsburgh Riverhounds | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
| E1 | Louisville City FC | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
| E2 | Saint Louis FC | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
| F1 | Hartford Athletic | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
| E2 | Saint Louis FC | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
| E1 | Louisville City FC | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
| Eastern Conference | |||||||||||||||||||
| H1 | Tampa Bay Rowdies | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
| G1 | Charlotte Independence | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
| H2 | Charleston Battery (a.e.t.) | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
| H2 | Charleston Battery | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
| H1 | Tampa Bay Rowdies | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
| H1 | Tampa Bay Rowdies | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| G2 | Birmingham Legion FC | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
Schedule
editConference Quarterfinals
edit| October 10, 2020 East | Hartford Athletic | 0–1 | Saint Louis FC | Hartford, Connecticut |
| 7:00 PM EDT | Report | Stadium: Dillon Stadium Attendance: 2,194 Referee: Kevin Broadley |
| October 10, 2020 East | Tampa Bay Rowdies | 4–2 | Birmingham Legion FC | St. Petersburg, Florida |
| 7:30 PM EDT | Report | Stadium: Al Lang Stadium Attendance: 1,098 Referee: Eric Tattersall |
| October 10, 2020 East | Louisville City FC | 2–0 | Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC | Louisville, Kentucky |
| 7:30 PM EDT | Report |
|
Stadium: Lynn Family Stadium Attendance: 4,900 Referee: Elton García |
| October 10, 2020 East | Charlotte Independence | 1–2 (a.e.t.) | Charleston Battery | Matthews, North Carolina |
| 8:00 PM EDT | Report | Stadium: Sportsplex at Matthews Attendance: 100 Referee: Lukasz Szpala |
| October 10, 2020 West | Reno 1868 FC | 4–1 | LA Galaxy II | Reno, Nevada |
| 7:00 PM MDT | Report | Stadium: Greater Nevada Field Attendance: 250 Referee: Matthew Thompson |
| October 10, 2020 West | San Antonio FC | 0–1 (a.e.t.) | New Mexico United | San Antonio, Texas |
| 7:00 PM CDT | Report | Stadium: Toyota Field Attendance: 2,175 Referee: Elijio Arreguin |
| October 10, 2020 West | El Paso Locomotive FC | 2–2 (a.e.t.) (4–2 p) | FC Tulsa | El Paso, Texas |
| 7:30 PM MDT | Report |
|
Stadium: Southwest University Park Attendance: 1,659 Referee: Brandon Stevis | |
| Penalties | ||||
| October 10, 2020 West | Phoenix Rising FC | 1–0 (a.e.t.) | Sacramento Republic FC | Scottsdale, Arizona |
| 7:30 PM MST | Report |
|
Stadium: Casino Arizona Field Referee: Elvis Osmanovic |
Conference Semifinals
edit| October 17, 2020 East | Louisville City FC | 2–0 | Saint Louis FC | Louisville, Kentucky |
| 7:30 PM EDT | Report | Stadium: Lynn Family Stadium Attendance: 4,900 Referee: Lukasz Szpala |
| October 17, 2020 East | Tampa Bay Rowdies | 1–0 | Charleston Battery | St. Petersburg, Florida |
| 7:30 PM EDT | Report |
|
Stadium: Al Lang Stadium Attendance: 1,301 Referee: Ismir Pekmic |
| October 17, 2020 West | Reno 1868 FC | 2–2 (a.e.t.) (4–5 p) | Phoenix Rising FC | Reno, Nevada |
| 6:00 PM PDT | Report | Stadium: Greater Nevada Field Attendance: 700 Referee: Kevin Broadley | ||
| Penalties | ||||
| October 17, 2020 West | El Paso Locomotive FC | 1–1 (a.e.t.) (5–3 p) | New Mexico United | El Paso, Texas |
| 7:30 PM MDT | Report | Stadium: Southwest University Park Attendance: 1,659 Referee: Jon Freemon | ||
| Penalties | ||||
Conference Finals
edit| October 24, 2020 East | Louisville City FC | 1–2 | Tampa Bay Rowdies | Louisville, Kentucky |
| 7:30 PM EDT |
|
Report | Stadium: Lynn Family Stadium Attendance: 4,900 Referee: Jon Freemon |
| October 24, 2020 West | Phoenix Rising FC | 1–1 (a.e.t.) (4–2 p) | El Paso Locomotive FC | Scottsdale, Arizona |
| 7:30 PM MST |
|
Report | Stadium: Casino Arizona Field Referee: Elton García | |
| Penalties | ||||
| Bakero Whelan Farrell Moar |
||||
USL Championship Final
editThe Final was cancelled the day before because several Tampa Bay Rowdies players and staff tested positive for COVID-19. The championship would not be awarded.[1]
| November 1, 2020 | Tampa Bay Rowdies | Cancelled | Phoenix Rising FC | St. Petersburg, Florida |
| 8:30 PM EST | Stadium: Al Lang Stadium | |||
| Note: Phoenix relinquished the right to host the final as a gesture of respect to the LGBTQ community for the incident between Phoenix Rising and San Diego Loyal on September 30.[4] | ||||
Top goalscorers
edit- As of October 31, 2020[5]
Awards
edit- Goal of the Playoffs:
Jordan Doherty (TBR)[6]
- Save of the Playoffs:
Cody Mizell (NMU)[7]
References
edit- ^ a b "USL Championship Final Cancelled, Season Concludes with Tampa Bay, Phoenix as Conference Title-Winners". USLChampionship.com. October 31, 2020. Retrieved October 31, 2020.
- ^ "USL Championship Confirms 2020 Postseason Structure". USLChampionship.com. September 14, 2020. Retrieved September 30, 2020.
- ^ "USL Championship Final to Air on ESPN and ESPN Deportes". USLChampionship.com. September 23, 2020. Retrieved September 23, 2020.
- ^ "Phoenix Rising FC Relinquishes 2020 Championship Final Hosting Rights". USLChampionship.com. October 20, 2020. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
- ^ "Playoffs Stats". United Soccer League. Retrieved October 31, 2020.
- ^ "Tampa Bay's Doherty Claims Fans' Choice Goal of the Playoffs Award". USLChampionship.com Staff. November 9, 2020. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
- ^ "New Mexico's Mizell Takes Fans' Choice Save of the Playoffs Award". USLChampionship.com Staff. November 9, 2020. Retrieved November 10, 2020.