The Week 4 slate in the USL is highlighted by a top of the table clash in the Eastern Conference. It’ll be second against third in Louisville on Saturday, when the Tampa Bay Rowdies square off with Louisville City.
Saint Louis FC, the top team in the East, faces a difficult road trip in Cincinnati, while the top side in the Western Conference, Real Monarchs, makes a trip of their own in Week 4.
Here’s a look at each of the games in the USL this weekend:
Orlando City B at New York Red Bulls II (Friday, 7 p.m. ET)
Two of the more high profile names in the Eastern Conference square off in the league’s only Friday night matchup. The Baby Bulls are riding a two-game losing streak after coming up short in a five-goal thriller against Saint Louis FC. The Lions are unbeaten in their last two matches and have been involved in a pair of four-goal contests.
Ottawa Fury at Richmond Kickers (Saturday, 5 p.m. ET)
Ottawa enters the weekend as the only team in the East without a point, and it is one of two teams in the entire league waiting to finally deliver a positive result. The Kickers have been involved in three 1-0 decisions so far this season, but have come out on the losing end in the last two.
Rochester Rhinos at Charleston Battery (Saturday, 7 p.m. ET)
Charleston’s early-season run of form was halted last week by the Pittsburgh Riverhounds. Still, the Battery sit comfortably in fourth place on six points. The Rhinos are directly behind the Battery in the East, and they are on top of a large group of teams with four points.
Pittsburgh Riverhounds at Charlotte Independence (Saturday, 7 p.m. ET)
After knocking off Charleston last weekend, the Riverhounds fell to Saint Louis FC at home on Wednesday. They’ll look to bounce back against the Independence, who have one point from two games.
Saint Louis FC at FC Cincinnati (Saturday, 7 p.m. ET)
Saint Louis FC has established itself as the class of the Eastern Conference early on in the 2017 campaign, with 10 points from four matches. The Midwestern side could extend that lead further with a road win at Nippert Stadium. FC Cincinnati is dwelling near the bottom of the East with three points out of three matches.
Bethlehem Steel at Harrisburg City Islanders (Saturday, 7 p.m. ET)
The local Pennsylvania rivals square off for the first time this season, with both teams attempting to break away from the cluster of teams sitting on three points. Steel knocked off FC Cincinnati for their first win a week ago, while Harrisburg’s only win came against Red Bulls II.
Tampa Bay Rowdies at Louisville City FC (Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET)
The marquee matchup of the weekend in the East comes from Louisville Slugger Field, where second-place Tampa Bay visits third-place Louisville City. The Rowdies are three for three in their inaugural USL Season, while Louisville’s only slip up was a draw with Saint Louis FC on opening weekend.
Real Monarchs at Colorado Springs Switchbacks (Saturday, 8 p.m ET)
The best team in the West makes the short trip to Colorado Springs to take on a Switchbacks side that has taken points from all but one of their five matches. Real Monarchs are one of three teams left in the league to win each of their matches.
Sacramento Republic at Swope Park Rangers (Saturday, 8:30 p.m. ET)
The Republic have been the only team able to keep up with Real Monarchs atop the Western Conference. Sarcamento has nine points from four matches. Swope Park Rangers have only played twice, but they’ve won each time out. A third in a row would boost the higher in the table.
Reno 1868 at San Antonio FC (Saturday, 8:30 p.m. ET)
Second-to-bottom in the West faces third place at Toyota Field on Saturday night. Reno 1868 has experienced a rough start with two losses and a draw and it doesn’t get easier against San Antonio, who enters with seven points.
Seattle Sounders 2 at LA Galaxy II (Saturday, 10:30 p.m ET)
Both Sounders 2 and Galaxy II are fighting to claw out of the bottom half of the West standings. Sounders 2 have just three points from three matches, while Galaxy II have posted the same mark, but they have a slightly better goal difference.
Vancouver Whitecaps 2 at Portland Timbers 2 (Sunday, 5 p.m. ET)
The club in need of a victory the most in Week 4 is Portland Timbers 2, who have the worst record in the West with zero points. Vancouver earned its first Cascadia victory a week ago against Seattle, and it has a great chance of improving its mark this week.