After an opening weekend that saw four higher seeds upset, home sides held firm in the Eastern and Western Conference Semifinals of the 2016 USL Cup Playoffs. The New York Red Bulls II and Louisville City FC will square off for the Eastern Conference Championship, and the Swope Park Rangers and Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 for the Western Conference Championship.
The top two teams in the Eastern Conference regular-season standings will meet for the conference championship at 6:30 p.m. Sunday night at Red Bull Arena. The New York Red Bulls II defeated defending champion the Rochester Rhinos 5-4 in a thrilling penalty shootout after the sides had played to 3-3 draw that saw Brandon Allen score in the 119th minute to tie the score. LouCity held sway at home for a second consecutive season against the Charleston Battery, meanwhile, as Kadeem Dacres had the only goal in a 1-0 victory in front of 6,581 fans at Slugger Field.
The Western Conference had drama in both of its contests, as a Swope Park Rangers side that ended regulation with nine men took a 2-1 overtime victory against Orange County Blues FC on Dane Kelly’s 25-yard finish. Meanwhile, Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 grabbed a 3-2 victory against OKC Energy FC after squandering a two-goal lead in the second half to its visitors, as WFC2’s Daniel Haber struck in the 89th minute to lift his side to a victory at Thunderbird Stadium.
Swope Park (Sporting KC), the Red Bulls and Whitecaps are all owned or operated by Major League Soccer franchises, leaving LouCity as the final independent club standing in the 29-team USL.
2016 USL CUP PLAYOFFS UPCOMING SCHEDULE
EASTERN CONFERENCE FINAL
Sunday, October 16
No. 1 New York Red Bulls II vs. No. 2 Louisville City FC, 6:30 p.m. ET
WESTERN CONFERENCE FINAL
Saturday, October 15
No. 4 Swope Park Rangers vs. No. 6 Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2, 8:30 p.m. ET
2016 USL CUP FINAL
Sunday, Oct. 23
Eastern Conference champion vs. Western Conference champion, 8 p.m. ET (ESPNU)
PREVIOUS RESULTS
EASTERN CONFERENCE QUARTERFINALS
Saturday, Oct. 1
No. 4 Rochester Rhinos 3, No. 5 Charlotte Independence 1
Game Report | Highlights
Sunday, Oct. 2
No. 1 New York Red Bulls II 4, No. 8 Orlando City B 0
Game Report | Highlights
No. 6 Charleston Battery 2, No. 3 FC Cincinnati 1
Game Report | Highlights
No. 2 Louisville City FC 2, No. 7 Richmond Kickers 0 (OT)
Game Report | Highlights
WESTERN CONFERENCE QUARTERFINALS
Friday, Sept. 30
No. 4 Swope Park Rangers 3, No. 5 LA Galaxy II 0
Game Report | Highlights
No. 6 Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 2, No. 3 Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC 1
Game Report | Highlights
Saturday, Oct. 1
No. 7 OKC Energy FC 3, No. 2 Rio Grande Valley FC 2
Game Report | Highlights
No. 8 Orange County Blues FC 0, No. 1 Sacramento Republic FC 0
Orange County won 5-4 in a penalty shootout
Game Report | Highlights
EASTERN CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS
Friday, October 7
No. 1 New York Red Bulls II 3, No. 4 Rochester Rhinos 3
New York wins 5-4 in a penalty shootout
Game Report | Highlights
Saturday, October 8
No. 2 Louisville City FC 1, No. 6 Charleston Battery 0
Game Report | Highlights
WESTERN CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS
Saturday, October 8
No. 6 Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 3, No.7 OKC Energy FC 2
Game Report | Highlights
Sunday, October 9
No. 4 Swope Park Rangers 2, No. 8 Orange County Blues FC 1 (OT)
Game Report | Highlights
