As the North American Soccer League (the second level of soccer in the United States just under the MLS) gears up for the playoffs coming up at the end of September, the United Soccer League Pro (third tier of soccer in the US) playoffs start to heat up.
This is how US Soccer has planned out the schedule: the lower-tier levels give way to the higher-tier levels so all the playoff action can be enjoyed one league at a time. But is it fair for the lower-tier soccer leagues in the US to have a shorter regular season? This is an issue that could be discussed another time.
This setup can be interesting because every tier of soccer in the US has its own characteristic that makes it unique. Therefore one can focus on one league at a time. For example, MLS showcases some very entertaining matches filled with talented players like Freddy Montero or Chris Wondolowski throughout the playoffs.
The USL Premier Development League championship has 73 teams that compete for it throughout the year in their respective divisions. To qualify for the playoffs a team must finish in one of the qualifying positions in the division after the regular season. The number of playoff spots in each division is determined by the division’s strength, almost like the UEFA Champions League, which gives out a certain amount of qualifying spots depending on how the teams from the league do in the tournament. Then they must become conference champions to accede to the semi-finals.
All of these steps give the PDL Championship so much meaning when it is won. This is why each PDL champion really deserves it.
It is quite a confusing format, but the USL has done a good job organizing it because there are so many teams across the US and Canada. These are semi-pro teams so they do not have the means to travel across the country for a regular-season matc,h so this is why there are so many divisions and it therefore creates a complicated playoff format. Keep in mind that this is only the fourth unofficial tier of soccer in the US.
In the USL Pro this year, Orlando City claimed The Commissioner’s Cup by finishing first. The Commissioner’s Cup is the equivalent of the Supporter’s Shield. The second place Rochester Rhinos also got a first-round bye. For those who don’t know, the top six out of 11 make it in this league.
The Charleston Battery went through with a 2-1 win over the Harrisburg City Islanders. Their Scottish midfielder who also is their top scorer, Nicholas Paterson, scored a penalty to set up the victory last Saturday.
Also, The 5th place Wilmington Hammerheads beat out the 4th place Richmond Kickers 3-2 in a cracking match.
These first-round matches were an exciting prologue to the semi-finals on August 31st. Abby Wambach will even make an appearance at Sahlen Stadium in Rochester. She will do an autograph session before the game. Then she will be honoured with a ceremonial kick-off before The Rochester Rhino’s semi-final against the Charleston Battery.
It’s heart-warming when such a great athlete gets honored for her accomplishments.
The other semi-final will be between the defending Champions Orlando City and the Wilmington Hammerheads. Hopefully we will see some fast-paced, high-energy soccer.
