2020 USL Championship Playoffs

Main article: 2020 USL Championship season

2020 USL Championship Playoffs

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)
←  2019 2021  →

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]

Real Monarchs were the defending USL Championship champions, but failed to qualify for the playoffs.

Qualified teams

Group A

• Reno 1868 FC
• Sacramento Republic FC

Group B

• Phoenix Rising FC
• LA Galaxy II

Group C

• El Paso Locomotive FC
• New Mexico United

Group D

• San Antonio FC
• FC Tulsa

Group E

• Louisville City FC
• Saint Louis FC

Group F

• Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
• Hartford Athletic

Group G

• Charlotte Independence
• Birmingham Legion FC

Group H

• Tampa Bay Rowdies
• Charleston Battery

Format

The 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

Western Conference

Pos	Team v t e	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.

Eastern Conference

Pos	Team v t e	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.

Bracket

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

Conference Quarterfinals

Hartford Athletic v Saint Louis FC

October 10, 2020 (2020-10-10)East	Hartford Athletic	0–1	Saint Louis FC	Hartford, Connecticut
7:00 PM EDT	Silva  16' Strong  45+1' Barrera  61' Politz  90+3'	Report	Greig  73' Fall  89' Rivas 90+3'	Stadium: Dillon Stadium Attendance: 2,194 Referee: Kevin Broadley

Tampa Bay Rowdies v Birmingham Legion FC

October 10, 2020 (2020-10-10)East	Tampa Bay Rowdies	4–2	Birmingham Legion FC	St. Petersburg, Florida
7:30 PM EDT	Doherty 8' Guenzatti 38' Mkosana 78' Fernandes 80'	Report	Crognale  10' Lopez  20' Williams  42' Kasim 57' Lapa 63' Cromwell  85'	Stadium: Al Lang Stadium Attendance: 1,098 Referee: Eric Tattersall

Louisville City FC v Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC

October 10, 2020 (2020-10-10)East	Louisville City FC	2–0	Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC	Louisville, Kentucky
7:30 PM EDT	Lancaster 17' Souahy  26' Hoppenot  29' Jimenez  53' Bone 86'	Report	Thomas  45'	Stadium: Lynn Family Stadium Attendance: 4,900 Referee: Elton García

Charlotte Independence v Charleston Battery

October 10, 2020 (2020-10-10)East	Charlotte Independence	1–2 (a.e.t.)	Charleston Battery	Matthews, North Carolina
8:00 PM EDT	Roberts 64' Martínez  90+4' Dimick  100' Sabella  118'	Report	Daley 3' Crawford  63' Paterson  71' Marini  99' Bosua 101' 109'	Stadium: Sportsplex at Matthews Attendance: 100 Referee: Lukasz Szpala

Reno 1868 FC v LA Galaxy II

October 10, 2020 (2020-10-10)West	Reno 1868 FC	4–1	LA Galaxy II	Reno, Nevada
7:00 PM MDT	Partida 4' 45' Hertzog 35', 59' (pen.) 77' Langsdorf 53' Beaury  85'	Report	Neal 10' Romero  58' Hernández  66' Vázquez  74' Saldana  76'	Stadium: Greater Nevada Field Attendance: 250 Referee: Matthew Thompson

San Antonio FC v New Mexico United

October 10, 2020 (2020-10-10)West	San Antonio FC	0–1 (a.e.t.)	New Mexico United	San Antonio, Texas
7:00 PM CDT	Taintor  51' Giro  104' Bailone  105+1' Parano  115'	Report	Moreno  48' Mizell  94' Wehan 101' 105+2' Suggs  104' Tinari  105+3' Guzmán  107'	Stadium: Toyota Field Attendance: 2,175 Referee: Elijio Arreguin

El Paso Locomotive FC v FC Tulsa

October 10, 2020 (2020-10-10)West	El Paso Locomotive FC	2–2 (a.e.t.) (4–2 p)	FC Tulsa	El Paso, Texas
7:30 PM MDT	Carrijó 19', 82' Borelli  67' Rebellón  96'	Report	Bird  24' Da Costa 38' Chapman-Page  61'  101'68'	Stadium: Southwest University Park Attendance: 1,659 Referee: Brandon Stevis
	Penalties
	Ross Rebellón Ryan Robinson		Altamirano Moloto Martínez Bourgeois

Phoenix Rising FC v Sacramento Republic FC

October 10, 2020 (2020-10-10)West	Phoenix Rising FC	1–0 (a.e.t.)	Sacramento Republic FC	Scottsdale, Arizona
7:30 PM MST	Dadashov  44' Lambert  109' Asante 114'	Report	Formella  12' López  45' Hilliard-Arce  74' McCrary  87' Keinan  90+1'	Stadium: Casino Arizona Field Referee: Elvis Osmanovic

Conference Semifinals

Louisville City FC v Saint Louis FC

October 17, 2020 (2020-10-17)East	Louisville City FC	2–0	Saint Louis FC	Louisville, Kentucky
7:30 PM EDT	Totsch  11' Lancaster 18' Williams  20' Lundt  75' Adewole 83' (o.g.)	Report	Gee  25' Fink  82' Samb  90+3'	Stadium: Lynn Family Stadium Attendance: 4,900 Referee: Lukasz Szpala

Tampa Bay Rowdies v Charleston Battery

October 17, 2020 (2020-10-17)East	Tampa Bay Rowdies	1–0	Charleston Battery	St. Petersburg, Florida
7:30 PM EDT	Scarlett  38' Mkosana 79'	Report	Archer  57'	Stadium: Al Lang Stadium Attendance: 1,301 Referee: Ismir Pekmic

Reno 1868 FC v Phoenix Rising FC

October 17, 2020 (2020-10-17)West	Reno 1868 FC	2–2 (a.e.t.) (4–5 p)	Phoenix Rising FC	Reno, Nevada
6:00 PM PDT	Hertzog 6' Janjigian  31' Partida 40' Bone  57' Langsdorf  79' Ycaza  90+4' Boudadi  119'	Report	King  23' Lambert 45+2' 51' Lowe  65' Asante 71' Moar  94'	Stadium: Greater Nevada Field Attendance: 700 Referee: Kevin Broadley
	Penalties
	Hertzog Alfaro Richards Gleadle Apodaca		Farrell Whelan Calistri King Dadashov

El Paso Locomotive FC v New Mexico United

October 17, 2020 (2020-10-17)West	El Paso Locomotive FC	1–1 (a.e.t.) (5–3 p)	New Mexico United	El Paso, Texas
7:30 PM MDT	Mares 30' Borelli  50' Gómez  52' Moreno  53' Diaz  112'	Report	Hamilton  38' Parkes 90+5'	Stadium: Southwest University Park Attendance: 1,659 Referee: Jon Freemon
	Penalties
	Borelli Ross Ryan Robinson Zola		Sandoval Wehan Ryden Parkes

Conference Finals

Louisville City FC v Tampa Bay Rowdies

October 24, 2020 (2020-10-24)East	Louisville City FC	1–2	Tampa Bay Rowdies	Louisville, Kentucky
7:30 PM EDT	McMahon  27' Lachowecki 45' (o.g.)	Report	Steinberger 3' Lasso  29' Dalgaard  38' Guenzatti 45+3' Guillén  83' Ekra  90+1'	Stadium: Lynn Family Stadium Attendance: 4,900 Referee: Jon Freemon

Phoenix Rising FC v El Paso Locomotive FC

October 24, 2020 (2020-10-24)West	Phoenix Rising FC	1–1 (a.e.t.) (4–2 p)	El Paso Locomotive FC	Scottsdale, Arizona
7:30 PM MST	Schweitzer 18' Farrell  95' Asante  109' Lowe  113'	Report	Monsalvez  4' King  54' Rebellón 59' 94' Herrera  105+2' Diaz  106' Ryan  108' Carrijó  111'	Stadium: Casino Arizona Field Referee: Elton García
	Penalties
	Bakero Whelan Farrell Moar		Carrijó Ross Ryan Gómez

USL Championship Final

The 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]

Tampa Bay Rowdies v Phoenix Rising FC

November 1, 2020 (2020-11-01)	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

As of October 31, 2020 ^[5]

Rank	Player	Club	Goals
1	Corey Hertzog	Reno 1868 FC	3
2	Solomon Asante	Phoenix Rising FC	2
	Leandro Carrijó	El Paso Locomotive FC
	Sebastián Guenzatti	Tampa Bay Rowdies
	Cameron Lancaster	Louisville City FC
	Lucky Mkosana	Tampa Bay Rowdies
	Kevin Partida	Reno 1868 FC

Awards

• Goal of the Playoffs: Jordan Doherty (TBR) ^[6]
• Save of the Playoffs: Cody Mizell (NMU) ^[7]

References

1. "USL Championship Final Cancelled, Season Concludes with Tampa Bay, Phoenix as Conference Title-Winners". USLChampionship.com. October 31, 2020. Retrieved October 31, 2020.
2. "USL Championship Confirms 2020 Postseason Structure". USLChampionship.com. September 14, 2020. Retrieved September 30, 2020.
3. "USL Championship Final to Air on ESPN and ESPN Deportes". USLChampionship.com. September 23, 2020. Retrieved September 23, 2020.
4. "Phoenix Rising FC Relinquishes 2020 Championship Final Hosting Rights". USLChampionship.com. October 20, 2020. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
5. "Playoffs Stats". United Soccer League. Retrieved October 31, 2020.
6. "Tampa Bay's Doherty Claims Fans' Choice Goal of the Playoffs Award". USLChampionship.com Staff. November 9, 2020. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
7. "New Mexico's Mizell Takes Fans' Choice Save of the Playoffs Award". USLChampionship.com Staff. November 9, 2020. Retrieved November 10, 2020.