2022 USL Championship Playoffs Presented by Hisense: Conference Finals Schedule
October 30, 2022 – United Soccer League Championship (USL) News Release
TAMPA, Fla. – The 2022 USL Championship Playoffs, presented by Hisense, will reach their penultimate stage next weekend with Louisville City FC set to host the Tampa Bay Rowdies in the Eastern Conference Final on Saturday night, and San Antonio FC to host Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC in the Western Conference Final on Sunday night. Both games will be streamed live on ESPN+.
The two victorious sides will advance to the 2022 USL Championship Final on Sunday, November 13 at 8:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2, ESPN Deportes and SiriusXM FC (Ch. 157).
Eastern Conference No. 1 seed Louisville City FC advanced to its eighth consecutive Eastern Conference Final – a streak that stretches the duration of the club’s history – with a dramatic victory against No. 5 seed Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC on Saturday night. Trailing by a pair of goals late in regular time, the hosts scored twice in just under two minutes to level the score before advancing 5-3 in a penalty shootout at Lynn Family Stadium.
LouCity will face the No. 3 seed Tampa Bay Rowdies for a third consecutive postseason with the conference title at stake after two-time defending Eastern Conference title winners Tampa Bay advanced against No. 2 seed Memphis 901 FC thanks to a penalty kick by leading scorer Leo Fernandes in the ninth minute of second half stoppage time. Fernandes’ 20th goal of the season came shortly after Memphis had been granted the chance to lead from the spot at AutoZone Park, only for Aaron Molloy’s shot to be saved by Tampa Bay’s Phil Breno before Fernandes converted on Tampa Bay’s lone shot on goal in the game.
Western Conference No. 1 seed San Antonio FC showed its defensive strength in a 3-0 victory against No. 7 seed Oakland Roots SC on Friday night in the weekend’s opening game, with Samuel Adeniran’s goal after 118 seconds giving the hosts a decisive early lead at Toyota Field. A pair of late goals by Santiago Patiño put the game away for SAFC, which advances to the Western Conference Final for the second consecutive season.
No. 3 seed Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC rallied to claim victory – and its first trip to the Western Conference Final in club history – as it defeated No. 4 seed Sacramento Republic FC 2-1 after extra time at Weidner Field. Two goals by Michee Ngalina, including the winner in the sixth minute of extra time, sent the Switchbacks through, ending Republic FC’s remarkable season after Rodrigo Lopez had opened the scoring.
2022 USL CHAMPIONSHIP PLAYOFFS, PRESENTED BY HISENSE
(All times Eastern; home team listed first)
Eastern Conference Final
Saturday, Nov. 5
No. 1 Louisville City FC vs. No. 3 Tampa Bay Rowdies, 7:30 p.m., Lynn Family Stadium
Western Conference Final
Sunday, Nov. 6
No. 1 San Antonio FC vs. No. 3 Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC, 8:30 p.m., Toyota Field
2022 USL Championship Final
Sunday, Nov. 13
Eastern Conference winner vs. Western Conference winner, 8:30 p.m. (ESPN2, ESPN Deportes, SiriusXM FC)
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