USL Championship Conference Finals Clash | OneFootball

One league that’s not observing the International Break is the USL Championship. Admittedly, there are only four teams remaining in the postseason, which will play their Conference final matches on Saturday. A cynical person would quip that it’s a reflection of the USL quality that they don’t need to pause (meaning no international players are rostered on these teams), but I’m not that guy.

What is undeniable is how mediocre the previous playoff rounds have been. Between these four teams they’ve scored only eight goals in as many games. New Mexico United is responsible for four of them; Rhode Island and FC Tulsa two apiece. Pittsburgh has scored zero (advancing via penalty shootouts after nil-nil draws twice).

Which leaves us to the two fixtures, and the Hooligan take.

EAST: Pittsburgh Riverhounds vs. Rhode Island FC

Kickoff at 6:30pm ET – Highmark Stadium, Pittsburgh, PA.The Eastern Conference suffered a complete implosion when top-seed Louisville City was eliminated in the first round. This has left 5th seed Pittsburgh and 7th seed Rhode Island as the sole survivors, and a bit of a conundrum when making predictions.

Since RIFC is the only team of the pair who’s scored this postseason, and on the road to boot, we would normally give them the edge in this one. But Pittsburgh has an outstanding home form, with 10W, 4D and 3L, and two perfect postseason clean sheets. Since a managerial change in October, the ‘Hounds have gone five games undefeated with only one goal conceded. My goodness, what a dilemma.

Pittsburgh relies heavily on defender Sam Suber, a 2025 USL Championship All-League Team selection, to control possession and dictate tempo. All the same, Pittsburgh’s home form will surely crack, and Rhode Island will continue on their improbable run into the final match for the second year in a row. Look for Jerome Williams or Albert Dikwa Lega to hit the clutch winner late in the game for the Anchors.

Prediction: Rhode Island win 1 – 0 in extra time.

WEST: FC Tulsa vs. New Mexico United

Kickoff at 8:30pm ET – ONEOK Field, Tulsa, OKFC Tulsa’s position as top seed in the West gives them the home-field advantage through the rest of the postseason. This is not a minor point, since after the end of May FC Tulsa hasn’t lost at the ONEOK Field. Their past five at home have all been shutouts, and the team has gone 513 minutes without conceding. This stalwart defensive record is led by Lamar Batista, whose first year with the Scissortails saw him record 164 clearances, 93 recoveries and a second-best in the league 176 duels. On Thursday the towering back was named to the 2025 USL Championship All-League Second Team.

Tulsa’s Taylor Calheira tied for third in goals during the regular season and earned himself an All-League First Team nod, but it was Serbian super-sub Stefan Lukic’s last three goals, all scored in clutch time, that gave the Scissortails wins. If he enters the pitch, expect fireworks.

Tulsa will be challenged by New Mexico’s varied attack, which has seen 19 different goal scorers over the season, a league high. Their leading goalscorer, captain Talen Maples, is a wing back and had more completed passes than any other USL player (1,769) in the regular season. All of his goals have come from penalty kicks. But remember that literally anyone in a United jersey is capable of scoring, so the Tulsa defense had best stay alert.

Tulsa’s remarkable season, which should see a third consecutive sell-out crowd, will not end tonight. Ultimately, their superior defensive record and raucous crowd will give them the edge. Prediction: FC Tulsa win 2 – 0.