Another week with crazy high goal-scoring; there were 6 games with 4 or more goals tallied. One team (Phoenix Rising) was even involved in 2 of them. A couple of the scorelines were something of a shock (one in particular, sadly) but the overall movement in the rankings was relatively modest despite that. That being said, we have a new team at the top.
| Rank | Team | Previous | Change | Record | Last 5 | Forge Factor | Note | Next |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | El Paso Locomotive | 3 | +2 | 10-7-4 | LWWWW | 23.023 | El Paso’s up-and-down season is very much on the up right now. They benefited from an own goal and a late Pedro Cruz save to beat Colorado Springs 1-0 in a tight game to build a 4-game win streak. | v. Pittsburgh, v. Loudoun |
| 2 | Tampa Bay Rowdies | 1 | -1 | 13-3-5 | WWWWL | 21.712 | The Rowdies were held to just 6 shots (they average 15.5) and were scoreless for just the second time this season. They lose to Detroit 0-1. but are still well clear at the top of the East. | @ Pittsburgh |
| 3 | New Mexico United | 2 | -1 | 10-4-4 | WWWWT | 20.880 | New Mexico survived a 30th-minute red card to draw Loudoun 0-0. Rock-solid defending and 9 saves by Kris Shakes earned a point but the win streak is over. | v. Lexington, v. San Antonio |
| 4 | Pittsburgh Riverhounds | 4 | 0 | 10-8-3 | LWTWW | 19.377 | Pittsburgh’s late goal in Brooklyn was enough for a 1-0 win in a dreary game. They edge back into the home playoff spots. | @ El Paso, v. Tampa Bay |
| 5 | FC Tulsa | 10 | +5 | 9-6-5 | WWLLW | 18.115 | Tulsa had scored 7 goals in their previous 10 games. A 5-1 shellacking of West leaders Orange County was on no one’s bingo card. They pass San Antonio with a game in hand. | v. Rhode Island |
| 6 | Charleston Battery | 8 | +2 | 11-7-3 | LWWLW | 17.347 | The Battery were already up a goal when Denilson Milanes was red-carded in the 35th minute. From there it was plain sailing for the 5-0 win. They hold 2nd in the East by a whisker though. | @ Las Vegas |
| 7 | Detroit City | 11 | +4 | 10-5-5 | LTWTW | 16.584 | Detroit completely stymied the Rowdies attack in the 1-0 win. They have a game in hand and are very close to second in the Eastern Conference. | @ Louisville |
| 8 | Lexington SC | 9 | +1 | 9-7-4 | TWWLW | 14.690 | Lexington shook off a shaky start to take control and ride two early second-half goals to a 2-0 win over Las Vegas. The two swap spots in the table and Lexington has a game in hand. | @ New Mexico, v. Colorado Springs |
| 9 | Sacramento Republic | 6 | -3 | 8-5-7 | WLTWT | 13.267 | The Republic should have iced the game after going up 2 goals up in the first half but blew a couple of chances. They let Phoenix back in and ended the game 2-2. | @ Monterey Bay |
| 10 | Loudoun United | 5 | -5 | 3-6-11 | WWLTT | 13.264 | Loudoun couldn’t take advantage of playing a man up for 60+ minutes to draw New Mexico 0-0 at home. That’s 3 straight games without scoring to keep everyone else in the chase. | @ El Paso |
| 11 | Rhode Island FC | 12 | +1 | 8-7-4 | WLWLW | 12.985 | J.J. Williams didn’t play and Rhody showed they can perform without him. Just as well, really. They beat Monterey Bay comprehensively 3-1. | @ Tulsa |
| 12 | Phoenix Rising | 18 | +6 | 6-7-8 | TTLWT | 11.926 | Phoenix got 4 desperately needed points this week, beating Colorado Springs comfortably 3-1 and coming from 2 down to draw Sacramento 2-2. The playoffs are within reach. | v. Indy |
| 13 | Louisville City | 7 | -6 | 9-8-4 | WLTWL | 11.779 | Lou City went down a goal, tied it up and went back down again less than 3 minutes later. Most of the possession but never in control in the LIPAFC derby. | v. Detroit |
| 14 | Indy Eleven | 21 | +7 | 8-7-4 | LLTWW | 11.493 | Indy beat Louisville 2-1 in a huge derby game. A confident performance overall and a big signal. They are now just 3 points back of Lou City with 2 games in hand. | @ Phoenix |
| 15 | Oakland Roots | 22 | +7 | 6-8-8 | LTLTW | 9.776 | A huge double save by Kendall McIntosh kept the Roots level early and they stayed that way until a late PK got them the 1-0 win over San Antonio. Their first win in 9 games. | v. Orange County |
| 16 | Hartford Athletic | 19 | +3 | 5-5-9 | LTLTW | 6.533 | Hartford Athletic were on a bye this week. | v. Birmingham |
| 17 | San Antonio FC | 13 | -4 | 8-5-8 | WWTLL | 6.430 | San Antonio and Oakland played a totally level game mostly, even trading offside goals. The difference was a late PK given up by Joey Batrouni in his own box. They slip out of the home playoff spots. | @ New Mexico |
| 18 | Brooklyn FC | 20 | +2 | 4-11-4 | TLLWL | 4.655 | Brooklyn played the Riverhounds fairly close but couldn’t find the net. They end up losing 0-1 late and wasted a chance to close the gap on the Legion. | v. JAX |
| 19 | Las Vegas Lights | 16 | -3 | 7-9-5 | TTWWL | 4.618 | Coming off two so-so wins, the Lights were unable to convert excellent early chances and eventually went down 0-2 in Lexington. Barely holding on to a playoff spot. | v. Charleston |
| 20 | Birmingham Legion | 17 | -3 | 3-8-8 | TLWLL | 4.669 | For the second straight game the Legion scored first but lost 2-3. This one at home to JAX in a generally poor showing with the same old problem with crosses. | @ Hartford |
| 21 | Colorado Springs Switchbacks | 15 | -6 | 8-9-4 | LLWLL | 3.986 | The Switchbacks gave up own goals in both games this week. One didn’t matter in the 1-3 loss to a dominant Phoenix. The other was the decider in the 0-1 loss to El Paso. | @ Lexington |
| 22 | Orange County | 14 | -8 | 9-5-7 | WWLLL | 3.151 | Orange County were utterly humiliated by Tulsa 1-5. Numerous defensive errors and no attack; they looked nothing like a conference leader. Which they aren’t any more. | @ Oakland |
| 23 | Sporting JAX | 25 | +2 | 2-14-5 | TLLLW | 1.720 | Sporting JAX got their first-ever road win 3-2 over the Legion by capitalizing on the hosts’ defensive weaknesses. Still a long way from the playoffs. | @ Brooklyn |
| 24 | Monterey Bay FC | 24 | 0 | 4-14-4 | LLLTL | 1.423 | Sebastian Lletget scored on Monterey Bay’s only shot on target. They got swamped 1-3 by Rhode Island FC. They have the league’s longest winless streak at 8 games. | v. Sacramento |
| 25 | The Miami FC | 23 | -2 | 5-10-7 | LTLLL | -2.258 | Down a man for 65+ minutes Miami were swamped 0-5 in Charleston. They didn’t even have a single shot until the 90th minute and 1 more after that. 6 games without a win. | Bye |
