2018 USL Cup playoffs
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{main|2018 USL season}}
{{infobox football tournament season
| title = USL Cup
| year = 2018
| country = United States
Canada
| image =
| num_teams = 16
| defending champions = Louisville City FC
| champions = Louisville City FC
| runner-up = Phoenix Rising FC
| matches = 15
| goals = 43
| top goal scorer = Didier Drogba
Brian Ownby
Michael Seaton (3)
| prevseason = 2017
| nextseason = 2019
}}
The 2018 USL Cup playoffs was the postseason tournament following the 2018 United Soccer League regular season, the fourth since the league rebranded for the 2015 season, and second as a USSF Division II league. Including USL Pro history, it was the seventh postseason tournament. The tournament began on the weekend of October 20 and ended on November 8.
Sixteen teams (top 8 per conference) competed in the single elimination tournament. Teams were seeded one through eight in each conference. The conference semifinal winners played against each other in the Conference Championship, which served as the overall semifinals for the playoff. The winners of the Eastern and Western Conference Championship played for the USL Cup. The winner of the playoffs was to be crowned league champion.
FC Cincinnati clinched the USL regular-season title on September 26 and was the number one seed in the Eastern Conference.{{cite web |last1=Brennan |first1=Patrick |title=FC Cincinnati takes USL regular-season title with 4-1 win against Richmond Kickers |url=https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/soccer/fc-cincinnati/2018/09/26/fc-cincinnati-pushing-usl-regular-season-title/1437047002/|website=Cincinnati.com |access-date=1 October 2018}}
Conference standings
The top 8 teams from each conference advance to the USL playoffs.
{{col-begin}}
{{col-3}}
Eastern Conference
{{2018 USL Eastern Conference table|show_limit=8||only_pld_pts=true}}
{{col-3}}
Western Conference
{{2018 USL Western Conference table|show_limit=8||only_pld_pts=true}}
{{col-3}}
{{col-end}}
Bracket
|name=2018 USL playoffs
|RD1 = First round
|RD2 = Conference Semifinals
|RD3 = Conference finals
|RD4 = USL championship
|3rdplace= no
|team-width=240
|October 20 – Nippert Stadium |#1 FC Cincinnati {{pso}}|1 (6) |#8 Nashville SC |1 (5)
|October 20 – MUSC Health Stadium |#4 Charleston Battery |0 |#5 New York Red Bulls II |1'''
|October 20 – Highmark Stadium |#3 Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC |2 (7) |#6 Bethlehem Steel FC {{pso}}|2 (8)
|October 20 – Louisville Slugger Field |#2 Louisville City FC |4 |#7 Indy Eleven |1
|October 20 – Championship Soccer Stadium|#1 Orange County SC|4 |#8 Saint Louis FC |0
|October 20 – Zions Bank Stadium|#4 Real Monarchs |0 |#5 Reno 1868 FC |1
|October 19 – PRFC Soccer Complex|#3 Phoenix Rising FC |3|#6 Portland Timbers 2 |0
|October 20 – Papa Murphy's Park|#2 Sacramento Republic FC |1 |#7 Swope Park Rangers |2
|October 27 – Nippert Stadium|#1 FC Cincinnati |0|#5 New York Red Bulls II |1
|October 27 – Louisville Slugger Field| #6 Bethlehem Steel FC|0 | #2 Louisville City FC |2
|October 27 – Championship Soccer Stadium|#1 Orange County SC |1| #5 Reno 1868 FC |0
|October 26 – PRFC Soccer Complex| #3 Phoenix Rising FC|4|#7 Swope Park Rangers |2
|November 2 – Louisville Slugger Field|#5 New York Red Bulls II|1|#2 Louisville City FC|5'''
|November 3 – Championship Soccer Stadium|#1 Orange County SC|1|#3 Phoenix Rising FC|2
|November 8 – Lynn Stadium (ESPN2) | #2 Louisville City FC | 1|#3 Phoenix Rising FC|0
}}
Schedule
= Conference quarterfinals =
{{football box collapsible
| round = East
| time = 4:00 p.m. EDT
| team1 = FC Cincinnati
| score = 1–1
| aet = yes
| report = [https://www.uslsoccer.com/fccincinnati-nashvillesc-1031688 Report]
| team2 = Nashville SC
| goals1 = Bone {{goal|95}}
Smith {{yel|104}}
Ledesma {{yel|111}}
| goals2 = Davis {{yel|110}}
Bourgeois {{goal|115}}
Tyrpak {{yel|116}}
| penalties1 = Adi {{pengoal}}
McLaughlin {{pengoal}}
Smith {{pengoal}}
Hoyte {{pengoal}}
Lasso {{pengoal}}
Walker {{pengoal}}
| penaltyscore = 6–5
| penalties2 = {{pengoal}} Doyle
{{pengoal}} Allen
{{pengoal}} Winn
{{pengoal}} LaGrassa
{{pengoal}} Tyrpak
{{penmiss}} Davis
| stadium = Nippert Stadium
| location = Cincinnati, Ohio
| attendance = 20,217
| referee = Farhad Dadkho
}}
{{football box collapsible
| round = East
| date = {{Start date|2018|10|20}}{{cite web |last1=Cardamone |first1=Sarah |title=PLAYOFF TICKETS NOW ON SALE |url=https://www.charlestonbattery.com/news_article/show/957623 |website=CharlestonBattery.com |access-date=11 October 2018}}
| time = 7:00 PM EDT
| team1 = Charleston Battery
| score = 0–1
| report = [https://www.uslsoccer.com/charlestonbattery-newyorkredbullsii-1031691 Report]
| team2 = New York Red Bulls II
| goals1 = Bolt {{yel|16}}
| goals2 = Barlow {{goal|21}}
Stroud {{yel|66}}
| stadium = MUSC Health Stadium
| location = Charleston, South Carolina
| attendance = 1,687
| referee = Rosendo Mendoza
}}
{{football box collapsible
| round = East
| date = {{Start date|2018|10|20}}
| time = 7:00 PM EDT
| team1 = Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
| score = 2–2
| aet = yes
| report = [https://www.uslsoccer.com/pittsburghriverhoundssc-bethlehemsteelfc-1031690 Report]
| team2 = Bethlehem Steel FC
| goals1 = Zemanski {{goal|25}}
Dover {{yel|86}}
Roberts {{goal|105}} {{yel|109}}
Forbes {{yel|113}}
Holland {{sentoff|0|119}}
| goals2 = Moumbagna {{yel|45}}
Ngalina {{goal|70}}
Chambers {{goal|109}}
Nanco {{yel|111}}
| penalties1 = Kerr {{pengoal}}
Forbes {{pengoal}}
Banjo {{pengoal}}
Greenspan {{pengoal}}
François {{pengoal}}
Vancaeyezeele {{pengoal}}
Dabo {{pengoal}}
Lee {{penmiss}}
| penaltyscore = 7–8
| penalties2 = {{pengoal}} Chambers
{{pengoal}} Nanco
{{pengoal}} Holness
{{pengoal}} Moar
{{pengoal}} Skundrich
{{pengoal}} Mahoney
{{pengoal}} Real
{{pengoal}} Mbaizo
| stadium = Highmark Stadium
| location = Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| attendance = 5,189
| referee = Michael Radchuk
}}
{{football box collapsible
| round = East
| date = {{Start date|2018|10|20}}
| time = 7:30 p.m. EDT
| team1 = Louisville City FC
| score = 4–1
| report = [https://www.uslsoccer.com/louisvillecityfc-indyeleven-1031689 Report]
| team2 = Indy Eleven
| goals1 = McCabe {{goal|29||48}} {{yel|66}}
Ilić {{goal|42}}
Lancaster {{goal|73}}
| goals2 = Mitchell {{yel|46}}
Saad {{goal|67}}
Ouimette {{yel|72}}
| stadium = Louisville Slugger Field
| location = Louisville, Kentucky
| attendance = 6,763
| referee = Mark Allatin
}}
{{football box collapsible
| round = West
| date = {{Start date|2018|10|19}}
| time = 7:30 p.m. MST
| team1 = Phoenix Rising FC
| score = 3–0
| report = https://www.uslsoccer.com/phoenixrisingfc-portlandtimbers2-1031693
| team2 = Portland Timbers 2
| goals1 = Drogba {{goal|28}}
Johnson {{goal|62}}
Asante {{goal|90}}
| goals2 = Zambrano {{yel|40}}
Hanson {{yel|84}}
Diz Pe {{sentoff|0|90+5}}
| stadium = Phoenix Rising Soccer Complex
| location = Tempe, Arizona
| attendance = 7,511
| referee = Rubiel Vazquez
}}
{{football box collapsible
| round = West
| date = {{Start date|2018|10|20}}
| time = 3:00 PM MDT
| team1 = Real Monarchs
| score = 0–1
| aet =
| report = https://www.uslsoccer.com/realmonarchsslc-reno1868fc-1031695
| team2 = Reno 1868 FC
| goals1 = Velásquez {{yel|45+4}}
| goals2 = Brown {{goal|90+2}}
| stadium = Zions Bank Stadium
| location = Herriman, Utah
| attendance = 3,000
| referee = Ismir Pekmic
}}
{{football box collapsible
| bg =
| round = West
| date = {{Start date|2018|10|20}}
| time = 7:00 PM PDT
| team1 = Orange County SC
| score = 4–0
| report = [https://www.uslsoccer.com/orangecountysc-saintlouisfc-1031692 Report]
| team2 = Saint Louis FC
| goals1 = Seaton {{goal|11||29||64}} {{yel|21}}
Quinn {{yel|47}}
Bjurman {{goal|66}}
| goals2 = Walls {{sentoff|0|21}}
Hertzog {{yel|88}}
| stadium = Championship Soccer Stadium
| location = Irvine, California
| attendance = 3,360
| referee = Ramy Touchan
}}
{{football box collapsible
| bg =
| round = West
| date = {{Start date|2018|10|20}}
| time = 7:30 PM PDT
| team1 = Sacramento Republic FC
| score = 1–2
| report = [https://www.uslsoccer.com/sacramentorepublicfc-swopeparkrangers-1031694 Report]
| team2 = Swope Park Rangers
| goals1 = Bijev {{goal|16}}
Matjašič {{yel|38}}
Hord {{yel|68}}
| goals2 = Kuzain {{goal|27}}
Barry {{goal|31}}
Akhmatov {{yel|58}}
| stadium = Papa Murphy's Park
| location = Sacramento, California
| attendance = 11,569
| referee = Joseph Dickerson
}}
= Conference semifinals =
{{football box collapsible
| round = East
| date = {{Start date|2018|10|27}}
| time = 4:00 p.m. EDT
| team1 = FC Cincinnati
| score = 0–1
| report = [https://www.uslsoccer.com/fccincinnati-newyorkredbullsii-1032396 Report]
| team2 = New York Red Bulls II
| goals1 = Adi {{yel|41}}
| goals2 = Moreno {{goal|12}} {{yel|72}}
| stadium = Nippert Stadium
| location = Cincinnati, Ohio
| attendance = 16,617
| referee = Tim Ford
}}
{{Football box collapsible
|round = East
|date = {{Start date|2018|10|27}}
|time = 7:30 p.m. EDT
|team1 = Louisville City FC
|score = 2–0
|report = [https://www.uslsoccer.com/louisvillecityfc-bethlehemsteelfc-1032397 Report]
|team2 = Bethlehem Steel FC
|goals1 = Ownby {{goal|34||59}} {{yel|79}}
Smith {{yel|64}}
|goals2 = Moar {{yel|57}}
Mbaizo {{yel|83}}
Ofeimu {{yel|86}}
|stadium = Louisville Slugger Field
|location = Louisville, Kentucky
|attendance = 6,881
|referee = Farhad Dadkho
}}
{{football box collapsible
| round = West
| date = {{Start date|2018|10|26}}
| time = 7:30 p.m. MST
| team1 = Phoenix Rising FC
| score = 4–2
| report = [https://www.uslsoccer.com/phoenixrisingfc-swopeparkrangers-1032399 Report]
| team2 = Swope Park Rangers
| goals1 = Johnson {{goal|22}}
Drogba {{yel|29}} {{goal|90+4}}
Cortez {{goal|36}}
Lambert {{goal|48}}
| goals2 = Blackwood {{goal|26}}
Barry {{goal|33}}
Akhmatov {{yel|49}}
| stadium = Phoenix Rising Soccer Complex
| location = Tempe, Arizona
| attendance = 7,707
| referee = Guido Gonzales Jr.
}}
{{football box collapsible
| round = West
| date = {{Start date|2018|10|27}}
| time = 7:00 PM PDT
| team1 = Orange County SC
| score = 1–0
| report = [https://www.uslsoccer.com/orangecountysc-reno1868fc-1032398 Report]
| team2 = Reno 1868 FC
| goals1 = Alston {{yel|21}}
Quinn {{goal|29}}
Duke {{yel|90+2}}
| goals2 = Richards {{yel|12}}
Brown {{yel|41}}
Hoppenot {{yel|45+2}}
| stadium = Championship Soccer Stadium
| location = Irvine, California
| attendance = 4,021
| referee = Victor Rivas
}}
= Conference finals =
{{football box collapsible
| round = East
| date = {{Start date|2018|11|2}}
| time = 7:30 p.m. EDT
| team1 = Louisville City FC
| score = 5–1
| report = https://www.uslsoccer.com/louisvillecityfc-newyorkredbullsii-1032728
| team2 = New York Red Bulls II
| goals1 = Ilić {{goal|23|pen.}}, {{yel|40}}
Spencer {{goal|32}}
Davis {{yel|61}}
Craig {{yel|65}}
Ownby {{yel|69}}, {{goal|81}}
Williams {{goal|73}}, {{goal|75}}
McCabe {{yel|80}}
| goals2 = Ndam {{yel|22}}
Tinari {{yel|44}}
Barlow {{goal|60}}
| stadium = Louisville Slugger Field
| location = Louisville, Kentucky
| attendance = 10,059
| referee = Ramy Touchan
}}
{{football box collapsible
| round = West
| date = {{Start date|2018|11|3}}
| time = 7:00 p.m. PDT
| team1 = Orange County SC
| score = 1–2
| report = https://www.uslsoccer.com/orangecountysc-phoenixrisingfc-1032729
| team2 = Phoenix Rising FC
| goals1 = Chaplow {{yel|47}}
Hashimoto {{goal|82}}
| goals2 = Cortez {{goal|2}}
Drogba {{goal|73}}
Forbes {{yel|90+7}}
| stadium = Championship Soccer Stadium
| location = Irvine, California
| attendance = 5,189
| referee = Tim Ford
}}
=USL championship=
{{football box collapsible
| round = Final
| date = {{Start date|2018|11|8}}{{cite web |title=2018 USL Cup Scheduled for Nov. 8 |url=https://www.uslsoccer.com/news_article/show/955520 |website=USLsoccer.com |date=October 4, 2018 |access-date=12 October 2018}}
| time = 8:00 PM EST
| team1 = Louisville City FC
| score = 1–0
| aet =
| report = https://www.uslchampionship.com/louisvillecityfc-phoenixrisingfc-1033012
| team2 = Phoenix Rising FC
| goals1 = Smith {{yel|45}}
Spencer {{goal|62}}, {{yel|90+1}}
Ranjitsingh {{yel|90+3}}
| goals2 = Farrell {{yel|39}}
Drogba {{yel|73}}
Lambert {{yel|85}}
| stadium = Lynn Stadium
| location = Louisville, Kentucky
| attendance = 7,025
| referee = Joseph Dickerson
}}
Championship Game MVP: Luke Spencer (LOU)
Top goalscorers
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:left" |
| Rank
!Player !Club !Goals |
|---|
| rowspan=3|1
| {{flagicon|CIV}} Didier Drogba ! rowspan=3|3 |
| {{flagicon|USA}} Brian Ownby |
| {{flagicon|JAM}} Michael Seaton |
| rowspan=8|4
| {{flagicon|USA}} Tom Barlow ! rowspan=8|2 |
| {{flagicon|GUI}} Hadji Barry |
| {{flagicon|USA}} Chris Cortez |
| {{flagicon|SER}} Ilija Ilić |
| {{flagicon|JAM}} Jason Johnson |
| {{flagicon|IRE}} Niall McCabe |
| {{flagicon|USA}} Luke Spencer |
| {{flagicon|JAM}} Devon Williams |
References
{{reflist}}
{{2018 USL season}}
{{2018 in American soccer}}
{{2017–18 in North and Central America, and Caribbean football (CONCACAF) |state=collapsed}}
{{2018–19 in North and Central America, and Caribbean football (CONCACAF) |state=collapsed}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Usl playoffs 2018}}