USL Championship Eastern Conference Playoff predictions

I know this is for the Eastern Conference, but as for the Western Conference I feel like it’s Phoenix Rising FC and the field.  My pick to come out of the West is Phoenix and if not, there it should be considered a major upset if it’s anyone else.

Pittsburgh-Birmingham: It’s all fresh in our heads how Birmingham plays against Pittsburgh after closing out the season down there, but I don’t see the outcome being any different this time around.  Pittsburgh’s just got to stay focused on the goal and not try to sleep walk through this game which I don’t believe will happen because the atmosphere at Highmark Saturday night is going to be insane. Final Score: Pittsburgh 3 – Birmingham 1

Louisville City-Tampa Bay: If this was the first half of the season I would have taken Tampa Bay in a rout, but they came back down to Earth as the season wore on and didn’t look as dominant as they were early in the season.  Final Score: Louisville City 2 – Tampa Bay 1

Indy Eleven-New York Red Bulls II: Will a goal be scored before this match has to go to penalty kicks? Watching these teams this season, they are both decent on the defensive side of the ball, but where will the scoring come from? But, yes I do believe a goal will be scored before PK’s in this match, but it will go to Overtime. Final Score: Indy 1 – New York 0

Nashville-Charleston: Sorry Charleston, I just can’t give you a chance in this match.  Final Score: Nashville 4 – Charleston 0

Pittsburgh-Louisville City: If you think the atmosphere on Saturday will be wild at Highmark Stadium, take that and double it for a potential conference semifinal match down on The Mon. Both matches between the teams this season were as you would expect, defensive showdowns with Pittsburgh winning in Louisville 1-0 early in the season and playing to a scoreless draw in Pittsburgh late in the season.  Don’t expect much different in a potential third round between these teams, but I’m going to give advantage to the Steel Army and the home crowd. Final Score: Pittsburgh 1 – Louisville City 0.

Indy Eleven-Nashville: Not that Nashville’s defense is not good, but I’m giving this match the title of Defense vs Offense. Indy will be alright if they can control possession, limit Nashville’s time in the offensive third and if it comes down to Penalty kicks. I don’t think that’s going to happen though, Nashville wins, but not as easily as I think their first round match will go. Final Score: Nashville 2 – Indy 1.

Pittsburgh-Nashville: Pittsburgh rallied to earn a draw in first match of the season between these teams at Highmark Stadium and what was the wildest final minutes of a match anyone could imagine. In Nashville, the defenses showed up and the teams played to a scoreless draw. Well, good news, there will need to be a winner in this potential match-up, but I think it will be closer to the match in Nashville than the one in Pittsburgh during the regular season. The Steel Army and home crowd will really be into this one and neither team will want to make a mistake.  The key to this match-up will be for the teams to just play their games and not be afraid to make a mistake.  For Pittsburgh, that means for Kyle Morton to be strong between the pipes, Joe Greenspan, Ryan James, Tobi Adewole and Uchenna Uzo being a brick wall on the back line and Neco Brett, Kenardo Forbes and Robbie Mertz generating plenty of scoring chances for Steevan dos Santos.  With Nashville moving to the MLS, this should give Pittsburgh even more motivation material to have a chance to beat a future MLS team to make it to the USL Championship Final. Final Score: Pittsburgh 3 – Nashville 1.

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Nashville over Pittsburgh