Carolina RailHawks, Montreal Impact, and Puerto Rico Islanders all advanced to the semifinals of the USSF D-2 Pro League playoffs on Saturday evening. Carolina and Montreal will meet at 4:30 p.m. PT at Stade Saputo in Montreal, Quebec, on Thursday, October 14, while Puerto Rico will face the winner of the Portland-Vancouver series.
The sixth-seed Impact defeated the third-seed Aztex 3-2 in Austin to earn an aggregate score of 5-2 after a 2-0 win in the first leg -
match report
. After a scoreless first leg between Carolina and Minnesota, the RailHawks advanced to the semifinals with a 4-0 victory -
match report
. Despite losing 2-1 in Rochester, Puerto Rico advanced to the semifinals 3-2 on aggregate after defeating the Rhinos 2-0 in the first leg in the Caribbean -
match report
.
The second leg of the final first-round playoff match-up between Portland Timbers and Vancouver Whitecaps FC will be tomorrow at 6 p.m. PT at Merlo Field in Portland, Oregon -
Vancouver's match preview
and
Portland's match preview
. Vancouver carries a 2-0 advantage into the match. The aggregate winner will face Puerto Rico in the semifinals.
The USSF D-2 playoffs consist of a two-leg, aggregate goals series in the first round, semifinals, and finals. Away goals will not be considered a tiebreaker in the aggregate goal series. If teams are tied on aggregate goals after the conclusion of the second leg, they will play two 15-minute extra-time periods. Penalty kicks will follow extra time, if both teams have not broken the deadlock.
USSF D-2 Pro League - playoff schedule and results
First Round, First Leg
Date/Match/Venue
Oct. 6 - Montreal Impact 2, Austin Aztex 0 - Stade Saputo; Montreal, Quebec
Oct. 6 - NSC Minnesota Stars 0, Carolina RailHawks 0 - National Sports Center; Blaine, Minnesota
Oct. 7 - Puerto Rico Islanders 2, Rochester Rhinos 0 - Bayamon FC Soccer Complex; Bayamon, Puerto Rico
Oct. 7 - Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2, Portland Timbers 0 - Swangard, Stadium; Burnaby, British Columbia
First Round, Second Leg
Date/Match Time (PT)/Aggregate Score/Venue
Oct. 9 - Rochester Rhinos 2, Puerto Rico Islanders 1 - 2-3 - Marina Auto Stadium; Rochester, New York
Oct. 9 - Carolina RailHawks 4, NSC Minnesota Stars 0 - 4-0 - WakeMed Soccer Park; Cary, North Carolina
Oct. 9 - Austin Aztex 2, Montreal Impact 3 - 2-5 - House Park; Austin, Texas
Oct. 10 - Portland Timbers vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC - 6 p.m. Merlo Field (University of Portland); Portland, Oregon
Semifinal, First Leg
Date/Match Time (PT)/Aggregate Score/Venue
Oct. 14 - TBD vs. Puerto Rico Islanders - 5:05 p.m. - Estadio Juan Ramon Loubriel; Bayamon, Puerto Rico
Oct. 14 - Montreal Impact vs. Carolina RailHawks - 4:30 p.m. - Stade Saputo; Montreal, Quebec
Semifinal, Second Leg
Date/Match Time (PT)/Aggregate Score/Venue
Oct. 17 - Puerto Rico Islanders vs. TBD - TBD - TBD
Oct. 17 - Carolina RailHawks vs. Montreal Impact - 4 p.m. - WakeMed Soccer Park; Cary, North Carolina
Final, First Leg
Match will be played on the weekend of Saturday, October 23
Final, Second Leg 2
Match will be played on the weekend of Saturday, October 30
