By Simon Fudge/whitecapsfc.com
Austin Aztex and Carolina RailHawks are in the drivers' seats to win their respective conferences following an important weekend of action in the USSF D-2 Pro League.
Though all eight spots for next month's playoffs have been determined, the final round of regular season matches will determine where those eight clubs will be seeded for October's postseason action.
CLICK HERE
for USSF D-2 playoff standings
Action started on Wednesday in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, as Miami FC ended Athletic Club of St. Louis' faint hopes of making the playoffs with a
4-2 victory
at Lockhart Stadium. A hat-trick by Abe Thompson led the Blues to the win over the Missouri outfit, with Paulinho Le Petit adding a fourth goal for the South Florida club. Though Brad Stisser scored twice for St. Louis, they joined Miami FC, Crystal Palace Baltimore, and FC Tampa Bay in missing the USSF D-2 postseason, as the result meant that Montreal Impact, NSC Minnesota Stars, and Puerto Rico Islanders claimed the league's final playoff spots.
There were two games on Friday, with Minnesota making a strong finish to their regular season campaign with a solid
3-1 victory
at Tampa Bay. Lucas Rodriguez, Simone Bracalello, and Kentaro Takada scored for the Stars, who claimed their fourth straight win to end their regular season schedule. On-loan Rowdies striker Maykel Galindo struck a consolation goal for Tampa Bay. In Burnaby, BC, Vancouver Whitecaps FC saw their hopes of winning the NASL Conference suffer a setback following a costly 1-0 defeat at home to Canadian arch-rivals Montreal Impact. Former 'Caps striker Eduardo Sebrango scored the winner in an ill-tempered affair at Swangard Stadium. Seven yellow cards were issued in the second half, as well as a red card to Whitecaps FC substitute Gershon Koffie.
Vancouver's defeat opened the door for Carolina to leapfrog Whitecaps FC into first place in the NASL Conference during one of four matches on Saturday. The RailHawks took full advantage of that opportunity with a
2-1 win
at home to Puerto Rico. Despite going behind to a first-half strike from the Islanders' Kendall Jagdeosingh, Carolina claimed three valuable points through Matt Watson and Tom Heinemann at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, North Carolina. Meanwhile, in the Texas state capital, Austin returned to the summit of the USL Conference and USSF D-2 with a
4-2 win
over AC St. Louis. Michael Callahan, Kieron Bernard, Maxwell Griffin, and Randi Patterson all found the scoresheet for the Aztex. St. Louis replied through Gauchinho and Luke Kreamalmeyer.
Rochester Rhinos dropped from the USL Conference summit after
falling 1-0
at Miami FC. Christian Gomez scored a late winner for the Blues, who despite being out of the playoff picture, have won four straight games. Finally, in Towson, Maryland, Portland Timbers assured themselves of a top-four finish in the USSF D-2 playoff standings with a
3-1 victory
at Palace Baltimore. Bright Dike scored twice for the Oregon outfit, while George Josten struck a penalty for the Timbers at Paul Angelo Russo Stadium. Gary Brooks scored Baltimore's lone goal from the penalty spot. Portland are now unbeaten in nine league matches.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE USSF D-2 PLAYOFF PICTURE