2021 USL League Two Playoffs

Football tournament season
2021 USL League Two Playoffs
Tournament details
CountryUnited States
DatesJuly 16 - July 31
Teams26
Defending championsNone (2020 season cancelled)
Final positions
ChampionsDes Moines Menace
Tournament statistics
Matches played25
Goals scored78 (3.12 per match)
Best playerManel Busquets (DMM)
← 2020
2022 →

The 2021 USL League Two Playoffs was the post-season championship for the 2021 USL League Two season. It is the twenty-sixth edition of the Playoffs and the second under the USL League Two banner. The playoffs began on July 16 and ended with the USL League Two Final on July 31.[1]

There were no playoffs the previous season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[2]

The Des Moines Menace won their third straight Regular Season Title (2018, 2019, 2021), with an average of 2.75 standings points per game.

The Menace defeated North Carolina Fusion U23 in the National Final 1–0 before a record crowd of 7,342.[3][4]

Qualifying Teams

Eastern Conference

Northeast Division

  • Western Mass Pioneers - Division Winner
  • Boston Bolts - Division Runner-up
  • Seacoast United Phantoms - Conference Wild Card (Best 3rd place record between the Mid Atlantic and Northeast Divisions)

Mid Atlantic Division

Metropolitan Division

Southern Conference

South Atlantic Division

Deep South Division

Southeast Division

Central Conference

Great Lakes Division

Heartland Division

Mid South Division

Western Conference

Mountain Division

Northwest Division

Southwest Division

  • Teams did not participate in the 2021 season due to COVID-19 concerns.[5]

[6]

Bracket

Conference Quarterfinals Conference Semifinals Conference Finals National Semifinals National Final
               
S2 The Villages SC 2
S8 East Atlanta FC 1
S2 The Villages SC 2
S4 Tormenta FC 2 (a.e.t.) 4
S4 Tormenta FC 2 2
S5 Lionsbridge FC 0
S4 Tormenta FC 2 2
Southern Conference
S3 North Carolina Fusion U23 (a.e.t.) 4
S1 SC United Bantams 3
S7 West Virginia United 1
S1 SC United Bantams 1
S3 North Carolina Fusion U23 (a.e.t.) 2
S3 North Carolina Fusion U23 5
S6 Tampa Bay United 0
S3 North Carolina Fusion U23 3
E2 Western Mass Pioneers 1
E1 West Chester United SC 2
E8 New York Red Bulls U-23 1
E1 West Chester United SC 1
E5 Ocean City Nor'easters 0
E4 Boston Bolts 0
E5 Ocean City Nor'easters 1
E1 West Chester United SC 0
Eastern Conference
E2 Western Mass Pioneers 1
E2 Western Mass Pioneers 4
E6 Cedar Stars Rush 0
E2 Western Mass Pioneers (p) 0 (5)
E7 Seacoast United Phantoms 0 (4)
E3 Long Island Rough Riders 1
E7 Seacoast United Phantoms (a.e.t.) 2
S3 North Carolina Fusion U23 0
C1 Des Moines Menace 1
C1 Des Moines Menace 5
C8 Texas United 0
C1 Des Moines Menace 1
C5 Flint City Bucks 0
C4 Chicago FC United 1
C5 Flint City Bucks 3
C1 Des Moines Menace 2
Central Conference
C2 Kalamazoo FC 1
C2 Kalamazoo FC 3
C6 Corpus Christi FC 1
C2 Kalamazoo FC (p) 1 (4)
C3 Mississippi Brilla FC 1 (1)
C3 Mississippi Brilla FC 3
C7 Kings Hammer FC 1
C1 Des Moines Menace 2
W1 Portland Timbers U23s 0
W1 Portland Timbers U23s (p) 3 (4)
Western Conference
W2 Park City Red Wolves 3 (2)


Conference Playoffs

Eastern Conference Championship

Western Mass Pioneers v Cedar Stars Rush
July 16, 2021 Conference Quarterfinals Western Mass Pioneers 4–0Cedar Stars RushLusitano Stadium
Ludlow, Massachusetts
7:30 PM EDT
  • Regragui 22', 45'
  • Agyemang 49'
  • Lerech 58'
 Report
West Chester United SC v New York Red Bulls U-23
July 17, 2021 Conference Quarterfinals West Chester United SC 2–1New York Red Bulls U-23Evergreen Sportsplex
Leesburg, Virginia
5:00 PM EDT
  • Cueceoglu 17'
  • Amspacher 35'
 [1]Report
  • 23'
Boston Bolts v Ocean City Nor'easters
July 17, 2021 Conference QuarterfinalsBoston Bolts0–1 Ocean City Nor'easters Evergreen Sportsplex
Leesburg, Virginia
7:00 PM EDT Report
West Chester United SC v Ocean City Nor'easters
July 18, 2021 Conference Semifinal West Chester United SC 1–0Ocean City Nor'eastersEvergreen Sportsplex
Leesburg, Virginia
7:00 PM EDT
  • Burkhardt 38'
 Report
West Chester United SC v Western Mass Pioneers
July 23, 2021 Conference FinalWest Chester United SC0–1 Western Mass Pioneers Eagle Field at Erk Russell Park
Statesboro, Georgia
5:30 PM EDT Report
  • Lerech

Southern Conference Championship

SC United Bantams v West Virginia United
July 16, 2021 Conference Quarterfinals SC United Bantams 3–1West Virginia UnitedSouth Eastern Freight Lines Soccer Center
Columbia, South Carolina
7:30 PM EDT
  • Henderson 20'
  • Shokalook 21'
  • Kirkwood 33'
 Report
  • Jennings 12'
North Carolina Fusion U23 v Tampa Bay United
July 17, 2021 Conference Quarterfinals North Carolina Fusion U23 5–0Tampa Bay UnitedSouth Eastern Freight Lines Soccer Center
Columbia, South Carolina
4:00 PM EDT
The Villages SC v East Atlanta FC
July 17, 2021 Conference Quarterfinals The Villages SC 2–1East Atlanta FCTowneBank Stadium
Newport News, Virginia
5:00 PM EDT
  • Paiva 10'
  • Vacas 90+5'
 Report
  • Oke 41'
Tormenta FC 2 v Lionsbridge FC
July 17, 2021 Conference Quarterfinals Tormenta FC 2 2–0Lionsbridge FCTowneBank Stadium
Newport News, Virginia
7:30 PM EDT
  • Rodriguez 56'
  • Lawrence 90+1'
 Report
SC United Bantams v North Carolina Fusion U23
July 18, 2021 Conference SemifinalSC United Bantams1–2 (a.e.t.) North Carolina Fusion U23 South Eastern Freight Lines Soccer Center
Columbia, South Carolina
7:00 PM EDT
  • Shokalook 18'
 Report
  • Miguez 45'
  • Santos 96'
The Villages SC v Tormenta FC 2
July 18, 2021 Conference SemifinalThe Villages SC2–4 (a.e.t.) Tormenta FC 2 TowneBank Stadium
Newport News, Virginia
7:00 PM EDT
  • Deputat 21'
  • Paiva 34'
 Report
  • Ledoux 5'
  • Jowers 10'
  • Barry 112'
  • Rodriguez 120+3'
North Carolina Fusion U23 v Tormenta FC 2
July 23, 2021 Conference Final North Carolina Fusion U23 4–2 (a.e.t.)Tormenta FC 2Eagle Field at Erk Russell Park
Statesboro, Georgia
8:00 PM EDT
  • Gomiero 9' (pen.)
  • Santos 40'
  • 109'
  • Duval 113'

Central Conference Championship

Chicago FC United v Flint City Bucks
July 16, 2021 Conference QuarterfinalsChicago FC United1–3 Flint City Bucks Valley Stadium
West Des Moines, Iowa
4:00 PM CDT
  • Gutierrez 50'
  • Cisse 38'
  • Borczak 75'
  • Sanchez 90+3'
Kalamazoo FC v Corpus Christi FC
July 16, 2021 Conference Quarterfinals Kalamazoo FC 3–1Corpus Christi FCClinton High School
Clinton, Mississippi
5:00 PM CDT
  • Banuelos 38', 48'
  • Harmon 67'
 Report
  • Wagner 52'
Des Moines Menace v Texas United
July 16, 2021 Conference Quarterfinals Des Moines Menace 5–0Texas UnitedValley Stadium
West Des Moines, Iowa
7:00 PM CDT
  • Ayats 9', 38', 47'
  • Rude 15'
  • Skelton 20'
 Report
Mississippi Brilla FC v Kings Hammer FC
July 16, 2021 Conference Quarterfinals Mississippi Brilla FC 3–1Kings Hammer FCClinton High School
Clinton, Mississippi
7:30 PM CDT
  • Astorga 5'
  • James 59'
  • Emeriau 90'
 Report
  • Jones 46'
Des Moines Menace v Flint City Bucks
July 18, 2021 Conference Semifinal Des Moines Menace 1–0Flint City BucksValley Stadium
West Des Moines, Iowa
7:00 PM CDT
Report
Mississippi Brilla FC v Kalamazoo FC
July 18, 2021 Conference SemifinalMississippi Brilla FC1–1 (a.e.t.)
(1–4 p)		 Kalamazoo FC Clinton High School
Clinton, Mississippi
7:00 PM CDT
  • Lozano 90'
 Report
  • Banuelos 56'
Des Moines Menace v Kalamazoo FC
July 23, 2021 Conference Final Des Moines Menace 2–1Kalamazoo FCValley Stadium
West Des Moines, Iowa
7:30 PM CDT
Report
  • O’Riordan 23'
  • Harmon Red card 61'

Western Conference Championship

Portland Timbers U23 v Park City Red Wolves
July 23, 2021 Conference Final Portland Timbers U23 3–3 (a.e.t.)
(4–2 p)		Park City Red WolvesValley Stadium
West Des Moines, Iowa
4:30 PM CDT
  • Afonso 4', 57'
  • Sosa 11'
  • Yellow card
 Report
  • Jiba 2'
  • Wight 63', 88'
  • Yellow card
  • Yellow card

USL League Two Championship

Semifinals

North Carolina Fusion U23 v Western Mass Pioneers
July 25, 2021 National Semifinal North Carolina Fusion U23 3–1Western Mass PioneersEagle Field at Erk Russell Park
Statesboro, Georgia
8:00 PM EDT
  • Duval 52', 87'
  • Molina 63'
 Report
Des Moines Menace v Portland Timbers U23
July 25, 2021 National Semifinal Des Moines Menace 2–0Portland Timbers U23Valley Stadium
West Des Moines, Iowa
7:30 PM CDT
Report

Final

Des Moines Menace v North Carolina Fusion U23
July 31, 2021 National Final Des Moines Menace 1–0North Carolina Fusion U23Valley Stadium
West Des Moines, Iowa
7:30 PM CDT
  • Manel Busquets 55'
 Report
Report		 Attendance: 7,342
Referee: Carl Armstrong

Championship MVP: Manel Busquets (DMM)

References

  1. ^ "USL League Two Announces Expanded Playoff Structure for the 2021 Season". uslleaguetwo.com. USL League Two. June 29, 2021. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
  2. ^ Hojnacki, Jenny (April 30, 2020). "USL cancels 2020 League Two season, extends pro league suspensions". sbisoccer.com. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  3. ^ "Des Moines Menace Clinch a Title-Winning Season in the 2021 League Two Final". uslleaguetwo.com. USL League Two. August 3, 2021. Retrieved August 3, 2021.
  4. ^ Goodwin, Cody (July 31, 2021). "Des Moines Menace defeats NC Fusion U23 to win USL League Two National Final". desmoinesregister.com. Des Moines Register. Retrieved July 31, 2021.
  5. ^ "USL League Two's Southwest Division to Forgo the 2021 Season". uslleaguetwo.com. USL League Two. April 6, 2021. Retrieved July 24, 2021.
  6. ^ "League Two Announces Matchups for the 2021 League Two Playoffs". uslleaguetwo.com. USL League Two. July 14, 2021. Retrieved July 14, 2021.

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