Nonstop Sunday sets up Conference Finals

By USLLeagueTwo.com Staff, 07/21/25, 12:15AM EDT

Ballard and Vermont to host second weekend

Recapping the Round of 16

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Vermont Green FC 3, FC Motown STA 2

This one will go down as an instant classic. Two division champions yet to lose duking it out. Motown took a 1-0 lead into halftime and less than two minutes into the second half it became 2-0 with a Micaah Garnette penalty kick. With its back against the wall and 25 minutes left in regulation, the Green looked like they had finally met their match. Then with the ground tilted, Zachary Zengue got Vermont on the board and Max Kissel tied it within two minute. Julien Le Bourdoulous picked the perfect time to score his first of the season, slotting home the penalty that sent Vermont to its first Eastern Conference Final in club history.

Lionsbridge FC 2, Northern Virginia FC 1

Both times these clubs met in the regular season, it was a thrilling game that went down to the wire. For the rubber match, expectations were high as both teams came in confident with multi-game winning streaks. Lionsbridge kept up its habit of scoring an early goal when Christian Hatley put home the rebound in the fourth minute. Sam Hall gave Lionsbridge a 2-0 lead going into halftime, heading home the long throw by Lincoln Ulrich. NoVa didn’t go down quietly in the second half, pulling within one in the 67th minute, but Lionsbridge was able to hang on and secure its spot in a third consecutive Eastern Conference Final.

SOUTHERN CONFERENCE

Dothan United 2, Louisiana Krewe FC 0

With both teams making their first run in the League Two Playoffs, there was a lot of excitement heading into this one. After a slower first half, things sped up in the second 45. Dothan broke the sound barrier with its 68th minute goal to take the lead. The Krewe pressed hard to find the equalizer, pinging the woodwork and forcing Yago Darub to make saves. Lawrence Goodard sent the fans into a frenzy with his second goal of the game in stoppage time, sealing the victory for the Dragons.

Sarasota Paradise 1, Fort Lauderdale United FC 2

The Sarasota pod was crammed with nonstop action. Fort Lauderdale wasted no time getting this game started, as Gatorade Florida High School Player of the Year Logan Hall scored 67 seconds into the match. Sarasota leveled minutes after the halftime break, setting up a cagey second half. Both teams were eager to finish their opportunities, but it was a lethal counterattack by Fort Lauderdale that decided this one. Ronaldo Belgrove etched his name into the young club’s League Two history, scoring the late winner in both games this weekend.

CENTRAL CONFERENCE

Flint City Bucks 2, Fort Wayne FC 0 - A.E.T

These teams met in the playoffs for the third year in a row, with Flint having taken the previous two matchups. The visitors came in confident after late-game heroics on Friday saw Fort Wayne push the game into extra time and eventually walk away victorious. This matchup was slow and patient as each team waited for the other to break. Finally, late in extra time, Flint found the breakthrough when talisman Donavan Phillip converted the penalty, propelling the Bucks to their fourth straight Central Conference Final. Fort Wayne’s time in League Two ends in heartbreak, and with an interesting stat. All five of its playoff matches in League Two went to extra time or penalties.

Minneapolis City SC 2, Sueño FC 0

Sueño was on the hunt for revenge as another division rivalry was reignited in the conference semifinals. Minneapolis beat Sueño just eight days prior to claim the Heartland Division crown. Preston Kipnusu took over for the second game in a row – on his old high school field – finishing off a deadly counterattack with a near post finish. Andrew Heckenlaible sent the Crows into halftime with a two-goal lead after a stinging left-footed strike from inside the box. Minneapolis locked it down in the second half, earning its first appearance in the League Two conference finals.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Ballard FC 2, Snohomish United 1

Snohomish came into the day as the only team to lead the season series against local rival Ballard. The hosts were eager to shake off their loss to Snohomish on the same pitch just eight days earlier. Ballard struck early with Sean Sent cleaning up the loose change in the box. Snohomish’s Declan McGlynn punched back in the 21st minute with a beautiful curling strike. Both teams came out strong in the second half, but Ballard’s Rafael Otero put the Bridges back in front with a nice assist from Joseph Dale. Snohomish pushed hard for the equalizer but ultimately fell short as Ballard books its third conference finals appearance in four years.

Ventura County Fusion 2, FC Tucson 0

These two titans of the Southwest Division squared off in the playoffs for the second year in a row. As we’ve come to expect from these teams, it was an exciting, but low scoring affair. After being scoreless at halftime, Ventura jumped in front as Angel Iniguez slid the penalty past the Tucson keeper. A well-orchestrated corner kick saw Andres Torres seal the deal for Ventura to head to its first Western Conference Final since 2023.