TAMPA, Fla. - After a wild first weekend of the 2025 USL League Two Playoffs presented by VensureHR, eight teams are still standing as we prepare for the conference finals to kick off on Friday. Read about how these clubs fought their way through a top-notch field of playoff teams to become 90 minutes away from a trophy.

Matchup: Dothan United vs. Fort Lauderdale United FC

Venue: Virtue Field - Burlington, VT

Kickoff: Friday, July 25, 4:00 p.m. ET

This matchup features two division runners-up who survived tough competition in their respective playoff pods. Both teams are patient, but dangerous when the offense is clicking. Will Laurie Goddard and Ronaldo Belgrove continue their heroic play for their respective sides, or will new stars emerge on one team’s path to a trophy?

Dothan United

Record: 10-2-0

Playoff opponents: 2-1 (a.e.t) vs. Laredo Heat SC, 2-1 vs. Sarasota Paradise

In its second season in the league, Dothan took a big step forward, earning its first playoff berth after a strong regular season. Hosting the first two weekends of the playoffs, Dothan welcomed two strong teams and shut them down, boasting two shutouts. Goddard was the hero, scoring all three of the Dragons’ goals over the weekend.

Fort Lauderdale United FC

Record: 9-1-2

Playoff opponents: 1-0 vs. Little Rock Rangers, 2-0 vs. Louisiana Krewe FC

Fort Lauderdale was down on its luck after a hot start to the season, but a winner-take-all regular season finale was the wake up call it needed to kick back into gear. Since then, they’ve been clutch. They won’t dominate the entire 90 minutes, but they know how to find the perfect time to strike. Watch out for super sub Belgrove, who scored the winning goal in Fort Lauderdale's two playoff matches to date.

Matchup: Flint City Bucks vs. Minneapolis City SC

Venue: Interbay Stadium - Seattle, WA

Kickoff: Friday, July 25, 5:00 p.m. ET/2:00 p.m. PT

Flint is in its fourth straight Central Conference Final while Minneapolis is making its debut run through the League Two Playoffs. Both clubs needed extra time to make their way to this conference final. Offensive ability will be on display in this match as both teams have looked like well-oiled machines of late, but the real battle will be between the defenses. Flint has kept seven clean sheets between the regular and postseason, while Minneapolis has not been kept off the scoreboard once this year.

Flint City Bucks

Record: 9-3-0

Playoff opponents: 4-3 vs. Steel City FC, 2-0 (a.e.t) vs. Fort Wayne FC

Flint is the tried-and-true veteran club in the Central Conference, but it was given a good test in its Round of 32 match against League Two newcomers Steel City FC and Round of 16 game against Fort Wayne FC. The Bucks top scorer, Donavan Phillip, was the man of the hour on both occasions, scoring three goals across the weekend, including an 118th minute winner on Sunday.

Minneapolis City SC

Record: 8-2-2

Playoff opponents: 2-2 (4-1 on PKs) vs. Peoria City, 2-0 vs. Sueño FC

Minneapolis has become one of the most exciting teams in the second half of the season. After coming out on top of a must-win match on the final day of the regular season to secure the division title on goal difference, they stormed into the playoffs and knocked off the defending national runners up, Peoria City. The game featured a bicycle kick goal by Preston Kipnusu – on his old high school field – that went to No. 2 on SportsCenter’s Top 10 Saturday morning. The Crows took that match on penalty kicks and then shutout division rival Sueño to advance to its first League Two Conference Final.

Matchup: Vermont Green FC vs. Lionsbridge FC

Venue: Virtue Field - Burlington, VT

Kickoff: Friday, July 25, 7:00 p.m.

The last time these clubs met, Vermont pulled off the upset in its first season over top-seeded Lionsbridge. The second ever meeting between these two Eastern Conference powerhouses will be must-watch soccer. Lionsbridge does best in the first half; Vermont has relied on the second half to get them across the line. Both clubs are explosive on offense and solid on defense. We’re prematurely marking this one as a finalist for Match of the Season.

Vermont Green FC

Record: 11-0-3

Playoff opponents: 4-1 vs. Hudson Valley Hammers, 3-2 vs. FC Motown STA

Vermont has appointed itself the comeback kids of these playoffs. Trailing in the second half of both its games, the Green flipped the script on the Hudson Valley Hammers and FC Motown STA to advance to the Eastern Conference Final for the first time in club history. Arnaud Tattevin put the club on his back, scoring a six-minute hat trick to win the Round of 32 tie. Then two days later, they needed just eight minutes to go from 2-0 down to 3-2 up, unleashing the Virtue Field faithful to roar with them.

Lionsbridge FC

Record: 10-1-3

Playoff opponents: 4-1 vs. Charlotte Independence II, 4-0 vs. Salem City FC, 2-1 vs. Northern Virginia FC

Lionsbridge has been on a tear since clinching a playoff spot on the final day of the regular season. Lionsbridge buzzed through its first two opponents, the Charlotte Independence and Salem City FC, scoring four goals in each game. Going up against Northern Virginia FC, one of only two teams to take points off Lionsbridge in multiple games this season, was no easy task, but they stuck to their winning formula of scoring early to put their opponent off its game early.

Matchup: Ballard FC vs. Ventura County Fusion

Venue: Interbay Stadium - Seattle, WA

Kickoff: Friday, July 25, 10:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. PT

This is the third time in four years that Ballard and Ventura are meeting in the Western Conference Final. Each time, the team that won went on to win the national championship. Expect an energetic start from Ballard with the home crowd behind them, but Ventura never counts itself out until the final whistle blows.

Ballard FC

Record: 9-2-3

Playoff opponents: 6-0 vs. Colorado Storm, 2-1 vs. Snohomish United

Last year, Ballard looked to become the first team to win back-to-back titles in the League Two era. A conference quarterfinal exit left a bad taste in their mouth and has fueled them to get back to their ultimate goal this year. They cruised past Colorado Storm, controlling the game from the first whistle. Divisional opponent Snohomish gave them a good fight, but Ballard ultimately came out on top thanks to a Rafael Otero second half winner, getting its first win of the year over the nearby rival.

Ventura County Fusion

Record: 9-2-1

Playoff opponents: 2-1 vs. San Juan SC, 2-0 vs. FC Tucson

Since 2022, the Western Conference has run through Ventura. The Fusion has played in the Western Conference Final each year or lost to the eventual conference champion. This year, Ventura survived a competitive Southwest Division and beat two tough playoff opponents. The Fusion is always a threat on the counterattack and isn’t afraid to play from behind.