With Real Monarchs SLC’s playoff spot officially booked, the club looks toward the final weekend of the 2018 regular season looking to gain momentum ahead of its playoff venture. Last Wednesday the Monarchs broke a seven-match winless run by beating OKC Energy FC at Zions Bank Stadium for a much-needed victory. The Monarchs now carry an 18-12-3 record into Fresno looking to cap the regular season with three points.
The Monarchs and Fresno have faced each other on two occasions this season, both results falling in favor of the Utah side by 1-0 scorelines. Chukchansi Park in Fresno will be a new sight for the Monarchs having never played at the California venue before.
The final match of the regular season also poses an interesting situation for the Monarchs. The club will be playing Reno 1868 FC in the Western Conference quarterfinals, but neither side knows where the match will be held. With the Monarchs holding a slim one-point advantage over 1868 FC in fourth place in the Western Conference, the Monarchs will host the match with a win over Fresno on Saturday. If Reno fail to win – draw or lose – on Saturday against Orange County SC, the Monarchs will host the first round matchup. With only one scenario seeing the Monarchs travel to Reno – A Monarchs loss & a Reno victory – fans will surely be watching the score to both of Saturday’s matches.
The Western Conference has been a tight race for the eight available playoff spots and with two spots left and three teams competing for the final places, the USL’s final weekend is one to keep an eye on. Here’s how the Western Conference stands ahead of the final weekend of the regular season with the teams who currently own a playoff spot noted with an (x):
(x) 1. Orange County SC
Current Record: 20-7-6, 66pts
Maximum Points Available: 69
Points Needed to Clinch: Clinched
FiveThirtyEight.com USL Cup Odds: 14%
Last Game: W 2-1 vs. Seattle Sounders FC 2
Next Game: 10/13 at Reno 1868 FC, 9 p.m. ET
(x) 2. Phoenix Rising FC
Current Record: 19-8-6, 63pts
Maximum Points Available: 66
Points Needed to Clinch: Clinched
FiveThirtyEight.com USL Cup Odds: 10%
Last Game: L 5-2 at Las Vegas Lights FC
Next Game: 10/13 vs. Portland Timbers 2, 10:30 p.m. ET
(x) 3. Sacramento Republic FC
Current Record: 18-7-8, 62pts
Maximum Points Available: 65
Points Needed to Clinch: Clinched
FiveThirtyEight.com USL Cup Odds: 7%
Last Game: W 2-1 at LA Galaxy II
Next Game: 10/13 vs. Las Vegas Lights FC, 10:30 p.m. ET
(x) 4. Real Monarchs SLC
Current Record: 18-12-3, 57pts
Maximum Points Available: 60
Points Needed to Clinch: Clinched
FiveThirtyEight.com USL Cup Odds: 1%
Last Game: W 2-1 vs. OKC Energy FC
Next Game: 10/13 at Fresno FC, 10 p.m. ET
(x) 5. Reno 1868 FC
Current Record: 15-7-10, 56pts
Maximum Points Available: 59
Points Needed to Clinch: Clinched
FiveThirtyEight.com USL Cup Odds: 5%
Last Game: D 0-0 at Phoenix Rising FC
Next Game: 10/13 vs. Orange County SC, 9 p.m. ET
(x) 6. Portland Timbers 2
Current Record: 16-13-4, 52pts
Maximum Points Available: 55
Points Needed to Clinch: Clinched
FiveThirtyEight.com USL Cup Odds: <1%
Last Game: L 2-0 vs. Reno 1868 FC
Next Game: 10/13 at Phoenix Rising FC, 10:30 p.m. ET
7. Saint Louis FC
Current Record: 14-9-10, 52pts
Maximum Points Available: 55
Points Needed to Clinch: 1
FiveThirtyEight.com USL Cup Playoffs Odds: 94%
FiveThirtyEight.com USL Cup Odds: <1%
Last Game: W 1-0 vs. Tulsa Roughnecks FC
Next Game: 10/13 vs. OKC Energy FC
8. Swope Park Rangers
Current Record: 14-11-8, 50pts
Maximum Points Available: 53
Points Needed to Clinch: 3
FiveThirtyEight.com USL Cup Playoffs Odds: 63%
FiveThirtyEight.com USL Cup Odds: <1%
Last Game: L 3-1 at Sacramento Republic FC
Next Game: 10/14 vs. LA Galaxy II, 3 p.m. ET
9. San Antonio FC
Current Record: 14-12-7, 49pts
Maximum Points Available: 52
Points Needed to Clinch: 4
FiveThirtyEight.com USL Cup Playoffs Odds: 42%
FiveThirtyEight.com USL Cup Odds: <1%
Last Game: W 3-1 vs. Las Vegas Lights FC
Next Game: 10/13 vs. Rio Grande Valley FC, 8:30 p.m. ET
