Four matches, two days, and one round of the playoffs are down in the Central Conference. Matches on Thursday in Peoria, IL and Friday in Flint, MI have setup the Conference Semi-Finals this weekend. Winners of each match will then meet next weekend to determine the Central Conference champion and one of four USL2 Playoff Semi-Finalists.
Peoria Pod - Conference Semi-Final
Peoria City vs Minneapolis City SC - Saturday, 18 July at 7:30pm CT
Advancing in the second match of the day Peoria City had to come from behind on their home turf to take a win vs Sueño on Thursday. Down 2–1 late in the match a red card followed by two goals for the hosts were good enough for them to advance.
On the other side of the pitch will be unbeaten Minneapolis City SC. The Crows hung on for a tight 2-0 win over West Virginia United in the early match on Thursday afternoon.
Saturday night is not the first time these two sides have met, rather the fourth since the Crows joined USL2. Their first meetings came in 2022 where the two sides drew the first match in Peoria. 2022's return fixture saw Peoria City take the win at Edor Nelson Field in Minneapolis. Last season the clubs met for the third time in West Des Moines, IA during the first round of the playoffs. Minneapolis took the win in a match that went to a draw through 120 minutes requiring penalties.
Flint Pod - Conference Semi-Final
Flint City Bucks vs Steel City FC - Sunday, 19 July at 6:00pm CT
Wildfire smoke and weather conditions on Friday required a change of venue, moving the two matches indoors in a nearby town. Sunday's match is still expected to be played outdoors at Kettering University's Atwood Stadium. Even with the change Flint City Bucks come into the second round strong following a 2-0 win over FC Buffalo.
Steel City FC also took to the change of venue well with SCFC earning a 1–0 win over Northern Indiana to advance to the second round. As with the other Conference Semi-Final match this is not the first time the Bucks and Steel City have met. Last season the two sides clashed in the first round of the playoffs with Flint City getting the win in a 4-3 barnburner of a contest.
Conference Finals and Beyond
Next up for each of the winners is a date with each other at a TBD location next Thursday, 24 June for a conference title. The Central Conference will be paired with the Western Conference at one location with the two conference champions meeting two days later on Saturday for a spot in the National Final.
