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Beasts of the East: USL Conference Recap, Week 4

Here is all that went down in Week 4!

Steve Aibel/LittleOrcaSports.com

Week 4 provided exciting matches, record crowds, and derbies galore! Here is a recap of all that happened this weekend.

Scoreboard

HOME AWAY
Charlotte Independence 3-2 Charleston Battery
FC Cincinnati 2-3 Louisville City FC
0-1 Harrisburg City Islanders
Wilmington Hammerheads FC 2-0 FC Montreal
Bethlehem Steel FC 2-1 Richmond Kickers
0-0 Rochester Rhinos
2-2 Pittsburgh Riverhounds


Three Stories

FC Cincinnati sets record crowd despite home loss

The first River Cities Cup match provided goals and an electric atmosphere in Cincinnati, where 20,497 packed into Nippert Stadium, setting a new USL attendance record for a regular season match. However, Louisville City spoiled the evening for the home crowd, taking a 3-2 win. Despite FCC's early goal, Louisville's Chandler Hoffman scored a hat trick in the first half for the win. Louisville will move to the top of the table with nine points.

Charlotte Scores Three on Charleston

In its first match of the Southern Derby, Charlotte went up 3-0 on Charleston, and two late Battery goals were not enough to complete a comeback. Enzo Martinez, Jorge Herrera, and Brian Brown all scored for the Independence. Only a point separates the two clubs in the table, which also leaves them tied in the Southern Derby Cup table.

Wilmington's Shutout lifts the club to Third

Wilmington shut out FC Montreal on Sunday in a 2-0 win, moving the club to third place in the east. Goals from Qudus Lawal and Matthew Barnes-Homer cemented the victory for the Hammerheads, as goalkeeper John Smits posted his second shutout of the season. Wilmington just needs one more win to equal their win total from a season ago. A top of the table clash with New York Red Bulls II next Friday will prove to be a real test for the club.

Standings

Club GP PTS
Louisville City FC 4 9
New York Red Bulls II 4 8
Wilmington Hammerheads FC 4 7
Richmond Kickers 4 7
Charleston Battery 4 7
Charlotte Independence 4 6
FC Cincinnati 4 6
Bethelhem Steel FC 4 6
Toronto FC II 3 5
Rochester Rhinos 3 4
Harrisburg City Islanders 3 3
Pittsburgh Riverhounds 2 1
Orlando City B 4 1
FC Montreal 3 0

All clubs were in action this weekend. Louisville City sits atop the table now after its victory in Cincinnati. NYRBII fall to second place after a draw versus Rochester. Wilmington, after a win over FC Montreal, jumps into third place, ahead of Richmond and Charleston who are also level on points with the Hammerheads. MLS2 clubs bring up the bottom of the table, as Orlando City B and FC Montreal are the only winless clubs left in the east. The Eastern Conference is still very tight, as spots one through eight are only separated by three points.

What stood out to you this weekend? Which stories did we miss? What matches do you look forward to next week? Let us know in the comments below!