The Football Forge Power Rankings: Week 3
There was no shortage of scoring in the USL Championship this week: 26 goals were netted across 11 games, or 2.36 per game. 3 games had 4 goals (all were 2-2 draws, oddly). Defense is apparently out of style this season.
| Rank | Team Name | Previous | Change | Record | Note | This Week |
| 1 | San Antonio | 1 | 0 | 3-0-0 | San Antonio scored early, gave a quick equalizer, then controlled the game entirely to win 2-1 in Oakland. The only perfect team remaining in the league. | @ Lexington |
| 2 | Louisville City | 2 | 0 | 2-0-1 | Lou City returned home and to winning ways with a 2-0 scoreline over Loudoun. About the only thing that went wrong was Phillip Goodrum missing a penalty. | v. Detroit |
| 3 | Sacramento Republic | 7 | +4 | 1-0-1 | SacRep controlled the game for 85 minutes and then gave up not one but two penalties to finish 2-2 with Colorado Springs. | @ Tulsa |
| 4 | Detroit City | 3 | -1 | 2-0-1 | Detroit spoiled its home opener with an own goal and nearly scored the winner in their own net. The 2-2 result was fair although City had the bulk of possession. | @ Louisville |
| 5 | Charleston Battery | 9 | +4 | 1-1-0 | Charleston Battery were on a bye this week. | @ North Carolina |
| 6 | New Mexico United | 5 | -1 | 2-1-0 | New Mexico were less than impressive in their home opener, beating El Paso 1-0 on a late Greg Hurst goal. They also had Alex Tambakis to thank for some big saves. | @ Miami |
| 7 | Lexington SC | 8 | +1 | 1-0-2 | Despite massive leads in almost every statistical category, Lexington had to come from behind for the 1-1 draw with Indy. Another tough test next week. | v. San Antonio |
| 8 | Rhode Island FC | 17 | +9 | 0-1-1 | A much more positive game, but even with being the dominant side all night they still needed an own goal to get the 2-2 draw in Phoenix. |
@ Loudoun |
| 9 | Monterey Bay FC | 12 | +3 | 2-1-0 | Monterey Bay beat on Orange County’s door for 60 minutes before scoring. Then a red card opened it up for the visitors and a 3-0 win. | v. Phoenix |
| 10 | FC Tulsa | 10 | 0 | 2-1-0 | Tulsa sent 19 shots at the North Carolina goal and got absolutely nothing for their efforts. Three 1-0 games but this was the first loss. | v. Sacramento |
| 11 | Indy Eleven | 11 | 0 | 1-0-1 | Indy were totally outplayed in Lexington but got the 1-1 draw anyway. Two games so far are not giving much of an indication on this team. | v. Colorado Springs |
| 12 | Loudoun United | 4 | -8 | 2-1-0 | Loudoun had almost 60% possession in Louisville but couldn’t do anything with it, going down 0-2. The perfect start is over. | v. Rhode Island |
| 13 | Orange County | 6 | -7 | 1-1-1 | Orange County started the season with a win over Oakland but have fallen off since. The 0-3 pasting by Monterey Bay was bad and they lost Ryan Doghman to a red card as well. | Bye |
| 14 | Birmingham Legion | 14 | 0 | 0-1-2 | The Legion were once again let down by poor defending and were somewhat lucky to come out of Detroit with a 2-2 draw. The team did show some resilience though as well as some of the speed promised. | @ Pittsburgh |
| 15 | Las Vegas Lights | 13 | -2 | 1-1-0 | Las Vegas Lights were on a bye this week. | @ Oakland |
| 16 | North Carolina FC | 18 | +2 | 1-1-1 | North Carolina held off a relentless Tulsa attack to get a late goal for the 1-0 win. A very mixed bag of results to date this season | v. Charleston |
| 17 | El Paso Locomotive | 21 | +4 | 0-1-2 | After 2 high-scoring draws the Locomotive were blanked by New Mexico despite some excellent attempts on goal. Still, they look much improved. | @ Hartford |
| 18 | Colorado Springs Switchbacks | 15 | -3 | 0-1-2 | The Switchbacks can thank the ref for the 2-2 draw in Sacramento; the second penalty they were awarded was iffy at best. | @ Indy |
| 19 | Pittsburgh Riverhounds | 19 | 0 | 1-1-1 | Generating just 6 shots from 62% possession – while allowing 9 – does not scream offensive powerhouse. Even so, it was enough for the 1-0 win over Hartford. | v. Birmingham |
| 20 | Tampa Bay Rowdies | 20 | 0 | 1-2-0 | After two losses a 2-1 win over Miami – which was preserved only by a missed PK – is not going to have anyone quaking in their boots. | Bye |
| 21 | Phoenix Rising | 16 | -5 | 0-1-2 | Phoenix scored three times. But one was in their own goal. Other than that they were definitely the weaker team on the day in the 2-2 draw with Rhode Island. | @ Monterey Bay |
| 22 | Hartford Athletic | 22 | 0 | 0-2-0 | Hartford barely saw the ball in the 0-1 loss in Pittsburgh and are not demonstrating any real strength. They look to have gone backward this season, | v. El Paso |
| 23 | The Miami FC | 23 | 0 | 0-3-0 | Miami scored in the second minute. Then they reverted to form, giving up two goals, shanking a penalty and incurring a red card. 1-2 loss to Tampa Bay. | v. New Mexico |
| 24 | Oakland Roots | 24 | 0 | 0-3-0 | The 20k+ crowd and Jcob Rasmussen’s bicycle kick goal were about all the Roots had going for them in the 1-2 loss to San Antonio. Three straight losses now. | v. Las Vegas |
