2021 USL League Two Playoffs

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Main article: 2021 USL League Two season Football tournament season

2021 USL League Two Playoffs
Tournament details
Country	United States
Dates	July 16 - July 31
Teams	26
Defending champions	None (2020 season cancelled)
Final positions
Champions	Des Moines Menace
Tournament statistics
Matches played	25
Goals scored	78 (3.12 per match)
Best player	Manel Busquets (DMM)
← 2020 2022 →

The 2021 USL League Two Playoffs was the post-season championship for the 2021 USL League Two season. It is the twenty-sixth edition of the Playoffs and the second under the USL League Two banner. The playoffs began on July 16 and ended with the USL League Two Final on July 31.

There were no playoffs the previous season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Des Moines Menace won their third straight Regular Season Title (2018, 2019, 2021), with an average of 2.75 standings points per game.

The Menace defeated North Carolina Fusion U23 in the National Final 1–0 before a record crowd of 7,342.

Qualifying Teams

Eastern Conference

Northeast Division

Western Mass Pioneers - Division Winner
Boston Bolts - Division Runner-up
Seacoast United Phantoms - Conference Wild Card (Best 3rd place record between the Mid Atlantic and Northeast Divisions)

Mid Atlantic Division

West Chester United SC - Division Winner
Ocean City Nor'easters - Division Runner-up

Metropolitan Division

Long Island Rough Riders - Division Winner
Cedar Stars Rush - Division Runner-up
New York Red Bulls U-23 - Division 3rd Place

Southern Conference

South Atlantic Division

North Carolina Fusion U23 - Division Winner
Lionsbridge FC - Division Runner-up
West Virginia United - Division 3rd Place

Deep South Division

SC United Bantams - Division Winner
Tormenta FC 2 - Division Runner-up
East Atlanta FC - Division 3rd Place

Southeast Division

The Villages SC - Division Winner
Tampa Bay United - Division Runner-up

Central Conference

Great Lakes Division

Kalamazoo FC - Division Winner
Flint City Bucks - Division Runner-up
Kings Hammer FC - Division 3rd Place

Heartland Division

Des Moines Menace - Division Winner
Chicago FC United - Division Runner-up

Mid South Division

Mississippi Brilla FC - Division Winner
Corpus Christi FC - Division Runner-up
Texas United - Division 3rd Place

Western Conference

Mountain Division

Park City Red Wolves - Division Winner

Northwest Division

Portland Timbers U23s - Division Winner

Southwest Division

Teams did not participate in the 2021 season due to COVID-19 concerns.

Bracket

Conference Quarterfinals

Conference Semifinals

Conference Finals

National Semifinals

National Final

The Villages SC

East Atlanta FC

The Villages SC

Tormenta FC 2 (a.e.t.)

Tormenta FC 2

Lionsbridge FC

Tormenta FC 2

Southern Conference

North Carolina Fusion U23 (a.e.t.)

SC United Bantams

West Virginia United

SC United Bantams

North Carolina Fusion U23 (a.e.t.)

North Carolina Fusion U23

Tampa Bay United

North Carolina Fusion U23

Western Mass Pioneers

West Chester United SC

New York Red Bulls U-23

West Chester United SC

Ocean City Nor'easters

Boston Bolts

Ocean City Nor'easters

West Chester United SC

Eastern Conference

Western Mass Pioneers

Western Mass Pioneers

Cedar Stars Rush

Western Mass Pioneers (p)

0 (5)

Seacoast United Phantoms

0 (4)

Long Island Rough Riders

Seacoast United Phantoms (a.e.t.)

North Carolina Fusion U23

Des Moines Menace

Des Moines Menace

Central Conference

Kalamazoo FC

Corpus Christi FC

Kalamazoo FC (p)

1 (4)

Mississippi Brilla FC

1 (1)

Mississippi Brilla FC

Kings Hammer FC

Des Moines Menace

Portland Timbers U23s

Portland Timbers U23s (p)

3 (4)

Western Conference

Park City Red Wolves

3 (2)

Conference Playoffs

Eastern Conference Championship

Long Island Rough Riders v Seacoast United Phantoms

July 16, 2021 Conference Quarterfinals	Long Island Rough Riders	1–2 (a.e.t.)	Seacoast United Phantoms	Lusitano Stadium Ludlow, Massachusetts
4:30 PM EDT	Kang 25'		59'

Western Mass Pioneers v Cedar Stars Rush

July 16, 2021 Conference Quarterfinals	Western Mass Pioneers	4–0	Cedar Stars Rush	Lusitano Stadium Ludlow, Massachusetts
7:30 PM EDT	Regragui 22', 45' Agyemang 49' Lerech 58' Gutierrez Koduah Viera	Report	Yeboah 20' Watkins Leong Martinez

West Chester United SC v New York Red Bulls U-23

July 17, 2021 Conference Quarterfinals	West Chester United SC	2–1	New York Red Bulls U-23	Evergreen Sportsplex Leesburg, Virginia
5:00 PM EDT	Cueceoglu 17' Amspacher 35'	Report	23'

Boston Bolts v Ocean City Nor'easters

July 17, 2021 Conference Quarterfinals	Boston Bolts	0–1	Ocean City Nor'easters	Evergreen Sportsplex Leesburg, Virginia
7:00 PM EDT	Hu Bagdon	Report	Quartey Watson Becher 76' Stafford

Western Mass Pioneers v Seacoast United Phantoms

July 17, 2021 Conference Semifinal	Western Mass Pioneers	0–0 (a.e.t.) (5–4 p)	Seacoast United Phantoms	Lusitano Stadium Ludlow, Massachusetts
7:00 PM EDT	Gutierrez Oberrauch Emery Ucar Rose Arriagada	Report	Pierrot Laws

West Chester United SC v Ocean City Nor'easters

July 18, 2021 Conference Semifinal	West Chester United SC	1–0	Ocean City Nor'easters	Evergreen Sportsplex Leesburg, Virginia
7:00 PM EDT	Burkhardt 38'	Report

West Chester United SC v Western Mass Pioneers

July 23, 2021 Conference Final	West Chester United SC	0–1	Western Mass Pioneers	Eagle Field at Erk Russell Park Statesboro, Georgia
5:30 PM EDT		Report	Lerech

Southern Conference Championship

SC United Bantams v West Virginia United

July 16, 2021 Conference Quarterfinals	SC United Bantams	3–1	West Virginia United	South Eastern Freight Lines Soccer Center Columbia, South Carolina
7:30 PM EDT	Henderson 20' Shokalook 21' Kirkwood 33' Roberts Maule Sojberg	Report	Jennings 12' Stearn Ogilvie

North Carolina Fusion U23 v Tampa Bay United

July 17, 2021 Conference Quarterfinals	North Carolina Fusion U23	5–0	Tampa Bay United	South Eastern Freight Lines Soccer Center Columbia, South Carolina
4:00 PM EDT

The Villages SC v East Atlanta FC

July 17, 2021 Conference Quarterfinals	The Villages SC	2–1	East Atlanta FC	TowneBank Stadium Newport News, Virginia
5:00 PM EDT	Paiva 10' Vacas 90+5' Murtha	Report	Oke 41' Feeney

Tormenta FC 2 v Lionsbridge FC

July 17, 2021 Conference Quarterfinals	Tormenta FC 2	2–0	Lionsbridge FC	TowneBank Stadium Newport News, Virginia
7:30 PM EDT	Rodriguez 56' Lawrence 90+1'	Report

SC United Bantams v North Carolina Fusion U23

July 18, 2021 Conference Semifinal	SC United Bantams	1–2 (a.e.t.)	North Carolina Fusion U23	South Eastern Freight Lines Soccer Center Columbia, South Carolina
7:00 PM EDT	Shokalook 18' Wigfall Rohrhirsch Kirkwood Fokam	Report	Miguez 45' Santos 96' Clow Molina Bole

The Villages SC v Tormenta FC 2

July 18, 2021 Conference Semifinal	The Villages SC	2–4 (a.e.t.)	Tormenta FC 2	TowneBank Stadium Newport News, Virginia
7:00 PM EDT	Deputat 21' Paiva 34'	Report	Ledoux 5' Jowers 10' Barry 112' Rodriguez 120+3'

North Carolina Fusion U23 v Tormenta FC 2

July 23, 2021 Conference Final	North Carolina Fusion U23	4–2 (a.e.t.)	Tormenta FC 2	Eagle Field at Erk Russell Park Statesboro, Georgia
8:00 PM EDT	Gomiero 9' (pen.) Santos 40' 109' Duval 113'		Heckenberg 52' Rodriguez 58'

Central Conference Championship

Chicago FC United v Flint City Bucks

July 16, 2021 Conference Quarterfinals	Chicago FC United	1–3	Flint City Bucks	Valley Stadium West Des Moines, Iowa
4:00 PM CDT	Gutierrez 50'		Cisse 38' Borczak 75' Sanchez 90+3'

Kalamazoo FC v Corpus Christi FC

July 16, 2021 Conference Quarterfinals	Kalamazoo FC	3–1	Corpus Christi FC	Clinton High School Clinton, Mississippi
5:00 PM CDT	Banuelos 38', 48' Harmon 67' Jackson Halloran	Report	Wagner 52' Butler Cresto Kranick

Des Moines Menace v Texas United

July 16, 2021 Conference Quarterfinals	Des Moines Menace	5–0	Texas United	Valley Stadium West Des Moines, Iowa
7:00 PM CDT	Ayats 9', 38', 47' Rude 15' Skelton 20' O'Dwyer	Report	Estrada

Mississippi Brilla FC v Kings Hammer FC

July 16, 2021 Conference Quarterfinals	Mississippi Brilla FC	3–1	Kings Hammer FC	Clinton High School Clinton, Mississippi
7:30 PM CDT	Astorga 5' James 59' Emeriau 90' Lozano Morris	Report	Jones 46' Robinson

Des Moines Menace v Flint City Bucks

July 18, 2021 Conference Semifinal	Des Moines Menace	1–0	Flint City Bucks	Valley Stadium West Des Moines, Iowa
7:00 PM CDT	Haugli 51' Busquets Thomas Mensah Fernandes	Report	Murana Caliskan

Mississippi Brilla FC v Kalamazoo FC

July 18, 2021 Conference Semifinal	Mississippi Brilla FC	1–1 (a.e.t.) (1–4 p)	Kalamazoo FC	Clinton High School Clinton, Mississippi
7:00 PM CDT	Lozano 90' Onyango Alzate DiLuzio	Report	Banuelos 56' O'Riordan

Des Moines Menace v Kalamazoo FC

July 23, 2021 Conference Final	Des Moines Menace	2–1	Kalamazoo FC	Valley Stadium West Des Moines, Iowa
7:30 PM CDT	Busquets 45+9' Walkes 90+4'	Report	O'Riordan 23' Harmon 61'

Western Conference Championship

Portland Timbers U23 v Park City Red Wolves

July 23, 2021 Conference Final	Portland Timbers U23	3–3 (a.e.t.) (4–2 p)	Park City Red Wolves	Valley Stadium West Des Moines, Iowa
4:30 PM CDT	Afonso 4', 57' Sosa 11'	Report	Jiba 2' Wight 63', 88'
	Penalties
	Santos Rapaport Brog Andreou		Vargas Silva Johnson Pena

USL League Two Championship

Semifinals

North Carolina Fusion U23 v Western Mass Pioneers

July 25, 2021 National Semifinal	North Carolina Fusion U23	3–1	Western Mass Pioneers	Eagle Field at Erk Russell Park Statesboro, Georgia
8:00 PM EDT	Duval 52', 87' Molina 63'	Report	Agyemang 27'

Des Moines Menace v Portland Timbers U23

July 25, 2021 National Semifinal	Des Moines Menace	2–0	Portland Timbers U23	Valley Stadium West Des Moines, Iowa
7:30 PM CDT	Horveno 55' Kiner 85' (o.g.)	Report

Final

Des Moines Menace v North Carolina Fusion U23

July 31, 2021 National Final	Des Moines Menace	1–0	North Carolina Fusion U23	Valley Stadium West Des Moines, Iowa
7:30 PM CDT	Manel Busquets 55'	Report Report		Attendance: 7,342 Referee: Carl Armstrong

Championship MVP: Manel Busquets (DMM)

References

"USL League Two Announces Expanded Playoff Structure for the 2021 Season". uslleaguetwo.com. USL League Two. June 29, 2021. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
Hojnacki, Jenny (April 30, 2020). "USL cancels 2020 League Two season, extends pro league suspensions". sbisoccer.com. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
"Des Moines Menace Clinch a Title-Winning Season in the 2021 League Two Final". uslleaguetwo.com. USL League Two. August 3, 2021. Retrieved August 3, 2021.
Goodwin, Cody (July 31, 2021). "Des Moines Menace defeats NC Fusion U23 to win USL League Two National Final". desmoinesregister.com. Des Moines Register. Retrieved July 31, 2021.
"USL League Two's Southwest Division to Forgo the 2021 Season". uslleaguetwo.com. USL League Two. April 6, 2021. Retrieved July 24, 2021.
"League Two Announces Matchups for the 2021 League Two Playoffs". uslleaguetwo.com. USL League Two. July 14, 2021. Retrieved July 14, 2021.

External links

USL League Two website

USL League Two

Eastern Conference

Northeast	AC Connecticut Albany Rush Black Rock FC Boston Bolts Boston City FC Pathfinder FC Seacoast United Phantoms Vermont Green FC Western Mass Pioneers
Mid Atlantic	Lehigh Valley United Ocean City Nor'easters Philadelphia Lone Star FC Reading United AC Real Central New Jersey West Chester United SC
Metropolitan	Cedar Stars Rush Hudson Valley Hammers Ironbound SC Long Island Rough Riders Manhattan SC Morris Elite SC FC Motown STA New Jersey Copa FC Staten Island Sporting Athletic Club Westchester Flames
Chesapeake	Charlotesville Blues Christos FC Lionsbridge FC Northern Virginia FC Patuxent Football Athletics Virginia Beach United FC Virginia Marauders FC
South Atlantic	Charlotte Eagles Charlotte Independence 2 North Carolina FC U23 North Carolina Fusion U23 Salem City FC South Carolina United Tobacco Road FC Wake FC West Virginia United

[REDACTED]

Central Conference

Great Lakes	AFC Ann Arbor Flint City Bucks Kalamazoo FC Lansing City Football Michiana Lions Midwest United FC Oakland County FC Union FC Macomb
Valley	Cleveland Force FC Dayton Dutch Lions FC Buffalo Fort Wayne FC Kings Hammer FC Toledo Villa FC
Heartland	Chicago City SC Chicago Dutch Lions Des Moines Menace Peoria City River City FC St. Charles FC Sueno FC FC Wichita
Deep North	Bavarian United SC Minneapolis City SC RKC Third Coast Rochester FC St. Croix Legends Thunder Bay Chill

Southern Conference

South Central	Asheville City SC Athens United Birmingham Legion 2 Dothan United East Atlanta Dutch Lions Southern Soccer Academy Kings Tennessee SC
Southeast	Brevard SC Brooke House FC Florida Elite Soccer Academy Inter Gainesville KF NONA FC Brave SC
South Florida	Miami AC Sarasota Paradise St. Petersburg FC Swan City SC Tampa Bay United Weston FC
Mid South	Blue Goose SC Hattiesburg FC Little Rock Rangers LA Krewe FC Mississippi Brilla FC
Lone Star	AC Houston Sur AHFC Royals Corpus Christi FC Hill Country Lobos Houston FC Twin City Toucans

Western Conference

Mountain	Albion SC Colorado CISA Flatirons Rush SC New Mexico United U-23 Salt City SC Utah United Utah Avalanche
Northwest	Ballard FC Capital FC Atletico Lane United FC Midlakes United FC Olympia Tacoma Stars United PDX West Seattle Junction FC
Nor Cal	Academica SC Almaden FC Davis Legacy SC Marin FC Legends Monterey Bay FC 2 Project 51O San Francisco City SC San Francisco Glens
Southwest	AMSG FC Arizona Arsenal SC Capo FC Coachella FC FC Tucson Redlands FC Southern California Eagles Ventura County Fusion

Seasons

as USISL Premier League	1995 1996
as PDSL	1997 1998
as PDL	1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
as USL League Two	2019 ~~2020~~ 2021 2022 2023 2024

Miscellaneous

USL League Two seasons

USISL Premier League	1995 1996
Premier Development Soccer League (PDSL)	1997 1998
Premier Development League (PDL)	1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
USL League Two	2019 ~~2020~~ 2021 2022 2023 2024

2021 in American soccer

« 2020 2022 »

National teams

Men	Senior Nations League Finals Gold Cup 2022 FIFA World Cup third qualifying round U23 2020 Olympics Qualifying U20 CONCACAF Championship
Women	Senior 2021 SheBelieves Cup 2021 Summer Olympics U23 U19 U18 U17

League competitions (Men)

Level 1	Major League Soccer (All-Star Game, Playoffs, MLS Cup)
Level 2	USL Championship (playoffs, final)
Level 3	USL League One (playoffs, final) NISA 2020–21 Fall 2021
Amateur	NPSL USL League Two NISA Nation UPSL Spring Fall
Collegiate	NCAA Division I Division II Division III NAIA NJCAA

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Friendly	Capital Cup Visit Tucson Sun Cup Dallas Cup

Cup competitions (Women)

Challenge Cup (Final)
Women's College Cup (Final)

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Under-23	NCAA College Cup (Final)
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Club seasons (Men)

MLS

USLC

USL1

NISA
(20–21)
(Fall 21)

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- 2020–21
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Chattanooga FC
- 2020–21
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Detroit City FC
- 2020–21
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Club seasons (Women)
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