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League One Power Rankings - Week 10

By NICHOLAS MURRAY - nicholas.murray@uslsoccer.com, 06/08/21, 5:15PM EDT

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Omaha is on top of the standings for the first time, but Greenville keeps its top rank

There isn’t a new team on top of the League One Power Rankings this week with Greenville Triumph SC having taken its own international break alongside goalkeeper Dallas Jaye, who played on Monday for Guam against Syria.

There is a new team on top of the league standings, though, as Union Omaha claimed the highest perch in the tree for the first time in its history on Sunday evening while gaining revenge for its lone defeat this season by taking a 2-1 win against Forward Madison FC.

Los Búhos have been a force in the league since arrival, of course, taking second place to Greenville a season ago. The big question I have right now, though, is can this team be either as dominant as some of its rivals for first place have shown at times this year, or has it got the mettle to keep seeing out narrow victories.

The reason I ask is because that latter option – as well as Greenville navigated it last year – can be a risky proposition, as Omaha’s underlying numbers illustrate. Union currently sits with a +5 goal differential in the standings, but only a 1.21 Expected Goal Differential according to American Soccer Analysis. That’s well behind the pace set by Greenville and Madison, with the Flamingos sitting with an attack that’s yielding 1.59xG per game, and Triumph SC boasting a defense that’s allowing only 0.72xGA per game.

Omaha has got a difference-maker in goal. Rashid Nuhu ranks third in the league when it comes to over-performance with a -1.17 GA-xGA mark as of now. But with five consecutive games being decided by a single goal, or ending in a draw, los Búhos may have to figure out how to either tighten up defensively, or find more production up front to potentially keep pace as the season moves on.

Here’s how everything else looks right now. As always, feel free to come and yell at me on Twitter (@NJEMurray).

Biggest Movers

Rank

 

Team

Change

Summary

1 Greenville Triumph
(4-0-1)
Week 10: @ NTX

Last Week: 1
Greenville gets back into action on Sunday night in North Texas, where it will be hoping for a repeat performance of its 4-0 win earlier in the season at Legacy Early College.
2 Union Omaha
(4-1-2)
Week 10: v. NE
2
Last Week: 4
Omaha sits on top of the pile after a four-point week, and getting that victory in Madison should have felt pretty good after the last visit the side made to Breese Stevens Field.
3 Forward Madison FC
(3-1-2)
Week 10: v. RIC
1
Last Week: 2
The Flamingos finally fell after an arduous spell on the road, but they’re still in very good shape for a return to the top two. The Henny Derby awaits this weekend.
4 Richmond Kickers
(3-3-1)
Week 10: @ MAD
1
Last Week: 5
It took a solid effort against an improving Revolution II side, but the Kickers will be happy their attack has sparked into live ahead of Saturday’s highly anticipated trip to Madison.
5 Fort Lauderdale CF
(4-5-1)
Week 10: --
6
Last Week: 11
Just when you think you’ve got FTLCF pegged, they produce four points against Forward Madison CF and North Carolina FC. Shaan Hundal now leads League One with a combined 5.31xG+xA and appears rejuvenated up front.
6 Chattanooga Red Wolves SC
(3-1-1)
Week 10: @ TUC
3
Last Week: 3
Where did that come from? The Red Wolves just couldn’t get anything going in a surprise loss to previously struggling Tormenta FC on Saturday.
7 FC Tucson
(2-2-2)
Week 10: v. CHA
1
Last Week: 6
Tucson’s undefeated in three games after its draw with Toronto FC II and is still well positioned if it can continue its upward momentum. Saturday’s home game with the Red Wolves is a big opportunity.
8 Toronto FC II
(1-1-3)
Week 10: v. TRM, @ TRM

Last Week: 8
Three consecutive draws has slowed Toronto’s potential momentum down a little bit. We’ll see how they fare in Florida starting this Wednesday night against Tormenta FC.
9 New England Revolution II
(2-3-1)
Week 10: @ OMA
2
Last Week: 7
The Revolution II couldn’t pull out a result in Richmond try as they might, and now these contests against Omaha and Madison on the road look a little more daunting.
10 South Georgia Tormenta FC
(2-6-0)
Week 10: @ TOR, v. TOR
2
Last Week: 12
Picking off a home win against Chattanooga is a really solid result for a side that had been struggling, now how far can Tormenta FC stretch itself against Toronto in a “home”-and-home this week?
11 North Texas SC
(2-3-1)
Week 10: v. GVL
2
Last Week: 9
North Texas is still in a solid place when it comes to playoff positions, but it’s going to have to pick up its feet and its form to get past Greenville on Sunday to turn things back in the right direction.
12 North Carolina FC
(0-4-1)
Week 10: --
2
Last Week: 10
That form guide is not doing North Carolina favors, and neither is the club’s attack with a -3.76 differential between its goals scored (3) and its Expected Goals mark (6.76xG).

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