Greenville Triumph SC 2 - 1 One Knoxville SC

GREENVILLE, S.C. - In a tightly contested match, Greenville Triumph SC topped One Knoxville SC, 2-1, to claim its first postseason victory since 2021 and kick off the 2024 USL League One Playoffs.

It took Triumph SC only 19 minutes to go ahead, as defender Evan Lee found the back of the net courtesy of an assist from longtime teammate Tyler Polak. Greenville's momentum would not last long, however, as a mistimed tackle from Polak gave Knoxville a penalty early in the second half and a clear opportunity back into the game. 

Up stepped One Knox forward Kempes Tekiela, who converted the spot-kick to equalize in the 58th minute. The match shifted back into a tug-of-war, but a poor tackle in the box from One Knoxville SC goalkeeper Sean Lewis resulted in a yellow card and a penalty kick awarded to the hosts. For a spot in the Semifinals on the line, Golden Boot winner Lyam MacKinnon converted his penalty against Golden Boot winner Sean Lewis in the 80th minute.

USLLEAGUEONE.COM PLAYER OF THE MATCH

Evan Lee (GVL) – League One's all-time appearances leader bagged the first postseason goal of his career to open the scoring in the 2024 USL League One Playoffs. The 2020 League One champion registered six recoveries, won three duels, created one chance and completed 90% of his passes.

SCORING SUMMARY

GVL – Lee (Polak) 19' - WATCH
KNX – Tekiela (Penalty) 59' - WATCH
GVL – MacKinnon (Penalty) 80' - WATCH

Forward Madison FC 2 - 0 Charlotte Independence

MADISON, Wis. - In the first postseason action at Breese Stevens Field, Forward Madison FC won its first playoff match in club history, 2-0, against the Charlotte Independence. The 'Mingos will advance to the Semifinals for the first time since automatically qualifying for the stage in 2019. The Independence, the 2023 USL League One Final runners-up from a season ago, have matched their largest postseason loss since their inaugural 2016 campaign.

Madison's all-time appearances leader, Derek Gebhard, put Madison ahead in the 37th minute with a well-taken goal off of a Devin Boyce assist. Madison controlled the first half, taking the last five shots before the break while Charlotte struggled to place any shots on target. The 2023 USL League One Goalkeeper of the Year, Austin Pack, kept the Independence in the match for the majority of the contest with five big saves.

As Charlotte pushed for the equalizer in the closing moments, Madison doubled its advantage after Anton Sorenson conceded a penalty in stoppage time and Boyce stepped up and calmly scored. Boyce's first multi-goal-contribution match as a 'Mingo was enough to send Madison through to the next round of the playoffs.

USLLEAGUEONE.COM PLAYER OF THE MATCH

Devin Boyce (MAD) - The 2021 USL League One champion has now participated in the USL League One Playoffs with three different teams and made a significant impact in his first postseason action with the 'Mingos. In addition to his match-winning assist and stoppage-time penalty goal, Boyce added five duels won, four chances created, three recoveries, two fouls won, and completed 85% of his passes.

SCORING SUMMARY

MAD – Gebhard (Boyce) 38' - WATCH
MAD – Boyce (Penalty) 90+2' - WATCH

Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC 0 - 3 Spokane Velocity FC

WINDSOR, Colo. - Spokane Velocity FC traveled to Colorado and constructed one of the biggest upsets in USL League One Playoffs history, stunning Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC, 3-0, to become the lowest seed to win a postseason match in league history. Entering the match winless across all competitions since Sept. 7, Velocity FC ended the evening as the third team in league history to win a postseason match in their first season.

Following a scoreless first half, Spokane broke the deadlock in the 53rd minute with a well-placed goal from captain and all-time leading scorer, Luis Gil, setting the tone for what was to come. Over the next 15 minutes, Spokane added a second and third through Anuar Peláez in the 64th minute and Jack Denton in the 68th minute, shutting out Northern Colorado for the first time since Sept. 21.

The result is tied for the second-largest margin of victory in USL League One Playoffs history and matches the largest loss in Hailstorm history. It also marks the first time a No. 2 seed has failed to qualify for the Semifinals in USL League One Playoffs history. 

USLLEAGUEONE.COM PLAYER OF THE MATCH

Luis Gil (SPK) – Spokane's captain kicked off a 15-minute frenzy with his winning goal in the 53rd minute to earn his first USL League One Playoffs victory in three tries. The former United States Men's National Team midfielder added four recoveries, one duel won, one chance created and an 83% passing accuracy rate.

SCORING SUMMARY

SPK – Gil 53' - WATCH
SPK – Peláez (Martín Gil) 64' - WATCH
SPK – Denton (Akale) 68' - WATCH

Union Omaha 1 - 0 Richmond Kickers

PAPILLION, Neb. - For the third time in the past four seasons, Union Omaha are through to the Semifinals of the USL League One Playoffs, as the back-to-back USL League One Players' Shield winners downed the Richmond Kickers, 1-0, in an emotional day at Werner Park.

The victory comes only days after Omaha midfielder Mechack Jérôme and members of his family were injured following an explosion in their home. Those interested in supporting Jérôme and his family can donate to a GoFundMe set up by Union Omaha.

On the pitch, the match between the top-seeded Owls and eighth-seeded Kickers was tightly contested well beyond halftime. Omaha eventually found the go-ahead score after a wild sequence allowed midfielder Zeiko Lewis to capitalize on a fast-break opportunity and feed the ball to forward Lagos Kunga, whose shot found the back of the net in the 51st minute.

The Roos kept themselves within striking distance of the hosts, but a lack of threatening chances against Omaha's backline would solidify the final scoreline at 1-0 and put an end to Richmond's first postseason campaign since winning the Players' Shield in 2022.

USLLEAGUEONE.COM PLAYER OF THE MATCH

Zeiko Lewis (OMA) – The attacking midfielder and Bermuda international was key for Omaha's offensive play and was a direct contributor to his side's progression to the Semifinals, as he created three chances, one of which served as the assist on Kunga's match-winning score. 

SCORING SUMMARY

OMA – Kunga (Lewis) 51' - WATCH