SPOKANE, Wash. – No. 3 Spokane Velocity FC booked a second consecutive trip to the League One Final in dramatic fashion on Sunday night as substitute Nil Vinyals struck in the dying moments of extra time to salvage a 2-2 draw against No. 7 Portland Hearts of Pine to force a penalty shootout in their Semifinal match of the 2025 USL League One Playoffs presented by Terminix. After going six rounds and denying JT Kamara earlier in the shootout, Spokane goalkeeper Carlos Merancio saved Michel Poon-Angeron's effort to set a date with One Knoxville SC in the 2025 USL League One Final on Sunday, November 16 with kickoff scheduled for 5:00 p.m. ET (CBS Sports Golazo Network). 

The first half started with both sides testing the setup of their opposition as Spokane controlled possession while Portland relied on the hold-up play of Titus Washington to hit on the break. The best chance for Spokane arrived in the 28th minute as Neco Brett played in Luis Gil for a one-on-one opportunity with the goalkeeper that was saved by Hunter Morse before Gil’s header on the rebound was nodded just wide. The visitors would respond with a chance in the 34th minute as Titus Washington laid off a cross from Nathan Messer for Natty James to hit first time, but his low shot was saved by Merancio. The home side would then find the breakthrough just before halftime as a long throw from Lucky Opara was headed at the near post and Gil was in the right place in the box to volley the ball into the top right corner. 

Portland returned from the locker room and stormed out the gates to start the second half, finding the equalizer in the 53rd minute as 2025 USL League One All-League Second Team selection Ollie Wright collected the ball from a poor clearance at the top of the box and curled his shot into the bottom right corner. The visitors almost doubled their lead a couple minutes later as Masashi Wada received the ball from Washington inside the box, but his powerful shot crashed off the top of the crossbar. Despite a late push from both sides, including a header from Spokane substitute Anuar Pelaez in the 72nd minute that was palmed away by Morse, the match remained at 1-1 at the end of regulation to force extra time. 

Substitute JT Kamara would break the deadlock in the 92nd minute as he received ball on a counter started by Wada and cut inside box with four defenders around him and tucked his shot inside the left post. Just as first-year expansion side Portland Hearts of Pine looked destined for a dream appearance in the League One Final, two Spokane substitutes connected as Vinyals received the ball in the box from Marky Hernandez and fired into the bottom left corner to force a penalty shootout and send the home crowd wild. 

Portland still looked in the driver’s seat after Andre Lewis’ effort was saved by Morse, but JT Kamara could not convert the winning penalty as Merancio dove to his right to deny the former Sierra Leone youth national. Reaching the seventh round following conversions from both sides, Merancio then saved Poon-Angeron's shot to complete Spokane’s remarkable comeback and book its place in the 2025 USL League One Final.  

Takeaways 

Spokane Velocity FC – The side showed a never-say-die attitude and Merancio was immense in net during the shootout, diving the correct way four times and managing to keep out two shots. 

Portland Hearts of Pine – The intensity and attacking style of this side promises entertainment every time they play. Wright, Wada and Messer were a joy to watch, and one can’t help but wonder if they played at home what their playoff run would look like.  

Key Moment 

Nil Vinyals’ substitution to replace Luis Gil with about 10 minutes remaining brought some creativity and energy in the midfield to give the home side an outlet as the game opened up. 

Key Stat 

Spokane Velocity became the third side (Greenville Triumph SC, Union Omaha) to reach two USL League One Final appearances in its first two seasons. Carlos Merancio’s two saves in the penalty shootout placed him top among goalkeepers with three saves overall in the USL League One Playoffs. 

USLLeagueOne.com Player of the Match 

Nil Vinyals, Spokane Velocity FC – Despite only playing 41 minutes with a majority coming in extra time, Vinyals completed 14 of his 17 passes, registered two chances created, scored the equalizing goal in extra time and converted his penalty kick in the shootout.  

Scoring Summary 

SPK – Luis Gil 45’, Nil Vinyals (Marky Hernandez) 120+1’ 

POR – Ollie Wright 53’, JT Kamara (Masashi Wada) 92’ 

Penalty Shootout 

SPK – Nil Vinyals, scored; Anuar Pelaez, scored; Andre Lewis, missed; Marky Hernandez, scored; David Garcia, scored; Camron Miller, scored; Jalen Crisler, scored 

POR – Jake Keegan, scored; Sega Coulibaly, scored; Azaad Liadi, scored; Masashi Wada, scored; JT Kamara, missed; Nathan Messer, scored; Michel Poon-Angeron, missed