NASL members Carolina RailHawks, Montreal Impact, Puerto Rico Islanders and Vancouver Whitecaps FC all advanced to the semifinals of the USSF D-2 Pro League Playoffs this past weekend. The semifinals of the USSF D-2 Pro League which begin Thursday, will thus feature only NASL member teams.
Carolina and Montreal will meet at 7:30 p.m. ET at Stade Saputo in Montreal, Quebec on Thursday, Oct. 14, while Puerto Rico will face Vancouver at 8:05 p.m. ET the same night at Estadio Juan Ramon Loubriel in Bayamon. The return legs will take place Sunday Oct. 17.
The Impact defeated the Austin Aztex 3-2 in Austin to earn an aggregate score of 5-2 after a 2-0 win in the first leg. After a scoreless first leg between Carolina and Minnesota, Carolina advanced to the semifinals with a 4-0 victory. Despite losing 2-1 in Rochester, Puerto Rico advanced to the semifinals 3-2 on aggregate after defeating the Rhinos 2-0 in the first leg. Vancouver advanced despite a 1-0 loss in Portland thanks to winning the first leg 2-0.
The playoffs consist of a two-leg, aggregate goals series in the first round, semifinals and finals. Away goals will not be considered a tie-breaker in the aggregate goal series. If teams are tied on aggregate goals after the conclusion of the second leg, they will play two 15 minute overtime periods. Penalty kicks will follow overtime if the teams have not broken the deadlock.
