The USL League Two playoffs are finally here for Reading United.
Mid Atlantic Division champion United hosts Northeast Division wild card GPS Portland Phoenix at Gurski Stadium tonight at 7.
The team had a valuable tuneup in an exhibition against Philadelphia Union during a week-long preparation for the Eastern Conference playoffs, which Reading is hosting in West Lawn for the second season in a row.
“It (playing the Union) is better than a training session,” Reading coach Alan McCann said. “We played competitively against an MLS squad. We got another chance to see who can fit into the system and get guys some minutes. We’ve done a lot of video work, tactical work and a little bit of training this week. Even though we lost some players due to going back to college, we’ve also gotten some players back in. We are happy with the strength of the squad.”
Midfielder Felipe Hideki leads Reading (10-1-3). He is ranked USL League Two’s 21st-best prospect and was named to the league’s Team of the Week after scoring a hat trick in Reading’s regular season finale against Lehigh Valley. He has scored seven goals in his last six matches, tying Simon Becher, who is out for the season with an ankle injury, for the team lead in goals.
On defense, Reading is led by No. 11 prospect Lamine Conte who has played in eight matches totaling 670 minutes on the back line. Goalkeeper and No. 17 prospect Jahmali Waite has 29 saves. United has held opponents scoreless eight times this season and has outscored them 32-13.
Portland (9-3-2) qualified as the Eastern Conference’s wild card after finishing second in the Northeast Division. The Phoenix finished with 29 points and outscored opponents 29-20 in the regular season.
Forward Matt Bentley leads Portland’s deep and balanced attack with five goals and five assists. Khesanio Hall has three goals and four assists. Defenders Patrick Kibler and Paul Liagre anchor the rugged backline. In net, Harrison Devenish-Meares (22 saves) and William Bush (29) have seen significant time.
“It’s going to be a battle,” McCann said. “They like to be physical and get a little bit down and dirty, but we love that. We wouldn’t want to be tested any other way. That’s what this game’s about. We won’t even think about anything else until we get through that test. And that’s what we plan on doing.”
Prior to the Reading-Portland match, Northeast Division champ Western Massachusetts Pioneers (11-0-3) will face South Atlantic Division champ North Carolina Fusion U23 (8-4-2) at Gurski Stadium at 4.
Western Massachusetts has outscored opponents 31-7. Sebastian Rosano leads the Pioneers with six goals and two assists. Guillermo Deal has seven goals and an assist, and No. 49 prospect Ciro Damine has six goals and an assist. Blake Mullen has 44 saves.
North Carolina has outscored opponents 24-18. Bruno Lapa, the No. 4 prospect, has four goals and one assist for Fusion. He has plenty of help on offense with dangerous forwards Faisal Almubaslat (seven goals and an assist) and Cameron Joice (six goals and three assists). Goalkeeper Joshua Perryman has 43 saves.
The Eastern Conference final will take place Sunday between the winners of Saturday’s matches at Gurski Stadium.
