USL League Two

USL League Two
Sport Calcio
TipoClub
FederazioneUSASA
PaeseBandiera degli Stati Uniti Stati Uniti
Bandiera del Canada Canada
OrganizzatoreUnited Soccer Leagues
Cadenzaannuale
Aperturamaggio
Chiusuraagosto
Partecipanti128 squadre (2024)
FormulaStagione regolare più play-off
Sito InternetSito Ufficiale
Storia
Fondazione1995
Detentore Ballard
Record vittorie Flint City Bucks (4)
Modifica dati su Wikidata · Manuale

La USL League Two (USL2), precedentemente nota come Premier Development League (PDL), è una lega calcistica maschile che opera negli Stati Uniti e nel Canada, e in passato anche nelle Bermuda. Fondata nel 1995, viene organizzata dalla USL. Nel 2024 la lega è composta da 128 partecipanti.

La USL League Two può essere considerata come uno dei più importanti campionati dilettantistici degli USA. Infatti è uno dei due tornei di livello nazionale affiliati alla USASA, l'organo della federazione preposto al calcio dilettantistico.[1]

Formula del torneo

Nonostante vari cambi di formula, la USL League Two segue lo schema classico dei vari campionati nordamericani: una prima fase di stagione regolare e una fase finale di playoff per decretare il vincitore finale. Non sono previste promozioni o retrocessioni.

Al 2022 la USL League Two è divisa in 4 Conference (Eastern, Central, Southern e Western), suddivise a loro volta in Division: 4 per la Eastern e la Central, 5 per la Southern e 3 per la Western per un totale di 16 Division.

La stagione regolare USL League Two si svolge durante l'estate da inizio maggio a metà luglio. Ogni squadra gioca un programma di 14 partite contro i rispettivi avversari di Division, sette in casa e sette in trasferta. Nelle Conference con tre Division, ogni vincitore di Division, più la seconda squadra con il miglior piazzamento nella Conference, avanza ai playoff nelle semifinali della Conference. Nelle Conference con due Division, le prime due squadre di ciascuna Division avanzano alle semifinali di Conference.[2]

In base al regolamento della lega, ciascuna squadra può avere in rosa un massimo di 26 giocatori, di cui massimo 8 che abbiano più di 23 anni e almeno 3 che ne abbiano meno di 18. Vista questa vocazione allo sviluppo di giovani giocatori, spesso la USL PDL è il trampolino di lancio per quei giocatori che vogliono sbarcare nel professionismo.[3]

Storia

Il campionato nacque nel 1995, quando la lega USISL decise di creare due distinti campionati: il primo a carattere semiprofessionistico denominato Professional League, il secondo dilettantistico chiamato Premier League. Nel 1997 il torneo cambiò nome in Premier Development Soccer League, per poi semplificarlo nel 1999 in Premier Development League (PDL). Dal 2019 assume la denominazione di USL League Two.[4]

Squadre partecipanti nel 2024

Club Città Stato Conference Division
AC Connecticut Hartford Connecticut Eastern Northeast
AC Houston Sur South Houston Texas Southern Lone Star
Academica SC Turlock California Western NorCal
AFC Ann Arbor Ann Arbor Michigan Central Great Lakes
AHFC Royals Houston Texas Southern Lone Star
Albany Rush Albany New York Eastern Northeast
Albion SC Colorado Lafayette Colorado Western Mountain
Almaden FC Almaden Valley California Western NorCal
AMSG FC Huntington Beach California Western Southwest
Arizona Arsenal SC Mesa Arizona Western Southwest
Asheville City SC Asheville North Carolina Southern South Central
Athens United Athens Georgia Southern South Central
Ballard FC Seattle Washington Western Northwest
Bavarian United SC Milwaukee Wisconsin Central Deep North
Birmingham Legion 2 Birmingham Alabama Southern South Central
Black Rock FC Manchester Vermont Eastern Northeast
Blue Goose SC Shreveport Louisiana Southern Mid South
Boston Bolts Newton Massachusetts Eastern Northeast
Boston City FC Revere Massachusetts Eastern Northeast
Brave SC Summerfield Florida Southern Southeast
Brevard SC Melbourne Florida Southern Southeast
Brooke House FC Maitland Florida Southern Southeast
Capital FC Atletico Salem Oregon Western Northwest
Capo FC San Juan Capistrano California Western Southwest
Cedar Stars Rush Teaneck New Jersey Eastern Metropolitan
Charlotte Eagles Charlotte North Carolina Eastern South Atlantic
Charlotte Independence II Rock Hill South Carolina Eastern South Atlantic
Charlottesville Blues Charlottesville Virginia Eastern Chesapeake
Chicago City SC Chicago Illinois Central Heartland
Chicago Dutch Lions FC Lisle Illinois Central Heartland
Christos FC Baltimora Maryland Eastern Chesapeake
Cleveland Force SC Cleveland Ohio Central Valley
Coachella FC Coachella California Western Southwest
Colorado International Soccer Academy Aurora Colorado Western Mountain
Corpus Christi FC Corpus Christi Texas Southern Lone Star
Davis Legacy SC Davis California Western NorCal
Dayton Dutch Lions West Carrollton Ohio Central Valley
Des Moines Menace Des Moines Iowa Central Heartland
Dothan United SC Dothan Alabama Southern South Central
East Atlanta FC Atlanta Georgia Southern South Central
FC Buffalo Buffalo New York Central Valley
FC Motown Morristown New Jersey Eastern Metropolitan
FC Olympia Olympia Washington Western Northwest
FC Tucson Tucson Arizona Western Southwest
Flatirons Rush SC Arvada Colorado Western Mountain
Flint City Bucks Flint Michigan Central Great Lakes
Florida Elite SA Saint Johns Florida Southern Southeast
Fort Wayne FC Fort Wayne Indiana Central Valley
Hattiesburg FC Hattiesburg Mississippi Southern Mid South
Hill Country Lobos Kyle Texas Soithern Lone Star
Houston FC Houston Texas Southern Lone Star
Hudson Valley Hammers Newburgh New York Eastern Metropolitan
Inter Gainesville Gainesville Florida Southern Southeast
Ironbound SC Newark New Jersey Eastern Metropolitan
Kalamazoo FC Kalamazoo Michigan Central Great Lakes
Kings Hammer SC Cincinnati Ohio Central Valley
Lane United FC Eugene Oregon Western Northwest
Lansing City Football Lansing Michigan Central Great Lakes
Lehigh Valley United Bethlehem Pennsylvania Eastern Mid Atlantic
Lionsbridge FC Newport News Virginia Eastern Chesapeake
Little Rock Rangers Little Rock Arkansas Southern Mid South
Long Island Rough Riders Hempstead New York Eastern Metropolitan
Louisiana Krewe FC Lafayette Louisiana Southern Mid South
Marin Legends FC Marin County California Western NorCal
Miami AC Miami Florida Southern South Florida
Michiana Lions South Bend Indiana Central Great Lakes
Midlakes United Bellevue Washington Western Northwest
Midwest United FC Grand Rapids Michigan Central Great Lakes
Minneapolis City SC Minneapolis Minnesota Central Deep North
Mississippi Brilla Clinton Mississippi Southern Mid South
Monterey Bay FC 2 Salinas California Western NorCal
Morris Elite SC Livingston New Jersey Eastern Metropolitan
New Jersey Copa FC Metuchen New Jersey Eastern Metropolitan
New Mexico United U23 Albuquerque New Mexico Western Mountain
NONA FC Orlando Florida Southern Southeast
North Carolina Fusion Greensboro North Carolina Eastern South Atlantic
Northern Virginia FC Leesburg Virginia Eastern Chesapeake
Oakland County FC Clawson Michigan Central Great Lakes
Ocean City Nor'easters Ocean City New Jersey Eastern Mid Atlantic
Patuxent Football Athletics Patuxent Maryland Eastern Chesapeake
Peoria City Peoria Illinois Central Heartland
Philadelphia Lone Star FC Filadelfia Pennsylvania Eastern Mid Atlantic
Project 510 Oakland California Western NorCal
Reading United AC Reading Pennsylvania Eastern Mid Atlantic
Real Central New Jersey West Windsor New Jersey Eastern Mid Atlantic
River Light FC Aurora Illinois Central Heartland
RKC Soccer Club Racine e Kenosha Wisconsin Central Deep North
Rochester FC Rochester Minnesota Central Deep North
Saint Charles FC Saint Charles Missouri Central Heartland
Saint Croix SC Stillwater Minnesota Central Deep North
Salem City Cary North Carolina Eastern South Atlantic
Salt City FC Herriman Utah Western Mountain
San Francisco City FC San Francisco California Western NorCal
San Francisco Glens SC San Francisco California Western NorCal
Sarasota Paradise Sarasota Florida Southern South Florida
Seacost United Phantoms Epping New Hampshire Eastern Northeast
South Carolina United Columbia South Carolina Southern South Central
Southern California Eagles La Mirada California Western Southwest
Southern Soccer Academy Kings Dallas Georgia Southern South Central
Staten Island Athletic SC Staten Island New York Eastern Metropolitan
Sueño FC Joilet Illinois Central Heartland
Swan City SC Lakeland Florida Southern Southeast
Tacoma Stars FC Tacoma Washington Western Northwest
Tampa Bay United SC Tampa Florida Southern Southeast
Tennessee SC Franklin Tennessee Southern South Central
Thunder Bay Chill Thunder Bay Ontario Central Deep North
Tobacco Road Durham North Carolina Eastern South Atlantic
Toledo Villa Toledo Ohio Central Valley
Union FC Macomb Macomb Michigan Central Great Lakes
United PDX Portland Oregon Western Northwest
Utah Avalanche Midvale Utah Western Mountain
Utah United Utah County Utah Western Mountain
Ventura County Fusion Ventura California Western Southwest
Vermont Green FC Burlington Vermont Eastern Northeast
Virginia Beach United FC Virginia Beach Virginia Eastern Chesapeake
Virginia Marauders FC Winchester Virginia Eastern Chesapeake
Wake FC Holly Springs North Carolina Eastern South Atlantic
West Chester United SC West Chester Pennsylvania Eastern Mid Atlantic
West Virginia United Dunbar West Virginia Eastern South Atlantic
Westchester Flames New Rochelle New York Eastern Metropolitan
Western Mass Pioneers Ludlow Massachusetts Eastern Northeast
Weston FC Weston Florida Southern South Florida

Albo d'oro

Stagione Campione Risultato Finalista Vincitore regular season
USISL Premier League 1995   Richmond Kickers 3 - 1 Cocoa Expos   San Francisco All-Blacks
USISL Premier League 1996   Central Coast Roadrunners 2 - 1 Cocoa Expos   Central Coast Roadrunners
USL Premier Development Soccer League 1997   Central Coast Roadrunners 2 - 1 Cocoa Expos   Spokane Shadow
USL Premier Development Soccer League 1998 San Gabriel Valley Highlanders 3 - 2 Jackson Chargers   Jackson Chargers
USL Premier Development League 1999   Chicago Sockers 3 - 1 Spokane Shadow   Jackson Chargers
USL Premier Development League 2000   Chicago Sockers 1 - 0 Michigan Bucks   Westchester Flames
USL Premier Development League 2001   Westchester Flames 3 - 1 Calgary Storm   Calgary Storm
USL Premier Development League 2002   Cape Cod Crusaders 2 - 1 Colorado Rapids Reserves   Des Moines Menace
USL Premier Development League 2003   Cape Cod Crusaders 2 - 0 Chicago Fire Res.   New Orleans Shell Shockers
USL Premier Development League 2004   Central Florida Kraze 1 - 0 Colorado Rapids Reserves   Chicago Fire Res.
USL Premier Development League 2005   Des Moines Menace 0 - 0 (6 - 5) d.c.r. El Paso Patriots   OC Blue Star
USL Premier Development League 2006   Michigan Bucks 2 - 1 Laredo Heat   Carolina Dynamo
USL Premier Development League 2007   Laredo Heat 0 - 0 (4 - 3) d.c.r. Michigan Bucks   Hampton Roads Piranhas
USL Premier Development League 2008   Thunder Bay Chill 1 - 1 (4 - 1 d.c.r.) Laredo Heat   Michigan Bucks
USL Premier Development League 2009   Ventura C.F. 2 - 1 Chicago Fire Res.   Reading Rage
USL Premier Development League 2010 Portland Timbers U-23 4 - 1 Thunder Bay Chill Portland Timbers U-23
USL Premier Development League 2011   Kitsap Pumas 1 - 0 Laredo Heat   Fresno Fuego
USL Premier Development League 2012   Forest City London 2 - 1 Carolina Dynamo   Michigan Bucks
USL Premier Development League 2013   Austin Aztex 3 - 1 Thunder Bay Chill   Thunder Bay Chill
USL Premier Development League 2014   Michigan Bucks 1 - 0 Kitsap Pumas   Des Moines Menace
USL Premier Development League 2015   K-W United 4 - 3 N.Y. Red Bulls U23   Michigan Bucks
USL Premier Development League 2016   Michigan Bucks 3 - 2 Calgary Foothills   Michigan Bucks
USL Premier Development League 2017   Charlotte Eagles 2 - 1 Thunder Bay Chill   N.Y. Red Bulls U23
USL Premier Development League 2018   Calgary Foothills 4 - 2 Reading United AC   Des Moines Menace
USL League Two 2019 Flint City Bucks 1 - 0 (d.t.s.) Reading United AC   Des Moines Menace
USL League Two 2020 Stagione annullata[5]
USL League Two 2021   Des Moines Menace 1 - 0 North Carolina Fusion   Des Moines Menace
USL League Two 2022   Ventura C.F. 2 - 1 L.I. Rough Riders Lionsbridge
USL League Two 2023 Ballard 2 - 1 Lionsbridge Chicago City

Campionati

Squadra Titoli Anno
Flint City Bucks[6]
4
 2006, 2014, 2016, 2019
  Central Coast Roadrunners
2
 1996, 1997
  Chicago Sockers
2
 1999, 2000
  Cape Cod Crusaders
2
 2002, 2003
  Des Moines Menace
2
 2005, 2021
  Ventura C.F.
2
 2009, 2022
  Richmond Kickers
1
 1995
San Gabriel Valley Highlanders
1
 1998
  Westchester Flames
1
 2001
  Central Florida Kraze
1
 2004
  Laredo Heat
1
 2007
  Thunder Bay Chill
1
 2008
Portland Timbers U-23
1
 2010
  Kitsap Pumas
1
 2011
  Forest City London
1
 2012
  Austin Aztex
1
 2013
  K-W United
1
 2015
  Charlotte Eagles
1
 2017
  Calgary Foothills
1
 2018
Ballard
1
 2023

Vittorie regular season

Squadra Titoli Anno
  Des Moines Menace
5
 2002, 2014, 2018, 2019, 2021
Flint City Bucks[6]
4
 2008, 2012, 2015, 2016
  Jackson Chargers
2
 1998, 1999
  San Francisco All-Blacks
1
 1995
  Central Coast Roadrunners
1
 1996
  Spokane Shadow
1
 1997
  Westchester Flames
1
 2000
  Calgary Storm
1
 2001
  New Orleans Shell Shockers
1
 2003
  Chicago Fire Res.
1
 2004
  OC Blue Star
1
 2005
  Carolina Dynamo
1
 2006
  Hampton Roads Piranhas
1
 2007
  Reading Rage
1
 2009
Portland Timbers U-23
1
 2010
  Fresno Fuego
1
 2011
  Thunder Bay Chill
1
 2013
N.Y. Red Bulls U23
1
 2017
Lionsbridge
1
 2022
Chicago City
1
 2023

Note

  1. ^ (EN) About USASA, su usadultsoccer.com. URL consultato il 29 ottobre 2016.
  2. ^ About, su uslleaguetwo.com.
  3. ^ (EN) Path2Pro, su uslpdl.com. URL consultato il 29 ottobre 2016 (archiviato dall'url originale il 14 ottobre 2016).
  4. ^ (EN) USL unveils new structure: one central brand, three leagues, evolving for the future, su uslsoccer.com, 28 settembre 2018. URL consultato il 21 ottobre 2018.
  5. ^ (EN) United Soccer League provides update on 2020 seasons, su uslsoccer.com, 30 aprile 2020. URL consultato l'11 maggio 2020.
  6. ^ a b titoli vinti come Michigan Bucks

Voci correlate

Altri progetti

Altri progetti

  • Wikimedia Commons
  • Collabora a Wikimedia Commons Wikimedia Commons contiene immagini o altri file su United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League

Collegamenti esterni

  • (EN) Sito ufficiale, su uslpdl.com. URL consultato il 10 aprile 2015 (archiviato dall'url originale il 7 settembre 2014).
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