USL Cup final brings Monday night football to Slugger Field

If you are a sports fan and have spent all—or at least “most”—your adult years in North America the words “Monday Night Football”, or, “Louisville Slugger”, conjure up some pretty definite images in your mind. And while it’s very likely that none of those thoughts would involve USL Cup soccer, that could all soon be changing.

The 7th installment of the USL Cup post-season is nearly history. Monday night will see the very last match of 2017 for the sole, remaining Division II league remaining in the USA. Next season will see the introduction of USLD3 and that will add—eventually, perhaps not immediately—the spur of promotion and relegation, at least within the emerging USL structure, to each club’s yearly list of team goals.

But all of that only exists on the other side of the Cup final. The match brings Swope Park Rangers of the Western Conference to visit Louisville City FC, champs of the East for one final round of “Monday night football” at Louisville’s home ground, Slugger Field. Rangers lean on their defense to minimize opposition chances while City has been adept this post-season at getting the maximum out of the few chances they’ve had.

Which side will lift the cup?