1. Saint Louis FC got the point it needed to ensure the club’s first trip to the USL Cup Playoffs, while San Antonio FC’s fate was left in the hands of the LA Galaxy II as both sides were held to draws by their visiting opponents on Saturday night. Saint Louis knew that a point would be enough going in, and while it didn’t find the net a suffocating defensive effort that held OKC Energy FC to only two official shots in a 0-0 draw at Toyota Stadium – Saint Louis was key to ensuring the club’s first postseason trip in its fourth season. Things were looking positive for San Antonio, too, when it took a first-half lead against Rio Grande Valley FC, but the Toros wouldn’t go quietly and almost rallied for victory at Toyota Field, but Carlos Small’s goal for RGVFC left the sides even in a 1-1 draw that means SAFC needs Los Dos to take victory against the Swope Park Rangers on Sunday afternoon to claim a return trip to the postseason.

2. North Carolina FC’s slim hopes of reaching the 2018 USL Cup Playoffs were kept alive on Saturday night as it scored a pair of late goals to take a 3-1 victory against the Charlotte Independence at the Sportsplex at Matthews, a result that moved NCFC level on points with Bethlehem Steel FC but trailing on goal differential ahead of Bethlehem’s game against the Tampa Bay Rowdies on Sunday afternoon. Daniel Rios scored twice to finish the regular season with 20 goals, including a late finish that proved the game-winner before Steven Miller added a third in stoppage time. North Carolina will now need a four-goal victory by the Tampa Bay Rowdies against Bethlehem on Sunday to claim a miraculous place in the postseason, but while there is life, there is hope for Head Coach Colin Clarke's side.

3. Sacramento Republic FC claimed the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference as Phoenix Rising FC slipped to third after having had the chance to move into first following Reno 1868 FC’s victory against Orange County SC earlier in the night as a decisive finish simply wouldn’t arrive for Phoenix as it fell 1-0 to the Portland Timbers 2. Phoenix had numerous chances to break the deadlock but finished with only two official shots on goal on 21 shots overall, and with five minutes to go Portland’s Augustine Williams produced a late winner for the visitors. That opened the door for Sacramento, which thanks to Cameron Iwasa’s 17th goal of the season took a 1-0 win against Las Vegas Lights FC to shift into second behind Orange County as Republic FC rounded out its regular season with a fourth consecutive win.