FLINT, MI (July 21, 2022) – A season of firsts that has brought Peoria City to the USL League Two Playoffs in its inaugural season now will see the rookie franchise face an in-state opponent for the first time in club history. The No. 8 Seed in the Central Conference as the runner-up in the Deep North Division, Peoria City will face Heartland Division champion Chicago FC United, the No. 2 seed, in the opening round of the playoffs Friday afternoon at Atwood Stadium.
Chicago FC United was founded in 2017 in the PDL, now known as USL League Two. Their home games are played in Bridgeview, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. The club now has qualified for its league playoffs in each of its last four seasons, twice as its division champion. The 2018 squad made the national semifinals.
Chicago FC United (11-1-2) topped the League Two Heartland Division with 35 points, the most in the Central Conference. This season their leading scorer is Paolo Palacin Serra, finishing in double digits for goals with 10. Chicago FC United scored seven goals on three different occasions this season.
In its inaugural season, Peoria City (6-3-3) earned its playoff bid by finishing second in the League Two Deep North Division. Its only losses this season came to defending League Two national champion Des Moines Menace.
The squad made six late-season additions in preparations for the playoffs: MF Leandro Alves, GK Jonathan Burke, MF Nilton De Andrade, D Nassouh Kabbani, MF Dominik Machado and MF Josep Silvestre Pitarch.
All USL League Two playoff games will be streamed on Eleven Sports. Friday’s Peoria City/Chicago FC United winner will face the victor of the match to follow between No. 3 seed South Bend Lions and the No. 7 seed, host Flint City Bucks, Sunday afternoon at Atwood Stadium.
2022 USL League Two Central Conference Playoffs
Friday, July 22 | Quarterfinals | Flint, MI
#2 Chicago FC United v. #8 Peoria City
#3 South Bend Lions at #7 Flint City Bucks
Friday, July 22 | Quarterfinals | Des Moines, IA
#6 Kaw Valley FC at #1 Des Moines Menace
#5 Kings Hammer FC v. #4 Kalamazoo FC
Sunday, July 24 | Conference Semifinals
Flint winners meet in Flint, MI
Des Moines winners meet in Des Moines, IA
