Orlando City can officially begin to focus on their 2015 MLS season.
The top-seeded Lions, who registered the best record during the regular season, were surprisingly ousted in the USL PRO playoffs on Saturday night. The 2015 MLS expansion team suffered a 1-0 home loss at the hands of the lowest seed, No. 8 Harrisburg City Islanders with the deciding goal scored by Philadelphia Union on-loan forward Antoine Hoppenot.
The Islanders will hit the road again in the semis to face the Richmond Kickers, who got a game-winning goal with three minutes remaining in extratime to beat 10-man Charleston Battery 2-1.
The favorites to win it all will come from the other semifinal between LA Galaxy II and Sacramento Republic. Galaxy II took care of the Rochester Rhinos, 2-1 at StubHub Center with LA's Chandler Hoffman getting a goal and assist to overturn a 1-0 deficit. Los Dos held on for the result despite playing the last 24 minutes with 10 men after a red card to center mid Rafa Garcia.
Republic FC had an easier time in their first ever USL PRO playoff match, dispatching the Wilmington Hammerheads 4-1 to set up a date against LA Galaxy II next Saturday at Bonney Field (10:30 pm ET). San Jose Earthquakes on-loan forward Adam Jahn registered the final tally.
2014 USL PRO PLAYOFFS QUARTERFINALS
Saturday, September 13
Richmond Kickers 2, Charleston Battery 1, AET
Orlando City 0, Harrisburg City Islanders 1
Sacramento Republic 4, Wilmington Hammerheads 1
LA Galaxy II 2, Rochester Rhinos 1
2014 USL PRO PLAYOFFS SEMIFINALS
Saturday, September 20
No. 4 Richmond Kickers vs. No. 8 Harrisburg City Islanders, 7 p.m. ET, City Stadium
No. 2 Sacramento Republic FC vs. No. 3 LA Galaxy II, 10:30 p.m. ET, Bonney Field
