As noted last week, New York Red Bulls II currently waits to learn its first-round USL playoffs opponent. It is known that the team finishing eighth in the Eastern Conference will come from a group of five still in with a chance of snatching a post-season berth: Orlando City B, Wilmington Hammerheads, Harrisburg City Islanders, Bethlehem Steel, and Pittsburgh Riverhounds.
The past weekend was an opportunity to at least eliminate one or two of those contenders - but it was an opportunity missed. Four of the five teams chasing eighth played at the weekend, and all four lost.