Week Ahead Preview
Sat May 17 thru Fri May 23
Starting this week, the format is a change from previous reports, due to the influx of Summer league fixtures.
Birmingham Legion FC
Birmingham Legion will host Detroit City on Sunday May 18 at 4:00. Detriot's most recent three matches involved two league draws, with an Open Club loss between (0-4 to Chicago). Detroit and Birmingham played to a 2-2 draw back on March 22, and Detroit has only lost one game in league play this season. Birmingham will be coming into the game on a three day turn after a lackluster performance against Rhode Island saw them lose 0-1. It's safe to say that nobody was happy with that performance, and they'll be looking to bounce back. It will be interesting to see if there are changes to the starting lineup, beyond Sam McIllhatton, who will be serving a red card suspension.
Huntsville City FC
This weekend Huntsville brings in Chattanooga FC Saturday May 17 at 7:00. CFC is Huntsville's nearest rival, and these two teams enter the match at first and second place in the table, respectively. The first meeting this season came in the opening match, with CFC winning 1-0 at home. This should be a high-energy chippy game and I think HCFC will get the three points.
USL2
Image credit: Columbus United
Feature match: It's difficult not to choose the re-match between Montgomery and Dothan here, but this one will also be crucial to the way things develop in the South Central Divsion. Columbus United brings in Tennessee SC Saturday May 17 6:30 for the opening game at AJ McClung Memorial Stadium. Columbus has a strong core of returning players from a team that made a run to the NPSL national semi-finals. Tennessee SC will be out to make a statement as last year's second place team in this division. A win here for either team goes a long way towards setting the tone for the season.
Montgomery will head to Dothan United to immediately re-match on Saturday May 17 at 7:30. Montgomery took three points last week, but they'll need to be ready for a large and biosterous crowd.
Legion 2 are away to face Southern Soccer Academy Saturday May 17 at 6:00. This will be the opener for both teams, and will give each of them a chance to find their feet.
Legion 2 will be home to face Columbus United Wed May 21 at 7:00. This will be the first-ever meeting between the two sides, and each team will have played one game in league play before facing each other. Columbus will be the favorite here, but expect a close match.
The League for Clubs
AFC Mobile will be at home vs Gaffa FC Saturday May 17 at 7:15. Mobile is coming in off of a draw against the Pensacola FC Academy team, and they look much improved from the hard loss they took in their preseason friendly. But Gaffa has always one of the strongest teams in the league (GCPL before TLfC), and I expect them to be too much to handle in this one.
Union 10 at Pensacola FC Academy Wed May 21 at 7:00
UPSL
Image credit: North Georgia United
UMA will travel to face North Georgia United Sunday May 18 at 3:00. UMA was dominant in their win last week, and this will be a big test this against a North Georgia team that started the season strong, before losing their last three in a row. With three points, UMA could move up in the table level with North Georgia, with a game in hand.
FCB at Filial Pachuca Saturday May 17 at 4:00.
Saturday May 17 Fountain City at Limeno at 6:00.
FC Columbus Elite at Georgia Revolution Saturday May 17 at 6:00.
Saturday May 17 Columbus Knight Eagles home vs Augusta SC at 2:30.
UMA 2 will be home vs Middle GA United Sunday May 18 at 12:30.
Sunday May 18 GA Revolution U23 travels to face FCB2 at 5:00.
Women's matches
USLW - Wed May 21 Legion WFC at One Knox at 6:00
WPSL - FC Birmingham will travel to 865 Alliance Saturday May 17 at 3:00.
WPSL - Sunday May 18 Union 10 will be on the road at TLH Reckoning at 2:00.