Week Ahead Preview
Sat June 7 thru Fri Jun 13
First, some mid-week results
Birmingham Legion FC face Indy Eleven at home, looking to add to recent momentum against a team that had only one league win this season. A long-range blast gave Indy an early lead, and they hung on for a 1-0 win. Legion had tons of chances, and they just couldn't get any to pay off.
USL2 - Columbus United 2-0 Apotheos
WPSL - Pensacola Academy 1-0 Union 10
Birmingham Legion FC
Birmingham's next game will be June 14.
Huntsville City FC
Image credit: MLS NextPro
HCFC will host Orlando City B Friday, June 6 at 7:00. Orlando is coming in after an upset win over Chattanooga FC, while Huntsville was off last weekend and will be well-rested. Orlando is only three places behind Huntsville in the table, and can overtake HCFC with a win. Huntsville will try to get an early lead and build on that throughout the match.
USL2
Feature match:
Image credit: Birmingham Legion
This week's feature is an easy choice. Legion 2 will be at home against Asheville City SC Wed June 11 at 7:00. Legion has had a strong start to the season, but will need to get a result against Asheville City to keep pace. Asheville was dominant in their first two games, but finally showed some mortality this week in a 1-0 over SSA. This will be the only meeting between these two teams this season.
Other matches this week:
Sat June 7 Columbus United vs Legion 2 7:30
Sat June 7 SSA vs Dothan United 7:30
Sat June 7 Asheville City vs Montgomery United 7:30
Wed June 11 Columbus United vs East Atlanta 6:30
Wed June 11 Montgomery United vs Tennessee SC 7:00
The League for Clubs
Image credit: AFC Mobile
This week's focus features AFC Mobile hosting Union 10 Saturday, June 7 at 7:15 for the first match in the year's 251 Derby. The Derby goes back through several years in the Gulf Coast Premier League, starting when Union 10 were known as Gulf Coast Rangers. The two clubs are on opposite sides of Mobile Bay and this will be a close match. I give Union 10 the edge, coming off of their win over Gaffa.
Other games next week:
Wed June 11 AFC Mobile vs Gulf Coast United 7:00
UPSL
Feature match:
This week's feature will have FC Birmingham away to face Dalton United on Sat June 7 at 5:00. FCB is staring down relegation and this game is must-win for their chances to avoid it. Playing at Dalton is never easy, and Birmingham will need to dig deep.
Next week's matches
June 5 Columbus Knight Eagles vs AFC Lightning
June 7 Filial Pachuca vs FC Columbus Elite 5:00
June 8 UMA FC vs Georgia Athletic SC 3:00
June 7 AFC Lightning vs FCB2 5:00
June 8 UMA2 vs Columbus Knight Eagles 5:00
Women's matches
This week's feature will have the women's sides from Legion and Asheville facing off against each other. Typically, this would be a double-header paired with the men's match, but one will be on Tuesday evening at 7:00. Birmingham has been competitive so far this season, but has been coming up short, and is at the bottom of the table. Asheville City is undefeated and riding high with 16 points, and a draw would be a great result for Legion in this one.
Next week:
WPSL - Wed June 4 Pensacola Academy vs Union 10 6:30
USLW - Fri June 6 Legion WFC vs One Knox 7:00
WPSL - Sat June 7 Florida Roots vs Union 10 7:15
WPSL - Wed June 11 Union 10 vs Pensacola FC 3:00