This week we take a look at some huge matches outside of our normal stomping ground, as the AFCON Quarterfinals kick off. Then we transition to the UPSL National Semifinals; the Cosmopolitan League cup competitions; the winding down of the WISL; and the heating up of MASL and MLIS. Let’s Get Stuck In!

Chris Walker Picks…
- Mali vs Côte d'Ivoire - Africa Cup of Nations, Quarterfinals
  - Sat, 02/03 9:00am (PST) / 12:00pm (EST)
    at Stade Bouaké
  - Hosts Ivory Coast also from the same group as Nigeria. Can they keep winning to avenge their 1-0 loss to Nigeria from Match Day 2. They have allowed 5 goals against and I’m sure they want to forget that 4-0 loss to Equatorial Guinea. If they and Nigeria keep winning, that return match will be for the Cup. Mali won their group 1-2 and only South Africa remains from their group.. Both teams have 1 other team from their group in the quarterfinals. Mali’s top scorer is Lassine Sinayoko with 3 goals through 4 competitions. Seko Mohamed Fofana is Côte d’Ivorie’s iron leg and if he’s free at the top of the 18, he’ll deliver a banger.

Chris Walker Picks…
- Angola vs Nigeria - Africa Cup of Nations, Quarterfinals
  - Fri, 02/02 - 9:00am (PST) / 4:05pm (EST)
    at Stade Félix Houphouët-Boign
  - Angola fresh off a victory over Namibia in the Round of 16 showed us that being down a man can’t keep them from finding the net. Gelson Dala scored a brace in 4 minutes. He has 4 goals overall in the Tournament. Nigeria came out 2nd in the group stage with a 2-1 record and is on a 3-game win streak since. Just defeated Cameroon 2-0. Victor Osimhen being marked, freed up Ademola Lookman to score 2 goals against Cameroon. The winner between Angola and Nigeria will be the team with the best defense.
  - Let me just say in general what makes the quarterfinals interesting for AFCON (why you should tune in now if you’ve been sleeping) is because all the big teams are out of the tournament. Ivory Coast, Nigeria, and DR Congo have won AFCON 2 times, South Africa has won it 1 time. That’s it. Nigeria's latest was 2013 and Ivory Coast was 2015. Tune in!

Dan Vaughn Picks…
- Baltimore Blast vs KC Comets - MASL
  - Fri, 02/02 - 4:35pm (PST) / 7:35pm (EST)
    at TU Arena
  - KC Comets need to shake themselves out of a slump and what better way than to make a trip to Baltimore. Zach Reget and the rest of the squad need to find their winning ways or this could be a 5th loss in a row! Last win for the Comets was January 12th!

Dennis Pope Picks…
- Empire Strykers vs Monterrey Flash - MASL
  - Sun, 02/04 - 4:05pm (PST) / 7:05pm (EST)
    at Toyota Arena in Ontario, CA
  - Empire Strykers need wins and they need them in a hurry. Marco Fabian has arrived in a big way with nine wins in his nine appearances - including an OT game-winner vs. St. Louis Ambush last week - but Fabian and former El Tri teammate Miguel Angel Ponce are settling in and setting up an exciting finish to this season. Monterrey Flash does not care. The club is unblemished (13-0-0) and completely dominating with a plus-55 goal differential.

Josh Duder Picks…
- South Sound FC vs Bellingham United - WISL
  - Sat, 02/03 - 7:00p (PST) / 10:00p (EST)
    at Tacoma Soccer Center
  - Caveat - the league changed the standings format with just weeks before the season ends, so I’m not sure how many teams will make it into the playoffs. However, this looks to be the only one of three matches this weekend, which have playoff implications. If the Hammers can pick up two big wins from their last two games, they may be able to top the Stars Reserves (only if the Stars lose). The problem with that is South Sound FC are unlikely to just roll over as they look to solidify a playoff spot of their own.

Ryan Stallings Picks…
- St Louis City SC Academy vs Columbus Crew Academy - UPSL, National Semifinals
  - Fri, 02/02 - 5:30am (PST) / 8:30pm (EST)
    at Championship Stadium
  - The first match of the finals weekend pits two MLS Academy sides against one another, with St Louis SC’s youth aiming their high powered offensive output (51 goals for) at Columbus Crew’s resolute backline (11 goals allowed). Should Columbus be victorious, the Crew will boast three sides appearing in 2023 championship finals along with their MLS and MLSNP lineups.

Ryan Stallings Picks…
- Chiriaco FC vs Foro Soccer Club - UPSL, National Semifinals
  - Fri, 02/02 - 8:30pm (PST) / 11:30p (EST)
    at Championship Stadium
  - The second semifinal of the day features a UPSL stalwart in Foro SC against league upstart Chiriaco FC. Foro returns to the national finals. Texas based Foro returns to the national finals for the 3rd time looking to extend their undefeated campaign and add a trophy beside their Fall 2021 national title hardware. Meanwhile, league debutante Chiriaco will try and close out their rookie campaign with national title behind the highest scoring attack (56 goals for) remaining in the finals.

Josh Duder Picks…
- Cleveland Crunch vs Rapid City FC - MLIS
  - Sat, 02/03 - 4:00pm (PST) / 7:00pm (EST)
    at Soccerplex in North Olmsted, OH
  - With just two matches played, Rapid City FC top the table with a 1.000% win percentage. They can keep the arena ball rollin’ with an away win at Cleveland but the Crunch, who have won two in a row, can upturn the apple cart with a third win on the trot.

Dennis Pope Picks…
- Playmaker FC vs Buena Park FC - SoCal Premier League
  - Sun, 02/04 3:15pm (PST) / 6:15pm (EST)
    at Orange County Great Park 11 in Irvine, CA
  - Buckle in for this late Sunday afternoon tilt. Playmaker FC was knocked out of the Raul Briones Cup in the Round of 16 after a 1-0 loss last week. The club continues to lead the way in Division II Los Angeles, however, and has allowed just three goals during a 10-game league winning streak. Buena Park FC was bounced from the Brent Freeman Cup in the Round of 16 after a 2-1 loss. The club has won two consecutive league fixtures, and sits just one point out of first place in Division II Orange County.

Dan Vaughn Picks…
- Central Park Rangers II vs Hoboken 1912 FC - Cosmopolitan League, John Kilby Cup
  - Sun, 02/04 9:00am (PST) / 12:00pm (EST)
    at Red Morton Park, Bechet Field in Redwood City
  - It’s John Kilby Cup Group C action! This league cup is open to first and second division teams in the Cosmopolitan League. Both of these teams had wins in their first matchups so it’s a battle of unbeatens for first place in the Group. Hoboken has the slight edge statistically because it hasn’t given up a goal yet.

Josh Duder Picks…
- Sporting Astoria SC vs NY Shamrock SC - Cosmopolitan League, Harry J Saunders Cup
  - Sun, 02/04 2:00pm (PST) / 5:00pm (EST)
    at Randall’s Island Field 75
  - Sporting Astoria SC currently top the Harry J Saunders Cup, Group A table with 1 win from 1 played. Meanwhile NY Shamrocks are second with just a point from their first match. This is as good a time as any for Shamrocks to try to draw even and keep this table close but if Sporting Astoria can manage a win then they’re already pulling away, just two matchdays in.

by the Protagonist Staff