THE ROJA LEAGUE

A quick lesson soundly reiterated to me after Wednesday night’s Roja League action is that a sample size of a single match is absolutely insufficient to use in making future match predictions. I went a perfect...ly awful 0 for 3 in my picks for the midweek matches, and it now remains to be seen if I’ve learned from the errors ahead of tomorrow’s matches.

#2 Diablo Estudiantes vs #1 NTX Rayados

The Denton youngsters had every opportunity to hold their lead in the league into the 3rd round of games, but a 2-0 lead on Irving FC ended up being a 3-3 draw by the final whistle, and the Estudiantes gained a single point on the table rather than three. They’ve slipped to second in the standings, while their competition tomorrow night humbled the Denton first team to take the pole position. A win for Estudiantes will let them retake the top spot, while a victory for NTX would set a course for the Rayados to begin building an almost insurmountable lead in the league table.

#6 Denton Diablos vs #5 Fort Worth Vaqueros

The 2019 Chisholm Trail Clasico was a battle between two sides looking to win the NPSL’s Lonestar Conference. The 2020 edition of the derby kicks off the clubs from Denton and Fort Worth in very...different circumstances. Along with competing for not-last place in the standings this weekend, the Vaqueros look to extend their unbeaten streak against their little brothers up north, while the Diablos attempt to find their first victory across pitches both physical and virtual in the series.

#3 Inocentes FC vs #4 Irving FC

Inocentes were the favorites to win the first leg of the Cowtown Clasico, coming off their high scoring affair with Diablos on opening night. Instead, the Fort Worth Vaqueros lead for much of the match and Inocentes would need a goal in the dying minutes of the contest to earn a draw. This weekend, they’ll face stiff competition in Irving FC, who have proven able to hang with both Rayados and Estudiantes in recent games. The winner here will remain in the league title hunt, while a loss would foreseeably remove either club from the title chase.

UNITED PREMIER SOCCER LEAGUE

#4 Panther United FC vs #2 Houston FC 2

UPSL Division 2 action kicks off the league slate this weekend, with Panther United hosting Houston FC2 with opportunity for either club to move, or remain, in second place behind Crush FC.

#1 Houston FC vs #2 Athletic Houston FC

In what should be the league match of the week, unbeaten, and conference-leading, foes Houston FC and Athletic Houston FC meet for the first time this season. Athletic Houston has combined balance attack with stout defense thus far into the season, but whatever AHFC has done, Houston FC has accomplished superbly. With Houston FC boasting an average margin of victory at 5-1 this season, look for the hosts to pull away later in the second half and tally another win on the young season.

#5 Celta Gunners vs #7 The Mix Sports Club

The Celta Gunners put in a worthy effort last week, falling just 1-0 to the conference leaders Celta USA. They’ll likely carry some confidence into this weekend’s match, where they’ll face off with floundering The Mix Sports Club. The Mix could only manage a draw last week versus fellow standings basement dweller Diaspora United CC. Neither club has a victory to their name this season, but Celta Gunners will be the club to change that Saturday evening.

#2 Leg A-Z Soccer Inter vs #3 Clay County SC

The league’s two North Florida teams in the Central Florida Conference meet at Kanapaha Park (a field this author has actually played a few youth league matches on wayyyyyy back in the day) where Gainesville’s Leg A-Z Soccer International hosts neighboring Clay County’s….Clay County SC. The teams share a victory over listless Macca Ballers, and will find much more stout competition in one another Saturday. While a loss or draw won’t immediately remove either club from a crowded mid-table, a victory would keep them closely at the heels of conference leading Orlando FC Barca.

#5 FK Orlando vs #6 Orlando Rovers

Orlando Rovers earned a respectable draw against Leg A-Z last week, while FK Orlando acquitted themselves well in a competitive loss to Sporting Orlando in their last outing. A narrow margined win should probably fall to FKO this weekend, with the slight hosting advantage.

#1 Orlando FC Barca vs #7 Macca Ballers

In a match between the conference-leading, and early national title favorite, OFC Barca and the last place Macca Ballers, this contest could see a goal differential chasm before the halftime whistle.

#8 Royal Palms SC vs #4 Sporting Orlando

As ugly as the match above could get, this one may somehow be uglier. Sporting Orlando will be letting out some frustrations from their tilt with OFC Barca last week, while Royal Palms SC remains looking decidedly shell shocked on the pitch.

#2 Arctic Rush vs #4 Fairbanks SC

It’s the debut of the northernmost national league affiliated club in the western hemisphere this weekend! Fairbanks SC travels 362 miles, SOUTH, to Anchorage in order to visit Arctic Rush. Fairbanks will need to bring their A-game from the opening whistle, as Arctic Rush is singularly focused on overtaking Alaska Timbers in the Last Frontier Conference and their welcome to the newcomers won’t be an overly warm one.#4 FC

Arizona U23 vs #1 Olympians FC

Now that the UPSL has officially announced Olympians FC as an expansion side in the 2020 season, expect the new club to go back to what they’ve done the past two weeks, scoring bunches of goals and shutting out the opponent. They’ve beaten both FC Arizona first team and East Valley FC by 3-0 scorelines. Against the FCAZ U23 side, Olympians will likely double that margin of victory, and remain one of the early favorites to win the national title for Spring/Summer 2020.

#6 Diaspora United CC vs #3 Florida Tropics 2

The Florida Tropics were stunned by SportzParadise last weekend and the resulting loss dropped them from first place in the conference to third. Diaspora United missed perhaps their best opportunity for a victory on the season when they settled for a draw last week vs The Mix. The Tropics will find their way again and put DUCC away by at least a pair of goals.

#4 Greenspoint Gunners vs #3 Barcelona SOE

While all the attention on action in the Central Conference South may be on the Houston FC versus Athletic Houston FC clash this weekend, Greenspoint Gunners and Barcelona School of Excellence can make some noise of their own in their contest. A win for either side here will seat them beside or just behind the league leaders. A tight, evenly matched affair here could see a winner slip past in the dying seconds of the match.

FORO Soccer Club vs Arlington FC

FORO SC gets their 2020 season started today after their run to the national semi-finals in Miami in the Fall 2019 season. They’ll face a prepared Arlington FC, who just reached the Lone Star Cup final against Irving FC in the past weeks.

Real Irving CD vs NTX Legends

It has been two weeks since Real Irving CD dropped a heartbreaker in a thrilling 4-3 match to Harrington FC, a contest they generally dominated but gave up two converted penalty chances and a late score in the last minutes of the match. Eager to put the loss behind them, RICD kicks off against NTX Legends, a club staple in local leagues around DFW making their UPSL debut.

#5 APTX CDF vs #6 La Maquina (TX)

After suffering two losses to open the season, APTX CDF seemed destined for a debut season spent at the bottom of the standings. But, a stunning win last week over Almeyda FC 2 has breathed new life into the club and put them in great position for a second win today versus a La Maquina side that was obliterated by Almeyda FC 2 by a 4-1 score.

#4 Fairbanks SC vs #2 Arctic Rush

The visitors to the far north from the far, FAR, north turn right around and play “host” in Anchorage in the second leg of a two-match opening swing.

#1 Alaska Timbers vs #3 MatSu United

THREE weeks after debuting with a dominant win vs Arctic Rush, the Timbers of Alaska return to the pitch against MatSu United. The AK Timbers will look to maintain their lead in the conference, while MAtSu United will try and found some consistency on the pitch that was lacking in their loss last week to Arctic.

#2 FC Arizona vs #3 East Valley FC

In a match that increasingly looks like the stakes are for a second fiddle title behind Olympians FC, FC Arizona and East Valley compete to find out which of the two sides to already lose 0-3 to Olympians this season is better than the other.

#3 Almeyda FC 2 vs #7 Houston Hotshots

They may have slipped up against APTX CDF last week, but Almeyda FC 2 are still in the thick of the race for the conference lead with a victory today. With Houston Hotshots struggling in their debut season, the opportunity for Almeyda is a solid one.

#2 Houston FC 2 vs #1 Crush FC

The best match in division two will likely be between these two, with two undefeated sides battling for the conference lead on Sunday night.

Roc City Boom vs Greater Binghampton FC AND Roc City Boom vs Krajisnik FC

The Western New York Conference kicks off this weekend with Roc City Boom hosting a pair of matches in Rochester. First, they’ll face off with fellow league newcomer Greater Binghamton FC. GBFC will be hoping to follow Tyler FC’s recent example in transitioning from NPSL doormat status to competitive UPSL side. Krajisnik FC of nearby Utica visits next to wrap up the weekend action.

HEARTLAND SUPER CUP

After debuting their Kansas City and Southeast Regions a couple of weeks ago, the Heartland Super Cup kicks off in the Southwest and North groups. The southwest features an interesting assortment of Kansas state soccer league sides from the southwest corner of the state in Liberal, Garden City and Dodge City, as well as a U20 side from FC Wichita. The north group is being hosted by the newly announced USL League 2 expansion side Iowa Raptors FC, and their Reserves side. They’ll be hosting the recently added outdoor side of the indoor league team Omaha Kings FC, and the UPSL’s Springfield FC.

Southwest Region

Garden City Potrillos

Dodge City Toros

Atletico Liberal

FC Wichita U20

North Region

Iowa Raptors

Iowa Raptors Reserves

Springfield FC

Omaha Kings FC

Be sure and check out all our staff’s picks for the weekend’s matches here!