Dan Vaughn

Brooklyn Italians vs. New York Cosmos

This is a matchup of conference heavyweights. Neither club has lost a match this season, with 12 wins and a single draw between them. Both clubs are 1 (NYC) and 2 (BI) in scoring in their conference, while Cosmos holds a slight lead in goals given up 2-7. While the Cosmos have been the consensus number 1 in the GSMU poll all season, the Brooklyn Italians have slowly climbed the poll, jumping 9 slots in week 4, taking over the #10 spot. This is a big fucking match. I’m really pumped!

Paul Kowalczyk

SC United Bantams vs. South Georgia Tormenta 2

This weekend on Friday at 7 p.m. I’ll be looking forward to the SC United Bantams taking on the South Georgia Tormenta 2 in a USL 2 Deep South Division first vs second place match up. The Bantams have won five straight while the Tormenta have a game in hand and are also unbeaten, dropping points for the first time last game against the Dalton Red Wolves. While Bantams sit on top of the table, they will need to penetrate a solid defensive unit in South Georgia who have only conceded one goal in four games.

In the UPSL, this weekend I’ll be paying attention to the South Florida playoffs which take place on Saturday and Sunday. This tournament will have 16 teams for the first time and will have teams such as the Florida Soccer Soldiers, Miami United FC, Hurricane FC and Boca Raton FC (who have former NFL wide receiver Chad Johnson) fighting for the title.

Dan Creel

#6 Tormenta 2 at SC United Bantams

A matchup of the top two teams in USL2’s Deep South Division. South Georgia Tormenta 2 is ranked #6 in the most recent Grassroots Soccer Media poll. After five games, the team is unbeaten in league play with only one draw maring their record. They have a +15 goal differential and have only given up one goal. On top of that, the team made it to the Second Round of the U.S. Open Cup after taking down a USL1 side in the First Round.

But, Tormenta 2 currently sits in second place in the Deep South Division behind SC United Bantams. While their goal numbers aren’t quite as gaudy, the Bantams have a perfect 5-0-0 record in league play. SC United is currently unranked but a win over Tormenta 2 will likely vault them into the top 25.

Kickoff is 7:30pm at the Monticello Soccer Center in Columbia.

Gulf Coast Rangers at AFC Mobile

“Damn the penalty kicks, full speed ahead!” might be the catchphrase for this Gulf Coast Premier League tussle as the Gulf Coast Rangers cross Mobile Bay to take on East Conference leaders AFC Mobile. Both teams are undefeated after four games but Mobile holds a slight edge over the Rangers due to having one more win and one less draw. The matchup offers a clash of offense versus defense. Gulf Coast played a scoreless draw against Port City FC on Wednesday and has only scored five goals in league play. AFC Mobile can score goals but have given up double the number as the Rangers. Can Mobile break through the Gulf Coast defense? Or will the Rangers get their offense in gear and outscore the Azaleas?

Kickoff is 7pm at the Lipscomb Athletic Complex in Mobile.