The Villages SC - Tampa Bay United (10-07-2021)

 

Because of horrible traffic, I arrive 3 minutes late. The “sports complex” is one pitch in the middle of nowhere with small bleachers on one side and on one of part of  one side of the goal. I nevertheless have to pay $10 and get a paper arm brace (with a letter for the bleachers section) but no ticket.

 

It is the last game of the regular season. The Villages SC has been dominating the Southeast Division of the USL Division Two (Fifth Division), winning 9 and losing and drawing each one. Tampa Bay United is second and, like The Villages SC, already guaranteed a spot in the play-offs. For some reason, and I doubt anyone knows which one, the Villages SC is known as “the buffalos”.

 

 

There are some 100 people, a very diverse crowd, with disproportionately many Hispanics and old white people – The Villages became (in)famous a few years ago because of political fights between Trump and Biden supporters. There are quite a lot of people with jerseys, not just kids, and even a small group of tifosi. A handful away supporters also made the 80 miles (140 km) drive East and are also there quite vocal.

 

Already in the 8^th minute of the game The Villages SC scores out of a quick attack. The hosts are clearly much better than the visitors. The tifosi – a mixed group of some 10-20 fans with several drums – celebrate in style.

 

In the 12^th minute a Villages header ends on top of the crossbar and four minutes later a good shot by the hosts from 16 meters out goes across the goal and just wide. A minute later a Villages defender makes a mistake that leads to the first attack of Tampa Bay United, but the shot is weak and is easily saved. Three minutes later, in a Villages counter attack, a striker goes alone at the goalie, shoots hard yet well across the goal, but a Tampa Bay defender slides it into his own goal (there was no Villages player around him). The home team remains much better but now gets sloppy. This leads to a good shot from 10 meters out by the visitors but the goalie makes a great save.

 

Then there is some drama in the stands: a drunk guy (white, late-40s) threatens to beat someone up and is escorted out by stewards and team officials. In response to his removal, he makes a Nazi salute (but afterwards leaves peacefully and drives home… drunk). As an expert on the subject, I can assure you that this was not the first time he made a Nazi salute (although nothing else – clothes or tattoos) pointed to him being a Nazi). Anyway, the home team remains dominant, the referee keeps ignoring fouls against Tamp Bay, and the Villages strikers keep missing big chances and so it stays 2-0 – even though it should have been at least 4-0.

 

At half time kids play soccer on the pitch, which I haven’t seen in a while at US games. Unfortunately, the pace and quality of the game goes down significantly in the second half. It’s not because it is too hot, although it is very humid. I am mostly focused on, and annoyed by, the announcer, a white guy who tries to imitate Mexican announcers and fails miserably. The Villages SC continues squandering chances, while the game is constantly interrupted with longer breaks because of fouls, substitutions, or water.

 

In the 72^nd minute the referee gives the hists a very soft penalty kick, which is scored low in the corner (just hard enough to beat the goalie): 3-0. I wait a few more minutes and then leave, as this game is clearly over and there is rain ahead.

 

A bit of an odd experience, as this is one of the few USL League Two games not played at a local High School or “soccer park”, and therefore gets a bit more authentic feeling – also because of the tifosi and the many real fans in jerseys – but it also a typical USL League Two game in terms of lack of culture and quality.

 

Southern Soccer Academy Kings - South Georgia Tormenta 2 (06-07-2021)

The Southern Soccer Academy Kings are a soccer academy with men and women “professional” teams. The men’s team plays in the Deep South Division of the Southern Conference of the USL League Two (i.e. Fifth Division). They play their stadium at Marathon Soccer Park, which is just outside of Marietta, Georgia, a rich northern suburb of Atlanta. In fact, it is truly off the beaten track, as it has an own driveway of almost a mile off an already remote street. SSA Kings are aligned with Chelsea FC, as can be seen from the logo.

 

JW and I arrive about fifteen minutes before kick-off. There are quite some cars in the parking lot, many fancy ones at that. We don’t have to pay to get in and make our way to the one side of bleachers. As far as one can speak of a “stadium”, it is one main building with dressing rooms and some other rooms.

 

Given that this is a soccer academy, where people (kids) pay to play soccer, the pitch is of an incredibly bad quality. In fact, it is so bent that you can’t see the lines on the other side. The grass is also of poor quality. There are some 100 people, about one third kids who play at the academy and their parents. For Marietta, the crowd is quite Southern but also quite mixed racially. A few fans in their twenties make a lot of noise, both cracking jokes and cheering on the home team, which hives the game an overall cozy atmosphere.

 

The game starts well. Interestingly, the referee is a rather young woman, who is well in control (I can only imagine the abuse she must face from players and fans in many games). In the 3^rd minute the visitors have a good attack that is easily finished in the long corner: 1-0. Although the guests are much better, they make a dumb foul and the hosts get a penalty. Although the goalie got his hands on it, the ball goes in: 1-1.

 

In the 35^th minute Tormenta has an amazing from the penalty spot but the goalie stops it spectacularly. Ten minutes later a long ball comes to the Kings striker, who is inside the box, but his partly blocked shot goes well over the goal. Another cross from the right is volleyed from 5m at the goalie, who saves. Just before half-time, a long free kick of Tormenta is headed just over the goal (but the goalie had it covered). Half Time Score: 1-1.

 

The second half starts with several half chances for the visitors but the big chance is for same Kings striker who missed before and again misses from very close. In the 65^th minute the Kings get a massive chance at the lead, but the completely free header from a mere 5 meter away is headed across the goal, well wide. In the 75^th minute the Tormenta goalie intercepts the ball but steps outside the box. The consequent free kick is headed hard to the ground from 5 meters and the goalie saves with an amazing jump.

 

Just a minute later the visitors counter attack and shoot hard at the bar, but the ball bounces out from the goal line. In the 79^th minute Tormenta has a covered shot from just outside the box, which is hard and low in the far corner. The goalkeeper has no chance: 1-2.

 

There are no more goals and the game ends 1-2. A deserved win for the clearly better team. All in all, a fairly classic USL Division Two game. A soccer academy with no roots or stadium, playing for a hundred fans/customers, at modest levels. In fact, only the remarkably poor pitch stood out from other USL League Two games.

 

East Atlanta FC - South Georgia Tormenta 2 (08-06=2021)

 

East Atlanta is the hip part of Atlanta, but East Atlanta FC does not play there. They play in Conyers, a commuter town roughly 25 miles (39 km) east of Atlanta, and should therefore be called East OF Atlanta FC. 

 

 

As I arrive at Rockdale Youth Soccer Academy, where they play their games, I directly recognize the ground. I was here 9 years ago, to see a game of Georgia Revolution, which has since moved to McDonough, Georgia.

 

I pay $8, which is quite a lot of money for a game in the USL Division 2 (roughly Fifth Division in the US), given that the setting would make most amateur football clubs in Europe feel ashamed. I do get a nice ticket though, albeit from a different game (and season?).

There are a few random old wooden bleachers (5 rows each) on two sides of the pitch, where some 100 people sit. The audience is reasonably mixed by class, gender, and race. Many seem to personally know a player (of the home team).

 

The game starts some 20 minutes late, as the previous game, between the youth teams of the two clubs, was delayed because of lightening. The weather has been playing up in the last days, but, despite predictions of rain, today was dry until roughly one hour before the game. Around 19.50 the game finally starts.

 

In the 3^rd minute Tormenta has a chance but the East Atlanta goalie saves the shot from close by, which goes straight at him. The corner is headed just over the goal. At that time, the clouds become darker and darker and the wind is picking up. Like many others, I am starting to look for cover, when the game is being stopped for possible lightening.

 

Shortly after 20.00 the rain comes down hard, followed by lightening. I decide to head back to Athens, which is an hour north, as I have no desire to wait for 30 minutes in my car. As I’m typing this report at home, I see that the game restarted at 21.30 and East Atlanta FC won through a goal in the 90th minute, roughly at 23.00.

 

It is rare for me to abandon a game so easily, but I think I need a break from USL Division 2 for a while. It just has barely any resemblance of professional football and most clubs lack any culture or identity.

Asheville City SC - Charlotte Independence 2 (01-06-2021)

On a Tuesday evening, I drive up to Asheville, a cute alternative-hipster town in the western North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains. It's a 3-4 hour drive from Athens, GA, depending on whether you go the functional or scenic route. On the menu is yet another game in the USL League Two (roughly the Fifth Division), this time in the Deep South Division, between Asheville City SC and the second team of Charlotte Independence.

 

Asheville City SC was founded in 2016 and played in the 3^rd Southeast Division of the National Professional Soccer League (NPSL) before joining the USL League 2 in 2019. They play their home games in the soccer stadium of the University of North Carolina Asheville, which is just a pitch with a few small bleachers on one long side. I get in for free, as someone had an extra ticket and paid it forward.

 

While this means no ticket, I was lucky, as I later read on the website that the game was sold out. They didn’t mention the number of spectators, but I guesstimate some 250 to 300 people. The fans are very (upper) middle class and very white. They are also quite young, although relatively few kids (more students). There is a small group of “ultras” with drums and horns who mostly make "smart" remarks.

 

The game seems to be played on real grass, although the pitch is suspiciously even. The players are young, early- to mid-twenties, probably several college players, and there are again very few African American players. The quality of passing and control is quite poor, particularly given the dry but flat pitch, and the pace is not too high. Still, the game flows from side to side with quite a lot of (half) chances.

 

In the 19^th minute Asheville has a long and deep cross pass that the striker takes directly, with the inside of his foot, but the goalie saves it spectacularly in the short corner. The hosts continue to pressure and in the 26^th minute a player gets the ball almost free in front of the goal (at some 5 meters) but he hits it with both of his legs.

 

 

In the 30^th minute the visitors get a ball into the box, which is headed through, but easily picked up by the Asheville goalie. A few minutes later a Charlotte defender gives a too soft pass back but his goalie courageously hits the ball just a second before the striker can kick it. Just before half time, a free kick is missed by the Asheville goalie, but, after few pinball moments, he can pick it up after all. Half time score: 0-0.

 

The game restarts at a much higher pace. In the 48^th minute Charlotte Independence 2 scores out of quick attack. To my surprise, there are actually some people in the audience applauding. Not that Charlotte is far away, just a 2 hour drive, but few people travel in the US, let alone for a second team – the first team of Charlotte Independence plays in the USL Championship (kind of Third Division). I went to see them in 2015 (report here).

 

Just a few minutes after the opener, the hosts score from a rebound: 1-1. Not much later, an Asheville striker is fouled just outside of the penalty box. The free kick leads to a header that goes just over. In the 55^th minute a quick counter by the hosts leads to a good cross but a terrible finish, meters from goal.

 

In the rest of the second half there is a lot of movement of both teams that lead to (half) chances on both sides. However, given that both the control and the passing is not very good, few of the finishes end between the posts and few challenge the goalies. Hence, the final score remains 1-1.

 

Overall, it was a quite entertaining game, despite the mediocre individual quality of the players. It never felt as a (semi) professional soccer game though, which technically the USL League 2 isn’t, but rather a summer evening game of two local teams. Still, if you are in Asheville, which is a town definitely worth visiting, and you can catch a home game of City SC, do it.

Florida Elite SA - Tampa Bay United (22-05-2021)

On my way to the beach, I make a slight detour to see a game in the Southeast Division of the USL 2, roughly the Fifth Division in the United States. Many of these teams are part of “Soccer Academies”, which are quite pricy pay-to-play soccer clubs that cater predominantly to upper middle class white kids. Florida’s Elite Soccer Association seems no exception, given that they play in the football stadium of Mandarin High School, in a posh southern part of Jacksonville. They play Tampa Bay United, which is about 200 miles southwest, and no fans made the trip.

 

I arrive almost 10 minutes too late because of a road accident and GPS failure. I don’t need to pay and walk straight walk into the first goal, which is for the home team. There are far more people than I had expected. I guesstimate 300-400 people, mostly children, who play in the youth programs of the Florida Elite Soccer Academy, and their white and upper middle class parents — many dressed in the ugly fluoride shirts of the “Soccer Association”.

 

 

They play on a very dry Astroturf football field, which is quite confusing with all the different lines (white lines for football, red lines for soccer). The players are older than I expected. The pace of the game is pretty low, the passing and control is poor.

 

Florida Elite is clearly the better team in the first half, but the quality of play is really poor and barely any chances or shots on goal are created. Half time score is 1-0 and I start to wonder how anyone scored in this game.

 

The first 15 minutes of the second half the visitors are better is first 15 minutes, but then, out of nowhere, the hosts get two good chances within three minutes. The game remains slow and poor. As Tampa Bay United keeps pushing, Florida Elite has some good counters.

 

Although the quality gets even worse, particularly in terms of control and passing, there are a few more (half) chances, but nothing goes in. 1-0 seems the maximum that these two teams could create.

 

This was a classic low division US game. Played at a football field of a local high school/college, no real soccer club with tradition, and mainly kids of the youth programs in the stands.

Pittsburgh Riverhounds – Charlotte Eagles (08-08-2009)

On my way back from New York to Indiana, I stopped in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, famous for (at least) two things: steel and sports. Currently, the Steel City hosts two ‘world champions’: the Pittsburgh Steelers, winners of the XLIII Super Bowl, and the Pittsburgh Penguins, winners of the 2009 Stanley Cup. However, I came for a little-known team, the Pittsburgh Riverhounds, who compete in the USL2 (Third Division).

The Riverhounds play in the stadium of the (huge) Chartiers Valley High School in the Bridgeville suburb of Pittsburgh. Normally home to the school’s American Football team, the Colts, the stadium holds 4,600 people. I buy a general admission ticket for $9 – as it is Ladies Night, women enter for $4. Officially, 853 people turn up this evening; I estimate some 25 away supporters, divided into four families. Whether they have made the 450 mile (720 km) trip for this game, or are local, I don’t know.

The game starts thunderous: after 24 seconds a Riverhounds player comes alone at the Eagles goalie and, although shooting poorly, scores: 1-0! Probably the quickest goal I have ever seen. After that quick goal the game moves quickly back and forth. In the 6^th minute the visitors attack over right and finish well: 1-1. Not much later, it would become even worse for the hosts. In the 13^th minute the Eagles have a sneaky free kick which is met with a strong header: 1-2! Three goals in under fifteen minutes, amazing! Obviously, the fans around me are stunned and pissed off.

The level of play is quite decent, in part because of the astro turf, which makes controlling the ball and setting up combinations much easier. I particularly enjoy the number 21 of the Charlotte Eagles, Toby, a short black player with fantastic technique. But there is much else to see, as the chances keep coming up on both sides. The Eagles are the better team, and have in their experienced number 12 a great passer, who does need some defensive compensation though.

Even in the last two minutes of the first half both teams have a decent chance, which they squander with bad finishing. Overall, we have seen a great first half, but most of the spectators are understandably disappointed.

The second half starts explosive too: in the 46^th minute the Pittsburgh goalie weakly boxes the ball out of the goal, but the rebound is headed out and a consequent counter-attack is just shot wide. Five minutes later, the annoying number 4 of the hosts is sent off after a push in the face and, in the following consternation, another Pittsburgh player is red carded (I guess for protesting in an uncivil manner). The Steel Army goes crazy!

Despite being two men down, it’s the Pittsburgh Riverhounds who get the next big chance. In fact, they stay well in the game, as the Charlotte Eagles by and large go on autopilot. But despite all the possession, and the low pace of the visitors, it is the Eagles who easily score their third goal of the match: 1-3.

Although it is clear that the game is played, the 9 Riverhounds put up a commendable fight, and the 11 Eagles totally miss an opportunity to work on their goal difference. Many chances and half-chances follow, but the score remains (somewhat disappointingly) 1-3.

Clearly, the Riverhounds are not Pittsburgh’s biggest team. In fact, their attendance isn’t particularly impressive for the USL2. But if you find yourself in the region, and can’t get tickets for the Steelers or Penguins (which you won’t), do pay them a visit!