Hard fought 3-2 win over rival Winter Haven United keeps Tropics at top of the table

AUBURNDALE, Fla. -- The Florida Tropics now have a three-game win streak -- their longest of the 2021 United Premier Soccer League Spring season -- and continue to set the pace in the Florida West Division.

Florida got started with its contest against Winter Haven United with the United giving up an own goal, and then the Tropics stars took over, getting goals from Victor Parreiras and William Eyang to secure a 3-2 win Saturday night in Winter Haven.

Eyang came into the contest as the second leading scorer in the entire UPSL, despite missing two games, and Parreiras was playing in his first game of the outdoor season. He had surgery following the conclusion of the recently completed Major Arena Soccer League season where he led the team to a regular season championship and first ever playoff berth, and was the 2019 UPSL National MVP when Florida went undefeated and won the Spring national championship.

The Tropics are 6-2-1, good for 19 points, three clear of the second place St. Petersburg Aztecs, but with a big caveat. The Aztecs have played three less games than the Tropics, but will start to make up some of those games with two scheduled this week, Wednesday against the PSE Conquistadores and Saturday against Naples FC. Meanwhile, the Tropics will be off until May 29 when they host Naples City.

All signs point to a huge showdown game June 5 when the Aztecs will host Florida in a rematch. The two teams tied 2-2 earlier this season at Lake Myrtle Sports Complex in Auburndale, with the Aztecs rallying from a 2-0 deficit in the game's final 10 minutes. That game is set for the Belcher Sports Complex in Largo. 

For the latest in Tropics information, visit www.fltropics.com or visit the team's social media sites.