Tropics 2 will host CFL GOSA Spurs in Davenport tonight

DAVENPORT – Tropics 2 soccer will be back on the pitch tonight, continuing an abbreviated and abridged United Premier Soccer League season when they host the CFL GOSA Spurs at 8 p.m. at North East Regional Park in Davenport.

The UPSL is hosting just one outdoor league this summer for all division teams that were able to field squads in a shortened season with no national playoffs.

The Florida Tropics SC, which featured many players from the team’s Major Arena Soccer League Eastern Conference championship team and which won the 2019 UPSL national championship, is not fielding a team this summer, since many of the players are scattered across the country.

However, Tropics 2 is a developmental team consisting primarily of local players showcasing and developing their skills to potentially move up to a bigger club at a future date.

After playing one game in March, the season was restarted last month. Currently, Tropics 2 is 1-1-1 in the Southeast Conference’s Florida Central West division. That’s currentlygood for a tie for third place in the seven-team division. The top four teams will qualify for post-season play. A state champion will be determined in the playoffs, but no national competition will be held.

GOSA is 1-1-0, just a point behind the Tropics 2, who have scored four goals in their three games since starting up again last month, and have allowed four goals. 

Tropics 2 will have two more games to play in the regular season, both at home, including a Saturday, July 25 meeting (7 p.m.)  against Diaspora United and a Thursday, July 30 matchup against Celta USA which is currently atop the division standings. 

The Tropics returned to play with a 0-0 tie against the Celta Gunners, despite numerous shots on goal which included a missed penalty kick opportunity.

They then  rallied from am early 2-0 deficit to defeat The Mix Sports Club. Rodrigio Kaufmann, Maycon Franca and Diego Pantuza all scored in the second half to seal the victory.

Sportsparadize Soccer Academy then took a 2-1 triumph over Tropics 2. The team got on the board in the third minute, but a red card early in the second half hampered the Tropics 2 effort, despite the brilliant play of goaltender Jasson Leon who had many point blank saves. Sportsparadize got the winner in the 89th minute.