What if I told you the off-season would leave Miami’s only professional club in absolute chaos? What if I told you the roster would suffer an exodus of talent? How about if I told you the team would rally and reach a national championship? Would you have believed me? I wouldn’t blame you if you wouldn’t. Yet, that’s exactly where Miami FC find themselves today. One match against FC Motown away from a national title and a vindication story made for the movies.
For The Miami FC faithful, this season has gone just about as well as you could’ve hoped. Sure, a longer U.S. Open Cup run would have been welcomed, but this post-season has been a delight for supporters. Coming off the hiatus of the NASL, Miami FC was left with no place to play. In a scramble the organization created Miami FC 2 and entered the NPSL’s Southeast Conference. That last minute addition is now one of the final four teams vying for the NPSL Title.
In the words of the great musician Billy Joel, “Oh what a night”. The Miami FC 2 clinched their ticket to the national tournament and took care of business at the BOB. To make things even sweeter, Miami will get to play another match in front of the FC2 faithful. Despite some mid-week heroics, Little Rock was just no match for this professional outfit.
The NPSL has proven to be a tough league to understand in the early stages of the 2018 season. Sure, we may have fond memories of the NASL and the whole “division two” thing, but it’s time to accept that those days are long gone. Miami versus Jacksonville was the showing that, no matter what competition these two clubs find themselves in, there is still very little love lost between both sides.
If you expected the #MagicCityClasico to produce your rough and tumble derby, it was a disappointment. If you are into the “bad blood” storyline and enjoy when the beautiful game is played with an edge, this will be the fixture for you. Miami FC 2 host their comrades in exile, Jacksonville Armada in a match where both teams seek validity.
Image Courtesy of The Miami FC 2
Act Two of the #MagicCityClasico did not go as planned for anyone involved. What should have been a coronation for one of these clubs ended in carnage and disappointment for everyone involved. However, the city showed up for the intense second match and Bobcat field was just as vibrant, if not more so, than Riccardo Silva Stadium.
Looking back at Act One of the #MagicCityClasico, I want to apologize for sounding like a complete idiot regarding the match preview. Miami FC 2 stumbled out of the gates and Miami United looked to be the team that was full of professional experience. Perhaps things will change Saturday as MFC 2 host United at St. Thomas University. Let’s take a look at what both teams need to do in Act Two in order to walk away with all of the points.
While it may not be El Clasico in 2018, Miami is rumored to host some major friendlies in the summer at Hard Rock Stadium. In a leaked set of games from the International Champions Cup 2018 schedule, it seems that Miami will be hosting two men’s matches in addition to the two women’s matches announced earlier in the month.
Whether you call a rivalry match a derby or a clasico, there is usually some sort of animosity between the two clubs. Sunday night in Hialeah, there was no hatred between Miami United and Miami FC 2. How could there be? The two have never squared off in a meaningful match, the teams are relatively unknown to each other, and the supporters groups actually get along well. The match may have laid the foundation for the idea of no love lost between the two organizations.
It is here, it is finally here. Welcome to the official start of the 2018 soccer season in the Magic City. As fate would have it, the first match pits two of our local clubs against each other. Local NPSL powerhouse Miami United get to take on the NPSL newcomers Miami FC 2. The #MagicCityClasico will surely be one of the determining factors of who moves on to the NPSL playoffs and tops the table at the end of the year. Let’s take a look at both teams that have a chance to lift the newest trophy in the battle for Miami.