FIU Soccer Stadium Archives - Magic City Soccer

A decade of Miami soccer in review The Miami FC

Miami Soccer in Review: The Miami FC struggles on the pitch in its 2016 debut

By Matthew Bunch on Sunday, December 29, 2019

Miami Soccer in Review | The Miami FC forward Darío Cvitanich celebrates with teammates after scoring the club's first goal in a game against the Fort Lauderdale Strikers at Lockhart Stadium in Fort Lauderdale on April 2, 2016. Photo via The Miami FC.

Magic City Soccer will take the last 10 days of 2019 to review the last 10 years of Miami-Dade County soccer. Today in Miami Soccer in Review, we take a look back at 2016. The Miami FC debuts less than a year after being announced, and struggles to find its footing.

The Miami FC took the field for the first time in 2016, led by Italian giant Alessandro Nesta. In the club’s first match against Fort Lauderdale Strikers, Darío Cvitanich would score the first goal thanks to a penalty and a 10-man side saw out a 1-1 draw at Lockhart Stadium in Broward County. The Strikers, who qualified for the NASL playoffs the prior season, offered a measuring stick with which to compare Miami FC. The next week, the Blues again saw out a 1-1 draw, this time against Tampa Bay Rowdies, a team that came two points behind Fort Lauderdale the previous season.

It would be the last points Miami FC collected for more than a month.

Florida International University

Season-starting slump continues as FIU men’s soccer falls to Stetson

By Matthew Bunch on Monday, September 3, 2018

FIU men’s soccer suffered defeat at the hands of Stetson on Aug., 31, 2018. Photographic by Matthew Bunch.

The nightmare start to the season continued for FIU men’s soccer on Friday night. The FIU Panthers dropped their home opener to the Stetson Hatters 3-2.

Florida International University

After successes of 2017, No. 20 FIU men’s soccer seeks to go even further in 2018

By Matthew Bunch on Friday, August 24, 2018

The FIU men's soccer team celebrates its victory over Omaha in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at FIU Soccer Stadium in University Park on Nov. 16, 2017. Photo courtesy FIU.

In 2017, FIU men’s soccer had one of its most successful seasons since its run to the College Cup final in 1996. During his first season at the helm, head coach Kevin Nylen guided the Panthers to a long unbeaten streak at the start of the season, capped off with an NCAA Tournament appearance and victory before being eliminated at the hands of Duke in the second round.

In 2018, some seniors have departed, but a significant part of that team returns with even higher expectations.

Red Force FC The Miami FC The Miami FC 2 U.S. Open Cup

WATCH LIVE: The Miami FC 2 and Red Force FC face off in Round 1 of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup

By Matthew Bunch on Wednesday, May 9, 2018

After advancing from its “play-in” game Sunday night, The Miami FC 2 and Red Force FC face off in the official first round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. Miami FC 2 is the host, and have chosen to play at the FIU Soccer Stadium instead of its usual home ground this season, Bobcat Field at St. Thomas University. You can watch the live stream of the match below!