This Saturday (28), 7:00pm EST, is derby day in the UPSL Premier Division. The City of Lakeland will watch the clash between Lakeland United and the Florida Tropics.
The match could give United the lead in the Florida West Conference should Leg A-Z drop points in their next match against the St Petersburg FC Aztecs. With a win Saturday, United will spend the weekend in 1st place as Leg A-Z only play next Wednesday.
The game will be the first duel in the history of the two young Lakeland clubs. The Tropics are a little older as they were founded in 2016, while Lakeland United was born more recently, in 2021.
Currently sitting in 2nd place in the Conference, Lakeland United is coming from a solid 5x2 win against the Clearwater Chargers away from home on the 23rd.
The two teams will face up again in the last round of regular season, this time to be hosted by the Tropics.
INTERNATIONAL STARS
For the duel against the Tropics, Lakeland United will have brothers Dylan and Josh Ramos available for the last time before both travel to defend the US Virgin Islands Men’s National Team at the CONCACAF Nations League.
TROPICS HAVE TRADITION
The Florida Tropics is a strong and traditional team in the Indoor Soccer at the Major Arena Soccer League.
At the outdoor level, the team started playing in the USL2 in 2016. They then moved to the UPSL where they became undefeated National Champions in the 2019 Spring Season.
In 2021, also in the UPSL Spring Season, the Tropics did very well once again and were among the four best teams in the country, which increases the degree of difficulty for United in this Saturday's game.
WHERE TO WATCH?
The match will be broadcasted live in English on Eleven Sports and in Portuguese on Lakeland United's official YouTube channel.