Matchweek 9 Preview: Southwest Showdowns as Playoff Race Tightens

by NFPL

MATCHWEEK 9 PREVIEW: Southwest Showdowns as Playoff Race Tightens

With the Midwest Division on hold, all eyes shift to the Southwest Division in Matchweek 9 as Santa Fe Gloom hosts Colorado Futsal Academy and New Mexico Flagship FC takes on BRUSA FC. With the standings unchanged from the previous week, these matchups will have a significant impact on the playoff race as teams battle for positioning.

SANTA FE GLOOM (H) VS. COLORADO FUTSAL ACADEMY (A)

Santa Fe Gloom enters Matchweek 9 still searching for consistency, sitting at 1-5 and in desperate need of a win to keep their season alive. After suffering a 6-5 home loss to BRUSA FC in Matchweek 7, they’ll look to take advantage of playing at home once again and finally get back in the win column. Their attack has shown flashes of promise, but defensive struggles have been their downfall, conceding a league-high 45 goals this season.

Colorado Futsal Academy, on the other hand, comes into this match looking to rebound after their 7-5 loss to BRUSA FC in Matchweek 8. The defeat marked their first home loss of the season, but despite the setback, they remain in a tie for first place in the Southwest at 3-2. Beckan Ovalles put on a five-goal performance in their last match, and Colorado will likely rely on his scoring ability once again to get back on track.

A win for Colorado would strengthen their position at the top of the division, while Santa Fe will be fighting to stay in playoff contention.

MATCH DETAILS:

NEW MEXICO FLAGSHIP FC (H) VS. BRUSA FC (A)

New Mexico Flagship FC enters this matchup at 2-2, looking to keep pace in the Southwest Division race. Their last outing was a 17-5 loss to Colorado Futsal Academy, a game where defensive mistakes proved costly. Now returning home, they’ll need to regain their early-season form and put together a complete performance if they hope to slow down one of the league’s hottest teams.

BRUSA FC remains one of the last unbeaten teams in the NFPL, sitting at 3-0 after their hard-fought 7-5 win over Colorado in their last match. Led by Patrick Ruiz, who had three goals and two assists in that victory, BRUSA has shown they can adapt to different styles of play and find ways to win. A victory in Albuquerque would not only keep them perfect but also move them into sole possession of first place in the Southwest.

New Mexico Flagship FC will need to step up defensively and find ways to contain BRUSA’s attack if they hope to pull off an upset at home.

MATCH DETAILS:


The League Table as It Stands:

With just a few matchweeks remaining, Matchweek 9 could prove to be a turning point:

  • BRUSA FC looks to stay undefeated and claim sole possession of first place in the division.
  • Colorado aims to rebound from their loss to BRUSA and keep pace at the top.
  • New Mexico Flagship FC has a chance to shake up the standings with a win at home.
  • Santa Fe Gloom is running out of time to turn their season around and will be in must-win mode.

With the Southwest playoff race heating up, every result carries extra weight. Can BRUSA remain perfect? Will Colorado bounce back? Can New Mexico or Santa Fe pull off an upset to shake up the standings?

Tune in this Saturday to find out as the race for the postseason continues!

Streaming: All matches available on the NFPL YouTube Channel.

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