The Division 2.1 title is, more or less, being contested by two big teams. Both relocated from foreign leagues in the hopes of more success stateside, and as such, they are currently equal on points (as of Round 29, Matchday 17). As far as US rivalries go, these two clubs tap into the history of one of American sports’ greatest: New York versus Miami. With this history in their minds, and the prize of direct promotion on the line, it will be a hot-headed, close title fight up to the very last matchday.
Inter Miami FC, Luke Anderson (3rd Season with the club, 1st since move to US Division 2)
The previous incarnation of new Division 2 side Club Internacional de Fútbol Miami, or Inter Miami for short, was a staple in the Spanish lower leagues for over 20 seasons. Various managers, came and went, each spending a couple years at the helm before letting the club fall back into the dark. Their most recent manager, though, is the enigmatic Luke Anderson, who came into the club in Season 25. In his first season, he led the club to 7th in the second tier. The season after, he improved with a 4th place finish, close but not close enough to the promotion playoff spots. Seeing an opportunity arise to advance his and the club’s reputation further, he oversaw the relocation of the club to Miami, Florida. While their Spanish fans lamented, those in Miami rejoiced, finally having a home team for new fans to support. At the time of writing, Inter Miami sit 1st on goal difference, with 49 points. The equal record they currently share with 2nd place FC NY Aero (16-1-0) is only bettered on account of their 88-goal tally so far in the campaign. Many of these have been scored by their strike partnership of Ludovic Brnovic and Andreas Umar, both 28 year old center forwards with a league rating of around 91/100. Brnovic boasts a current league-high 43 goals in 15 matches, while his partner Umar has registered 37 in 17. Slightly further back, the main assisters are wingers Anatolijs Volkovs (25), on 23 assists in 17 games, the older Azad Fernandez (32) at 20 assists in 17, and the younger Andres Iniesta (23), assisting 21 goals in the same time as the other two. Young defender Oussama Burke at 22 seems to be a promising youth talent, helping his side keep a clean sheet in every league match so far this term (going 17 for 17).
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FC NY Aero, Walter Shepardson (18th Season with the club, 1st since move to US Division 2)
Before moving to New York, the old FC NY Aero had spent over 20 seasons in the 2nd and 3rd tiers of English football. With the competition that exists in England more than anywhere else, it was always bound to be difficult to make it into the top flight, let alone stay in the second division. Manager Walter Shepardson, though, has been with the club through thick and thin, promotions and relegations. Specifically, after coming in to the position while the club was in the third tier, he has seen four promotions (all 3rd division championship titles), three relegations, and three Division 3 League Cup titles, two of them back-to-back. After the conclusion of Season 26, though, Shepardson convinced the board of his club to move a bit closer to home around New York. Since then, they have achieved a record of 16-1-0, the one draw coming against their title rivals Inter Miami. 19 goals separate the NY Aero and Inter Miami, with the former having put up 67 goals this term. Equally important, though is their defensive consistency, which all starts with 31-year-old keeper Patrick Hopkins-Lau of Vanuatu. He the highest-rated goalkeeper in the league, has played every minute of every league game, and in doing so kept 17 out of 17 possible clean sheets this term. Unlike Inter Miami, who rely heavily on their two strikers to score, the responsibility is more spread out at NY Aero. They have a few stars: their top-performing player in the league is Peruvian winger Cesar Torres at 27, who has recorded 22 goals and six assists in his 17 league outings. Ashkan McCall, though, can do one better, recording double figures for both goals and assists for his team (11 goals, 15 assists) in 17 games as well. Around them, Thorn Gilkes at 28 has 13 goals and 5 assists in only 12 outings, the young Irishman Pere Valdez has 15 goals and 7 assists in 17 games at age 23, and the veteran 34-year-old Hogan de Ridder has assisted 14 times in 17 from a wide midfield position.
Division 2.2
In Division 2.2, one team seems to be running away in the league. While other human managers are in the league, it is robot-led clubs that are the closest in the league to this all-conquering side. As such, it will most likely be a cakewalk for this former Division 1 side to return to top-flight glory.
Sporting Club, Captain Commanche (3rd Season with the club)
Despite their current second-tier status, Sporting Club were actually one of the founding members of the US First Division back in Season 23. Surprisingly, they had no permanent manager for the first two seasons of their existence, and so followed a 9th place ending to the inaugural season with Sporting being relegated in 13th place the next. Enter Captain Commanche (and accompanying figure Emperor Boldor), who gained the mantle and starting commanding the outfit under the circumstances of their recent relegation. They were able to bounce right back, coming third and coming up through the playoffs to compete in the big leagues in the season just gone. However, their time in Division 1 was cut short, as while they finished 11th, almost out of harm’s reach, they fell to a 1-0 defeat to Wonder Peppers in the playoff final. As such, they would replace the Peppers in Division 2.2 once again. In Season 27, though, they look to be their strongest yet, with Sporting’s average rating sitting at about 50. Their record in the league is an impressive 16-1-0, going undefeated with their only draw coming against current 2nd place Blush Ninjas. In the same way that they have dominated the league, they also dominate the rating charts. Of players that have played at least 10 matches in the league, four stand out. Of their forwards, the strike duo of Kieran Azeem and Djalminha Ahmed are the two most prolific finishers, either playing upfront alone or in side-by-side. The younger Nazeem (22) has been slightly better in front of goal, with a tally of 33 goals in 17 games, while Ahmed at 26 has 23 goals in 15. The other two are the main assisters, Wai Su at 29 and Hong Lee at 32. While Lee has scored 3 times and assisted 18, Su has one more with 19 from only 12 matches.
Division 2.3
In Division 2.3, an unexpected team has come out of nowhere to take the league by storm. Having only come up from Division 3 only last season, this club may be the first to achieve back-to-back promotions in US Division history.
Taupe Assassins, Loko SAD (3rd Season with the club)
Taupe Assassins are the only club in their league with a permanent (human) manager, but that does not make their story any less exciting. Being founded as a 3rd Division side in Season 23, they became their Division 3 champions at the first time of asking. A respectable 5th place finish followed, after which the club hired permanent manager Loko SAD to take their club to the next level. With this being Sad’s first managerial stint, many were skeptical of the decision, with more losing faith after the club slumped to a 14th place finish in Sad’s first season at the helm. However, the boss did show signs of life, and wanted to regain the trust of those in the Taupe community. To do this, Loko Sad would complete a league and cup double, taking the side back up the Division 2 once again. In Season 27, Taupe Assassins look to do the impossible and get promoted for a second successive season. Again, part of this may be down to the lack of human competition, but it isn’t exactly smooth sailing either. Their manager has not been seen since the beginning of the season, as Sad withdrew from the public eye due to unknown reasons. Regardless, though, their 15-2-0 record is nothing to scoff at. Their strength lies in their attack, with both strikers being listed in the top 8 players in the league by rating. The higher one, 26-year-old Stewart Randolph of Cameroon, has logged 31 goals in only 15 matches. 24-year-old Odell Wallace, though, is keeping his partner on his toes, with 14 goals in 15 appearances.
Division 2.4
This division is another one-human team league, though the team in question has had the clinical results to warrant promotion this term. Having only come in halfway through the previous season, it didn’t take long before the boss’s system started showing impressive results.
Magnificent Frigatebirds FC, Sam Lynch (2nd Season with the club
Originally known as Death Bulldogs, the club’s hierarchy changed the name early on to “Magnificent Frigatebirds FC,” a nod to the prevalent local bird that would flock near their ground. The seabirds also influenced the club’s changed colors, which were switched to match the white, red, and black feathers that the species sported. While their footballing history has not been nearly as “magnificent” over the past few seasons, this could soon quickly change. Starting as a member of the US 3rd Division in Season 23, MFFC came runners-up and reached the final of their league cup in their first season. Despite only reaching the semi-finals in the next campaign, this was irrelevant as the club were crowned champions. A midtable finish in Division 2 came next, after which the club appointed rookie manager Sam Lynch to the position in order to achieve promotion to the US top flight. While he came in too late to help the Frigatebirds achieve this goal, this season seems to be the golden ticket for MFFC. As of the time of writing, Lynch and company have kept a 100% win record in the league, League Cup, and National Trophy. In the first case, in particular, they have scored 93 times and conceded a league low of… three. They are also an underdog in the National Trophy, being the only Division 2 side to make it to the quarterfinal round (check out this article for more details). MFFC boast four of the six highest-performing players in the league, and two of the top three. The pick of the bunch is 25-year-old Ricoriki McCarthy, who plays as the sole attacking midfielder in a lopsided midfield trio. He has logged 24 goals and 14 assists in only 15 matches. Further back, 32-year-old Turkey international Darrell Vorm has put up 2 goals and 18 assists in 14 games at the base of the triangle.
Division 3.2
Despite not receiving nearly as much media attention as it deserves, the US 3rd division still has some interesting stories. One such story is of a yo-yo club between the 2nd and 3rd tiers and their new boss looking to take them to the top of the US pyramid.
Aquila Tigers, Liam M (1st Season with the club)
Aquila Tigers are one of 256 clubs in US Division 3, but only one of two with a permanent human manager. The Tigers had spent their entire existence until this current season looking for said permanent manager, but with a lack of options, they settled on the unproven Liam M to push them forward and out of the basement division for good. In Season 25, they finally achieved the goal of promotion, only to fall back down in the season just gone. Liam would come into the club, therefore, looking to prove himself and reverse the Tigers’ fortune. So far, he is in pole position to do so, but not without some competition. Currently, the Aquila outfit are in 1st place, but only three points ahead of Furious Strikers and their 41 points. While the Strikers actually have less defeats in the league this term, it is their five draws that put the Tigers on top of the pile. The added challenge for Liam and the Tigers comes in the form of a mid-season injury crisis, with six players being out injured at the time of writing. Their top-performing player in the league is also one of the oldest in the entire US leagues system, in the form of 39-year-old Spanish wide midfielder Angel Macaulay. Having announced that he is going to retire at the conclusion of this campaign, his three goals and six assists have transformed him into a cult hero as he tries to give the side to one last gift. Opposite to him but still equally important, Andrew Santa the center back has been delivering key performances in the backline, presenting his side with 10 clean sheets in all 10 matches he has started.
Division 3.14
Another league not likely to ever get constant media presence, “the Pi League” features another human manager, this one with a more definitive lead at the top combined with an even greater fervor in getting their club up and out of the 3rd division.
Andromeda Historians, Asion Murchison (1st Season with the club
Named after nearby ruins that once housed ancient astronomers, Andromeda Historians has had dreams of the footballing heavens since their inception in Division 3 four seasons ago. While in the process of searching for a permanent manager, the Historians managed to win their Division 3 title, and completed a double not long after with the League Cup. Despite this success, though, they could only muster a 14th place finish in the next campaign, although they reached the semi-finals of their Division 2 domestic cup. It was after their most recent relegation had been confirmed that new boss Asion Murchison was brought in. Murchison shared the same goals for immediate promotion back to Division 2, and quickly got to work implementing tactics and improving the sense of friendliness about the squad. Results-wise, while things took a slight blip in the middle of the first half of the season, especially the morale hit that came with loss to Division 2 side Sporting Club in the National Trophy, things came around once again. Their record of 12-3-2 puts them first on 39 points, five clear of Big Captains in 2nd. Of note is their seven-game unbeaten streak (5W2D), including a 7-1 win against Triangulum Vale. In the ratings charts, while they have no standout player, perhaps their key attacker is Lateef Ipina Iza, the striker aged 28. Before being sidelined by injury (as are four other players at the time of writing), he had recorded 16 goals in 13 outings. Also unfortunately out is another 28-year old, attacking midfielder Clemente Busquets. He had scored twice and assisted 7 times before being pulled off and sidelined for much of the campaign to date.