Weekend Preview: Atlanta United hosts Toronto FC U-15s & U-17s, UPSL regular season finale 

The weekend is here and that means another entertaining slate of games for our boys.

We host opponents from near and far this weekend, as Toronto FC (U-15 & U-17), AFC Lightning (U-13, U-14, U-16), and Savannah Clovers FC (U-19) make their way to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Training Ground.

Closing out the UPSL regular season

The U-19s close out the regular season against Savannah Clovers FC in their 10th match of the season.

After defeating Potros FC 2-1 last time out, they sit on top of the UPSL Southeast Conference with 21 points (7-0-2, W-D-L) having played three more matches than the next three teams below them.

With a win on Saturday, they have a good chance of finishing first and earning a favorable draw for the playoffs. An additional three points would only improve those odds and it has to be noted that Savannah is yet to pick up a win after seven matches. 

It’s a battle between two teams in completely opposite circumstances. Regardless of that, the same ruthlessness will be demanded of the 5-Stripes.

A chance for our MLS NEXT teams to build momentum 

Last weekend, each of our MLS NEXT teams dominated their matchups with Hoover-Vestavia Soccer Club, producing some stunning goals in the process.  

When it was all said and done, they tallied 32 goals as a collective, giving them real momentum heading into this weekend’s matchups with AFC Lightning and Toronto FC.

The last time our U-16s faced AFC Lightning, they pulled out a 1-0 victory. Our U-13s and U-16s poured it on, with the respective scorelines reading 6-1 and 8-1. They’ll all look to build on those performances on Saturday.  

Atlanta will be the first trip outside of Canada this season for Toronto’s squads. They started the season with three matches against CF Montréal, with both teams winning two and drawing one. They could be a real test for our guys. 

But after a week of preparation, the U-15 and U-17s representing the 5-Stripes will be ready for the task at hand.

The U-12s are back! 

It’s been a couple of weeks since our U-12s have seen the pitch.  

They’re finally back for a matchup at Alpharetta Ambush SC, followed by a midweek fixture against Atlanta Fire at the Training Ground.  

They look to pick up where they left off after big victories over NASA the last time out.