97G LA Fire Navy 4-0 FC Alliance (TN)

[LAFire97G]

This Saturday April 11th at 5:00, two great rivals Louisiana Fire and FC Alliance (from Knoxville, Tennessee) will face off for the ninth and possibly final time ever, unless they meet at Regionals in June. This time it's a big Region III Premier League Central (PLC) showdown with implications for qualification to Regionals.

Despite pushes at different times from teams like GCUFC, Tennessee SC, and Arkansas Comets, there was a period of at least 3 years from U14 to U16 that Louisiana Fire and FC Alliance established themselves as a clear top 2 in Region III Central, and they both remain powerhouses at the regional level. At one point both were in the National League at the same time representing this region of the country. FC Alliance has arguably been Louisiana Fire's greatest out of state rival, remembering the many intense and important games that date back to a tight FC Alliance win 6 years ago in the final of Vulcan Cup. At the same time, it has always been remarkably respectful, with no animosity that I have ever noticed. FC Alliance's coaches have always been very complimentary toward our players and their whole team warmly and graciously wished us best of luck at Nationals right after we beat them in an intense regional final two years ago, telling us to "go win it for Region III." However, make no mistake -- when these teams step onto the field, the intensity and desire to win is at an ultimate high. With a win, Louisiana Fire can clinch the league title and a berth to Regionals, and the same thing is on the line for FC Alliance if they also beat Tennessee SC afterward, so I know it will be just as hard fought and competitive as ever.  This is, oddly, the first time these teams have faced off since their amazing overtime game in the finals of Regionals in 2013.


Here is a history of this rivalry over the years.


March 2009 (U12)
Vulcan Cup Championship
FC Alliance 1-0 CSA Strike Squad


March 2011 (U14)
Region III PL Central
Louisiana Fire 1-0 FC Alliance


September 2011 (U15)
Southern Regional Premier League
Louisiana Fire 2-1 FC Alliance


September 2011 (U15)
Southern Regional Premier League
Louisiana Fire 2-0 FC Alliance


April 2012 (U15)
Friendly at the University of Alabama Soccer Stadium
Louisiana Fire 4-3 FC Alliance


June 2012 (U15)
Region III Championships -- Group Stage
FC Alliance 2-1 Louisiana Fire


June 2013 (U16)
Region III Championships -- Group Stage
Louisiana Fire 4-1 FC Alliance


June 2013 (U16)
Region III Championships -- Championship Match
Louisiana Fire 1-0 (OT) FC Alliance



Kickoff is at 5:00 this Saturday, April 11, at the YMCA fields in Montgomery, AL. I will be there and will try to post scoring updates, at least at halftime and final.

[soccerdad23]

Last time we played

[LAFire97G]

Apparently the fields have gotten wet from storms late this week, so the game tomorrow has been postponed to another weekend. Location and date TBA

[LAFire97G]

This game will be made up this coming Saturday 5/2 at 4:00 in Birmingham.

The winner of the game finishes 1st in the league and qualifies automatically for Regionals. Louisiana Fire has the edge if it ends in a tie. Should be a great match between 2 big rivals!

[LAFire97G]

Louisiana Fire wins 4-0. Fire led 1-0 at halftime after Kassandra Ortega was tripped from behind running into the box and Alex Thomas finished the PK. Eleanor Pratt, Mia Dubroc, and Lauren Bacque scored in the second half to round out a very solid win.

With the victory, Louisiana Fire seals the league title and a spot at Regionals. As a result, whoever finishes higher at State Cup between CSC Rage and the Mandeville Lakers will qualify for regionals as a second Louisiana team.