Crunch, Wings matchup is first-place battle in 'must see' M2 soccer matchup Saturday

TAMPA, Fla. – On paper, it’s probably the juiciest matchup of the regular season. And there’s some who think it might be a preview for the Major Arena Soccer League 2 “Championship Weekend” July 17 and 18.

However you look at it, Saturday’s showdown between the Cleveland Crunch and Wichita Wings figures to be must see soccer.

The two sides are battling it out for a regular season title, which will be determined by overall winning percentage this year only since teams are not able to play the same number of games as other teams because of the Covid-19 outbreak.

As such, the Crunch (7-1) come in with a .938 winning percentage, while Wichita (4-1) sits at .800. 

However, Saturday’s game is the first of six for the Wings this month which will conclude their regular season. The Crunch will end their regular slate with a road game Sunday in Omaha, giving them the required minimum 10 games played to qualify for the M2 post-season.

Wichita, Cleveland and the Amarillo Bombers have already secured playoff spots, with the fourth and final spot to go to either the Chicago Mustangs (who have finished their regular season at 5-5) or the Omaha Kings, who at 5-7 still have two games remaining and could catch the Mustangs. 

Not only could a regular season title be on the line, so too are bragging rights in a game that will feature the home debut of Franck and Uzi Tayou. Franck, a four time Most Valuable pick in the Major Arena Soccer League, is on loan from the Ontario Fury who he led to the MASL finals this spring. 

The Tayou’s made their Wichita in Chicago in early May, when the Wings and Mustangs split a pair of games. Franck had five goals in the two games, and in 113 regular season MASL games over the past six seasons, he has an incredible 286 goals. Uzi, a defender, had a goal in two assists in the pair of games.

MASL star midfielder James Togbah, on loan from Utica City FC, will also suit up this weekend for Wichita. Game time from Hartman Arena will be 7 p.m. Central Standard time.

Sunday’s game in Omaha between the Kings and Crunch will be an important one for the Kings, who need a win to keep their post-season hopes alive. Kickoff at Off the Wall Indoor Soccer in Omaha is at 3 p.m. CST.