Match Preview: MOBA-Brilla Battle in Peachtree City

Peachtree City need to keep winning. It is as simple as that. If MOBA can keep getting three points every time out for the rest of the season, they will be sitting on twenty-seven points, which could see them into the playoffs. That task, however, will meet its first real test on Thursday, when Peachtree City welcome a red-hot Mississippi Brilla FC side into the suburbs.

With back-to-back matches against the last place team in the division last week, Peachtree City were not able to capitalize completely on the opportunity they had before them, but they did get some important results nonetheless. After conceding a goal to Memphis that nullified John Cozine opener, MOBA came right back and grabbed another late in the first half, this time from Morgan Hackworth, and the Yellow and Black were able to hold on for the 2-1 win. Two days later, the sides met again, and after a scoreless first half, Dean Foster and Peyton McKnatt traded second half goals as the two teams split the points. Four points out of six certainly is not a bad result (especially considering the way the season was going before that), but it will be crucial for MOBA to go after all three points in every match from here on out. MOBA have plenty of in-form talent to compete with the best, as Dean Foster now sits on four goals and four assists on the year and John Cozine has a goal and assist to his name in his last two matches.

While the goal is clear, the task of getting three points won't be so easy, as Mississippi Brilla FC are on a tear as of late, riding a six-match unbeaten streak into this meeting with Peachtree City. Impressive as that may be, it doesn't come without some questions as to why. Over all nine of the matches Brilla have played this season, not once have they played a side that is currently higher than fifth on the division table, as they have only played the likes of Tri-Cities (5th), Birmingham (6th), and Memphis (7th). Peachtree City currently sit fourth, so they should be a more formidable foe for their second-place rivals, which could make for an interesting match. Brilla look at a very tough stretch coming after this MOBA match, as they then have to face SC United (3rd) and Tormenta FC (1st) before closing the season with back-to-back home matches against Peachtree City.

Keys to Success:

• Don't Let That Record Fool You: Mississippi are a very good team, and that showed when they knocked off Indy Eleven in the US Open Cup back in May. Despite that, you cannot play like they are a better team. If that is what MOBA do, they will spend the entire match on the back foot trying to defend. They need to play through their forwards and keep the pressure on Brilla to do something unbeatable, especially considering MOBA have never beaten Brilla (the two sides drew in Clinton last season).
• Defend: While it will be important to play very attacking football, that is not to say that there should be no defense. As it stands, Mississippi lead the Deep South Division in scoring with twenty-one goals in nine games, and there are no signs on them letting off the gas. They will be looking to attack as well, so it will take a full effort to keep Richard Bryan and Ali Brador off the scoresheet.

Kickoff for Peachtree City MOBA vs. Mississippi Brilla FC is scheduled for June 28th at 7:30 PM at the MOBA Soccer Academy in Peachtree City. Tickets for the match are available at the gate, and a livestream can be found at MOBASoccer.com/PTCLIVE.

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