Segunda's top four teams play each other this week in a pair of matches that could determine how a very close table shakes out the rest of the season.

The all-blacks of Skulls FC are seeking to make it back to Primera, where just two years ago they earned the championship of Casa's top division, and a balanced squad this year has seen 11 different players score the team's 14 goals. Their opponent, 2nd place, Philly United, sits just one point off the top of a table, and a win this week could put them in the driver's seat down the stretch run.

Of course, that all depends on how first place Cannons FC fare against third place Real Optimus. The division's leading scorer, Mike Trofa, has bolstered the Cannons' chances of making back to Primera after last season's disappointing relegation. But like the Cannons, Real Optimus hasn't lost a game this season, and chances are that Chris Jennings' squad isn't planning on doing so this week either.

The Cannons – Real Optimus match is at 8:50 a.m. on Field 7. Skulls – Philly United is at 10:45 a.m. on Field 1.

Fall 2009 Week 8
By Dan Walsh

It's only so often that two of Casa's top teams face off, but it'll happen this week when Deportivo Arsenal and West Philly FC face off. The race for the Primera title could go through these teams, as they sit in the top third of the table. Midfielder Tom Fone leads a pacy Arsenal squad against a West Philly squad that is showing it belongs in Primera. Game time: 10:45 a.m., Field 2.

Meanwhile, Tercera's top two teams have a match of their own, as Organized Chaos FC and Sporting Philly play at 4:30 on Field 2. Organized Chaos has won its first four matches, while Sporting Philly was held to a scoreless draw last week after winning its first three matches. The winner of this match will top the table next week.

Fall 2009 Week 7
By Ryan Pine

Both teams have two wins, one draw, and one loss. Both teams have seven points. Both teams have scored seven goals. Both teams are in Segunda’s top three. Both teams begin with Philadelphia. Both teams will come to play this Saturday.

Philly United and Philadelphia Athletic, the number two and three teams, respectively, meet up in Week 7 of Casa action. United, led by sweeper Tim Scanlan, narrowly lead Rich Rizzo’s Athletic on goal differential. Both teams are one point adrift the division’s frontrunners, the Cannons. If Philly United wants to walk away with all three points they’ll have to slow down Sam Haaz, the right winger pacing Athletic with two goals and two assists. Veteran United shot stopper Geoff Long will be sure to keep an eye on him.

Week 7 should go a long way in clarifying a cloudy Segunda playoff picture. Parity is the name of the game this season as a mere three points separate 7th place from 1st. Watch the drama unfold at 12:40 p.m. on Pennypack 1.

Fall 2009 Week 6
By Dan Walsh

After two years as a perennial doormat, FC Spartans have shown up to play this season and are unbeaten through three games in Tercera. Thanks to some added depth, stalwarts such as striker Marquis Ryan-Walker, goalkeeper Greg Watson and defenders John Paulick and Derek Kendig may no longer have to worry about those dreaded games where only 10 players show up. Eight players have scored for them so far. They've even offered a surprise fashion statement by ditching their old orange jerseys for a new white uniform.

But are they for real, or have they benefited from a weak schedule, with two wins against Tercera's two pointless teams?

We'll find out this week, when they take on Organized Chaos, who have won three straight to open the fall. After finishing in last place in fall 2008, OC improved to mid-table in the spring and then made the Summer Cup semifinals. Midfielder Lee Superville has found the net six times already, with his two goals Saturday making the difference in a 2-1 win over Lot Lizards.

Game time: Saturday, 1:10 p.m., on Field 1.

Meanwhile, up in Primera, unbeaten West Philly FC will try to keep its win streak alive against Philip Dadzie's mid-table United FC. Game time: 3:05 p.m., Field 2.

See box score here

Fall 2009 Week 5
By Brion Shreffler

Cannons FC v Grey Lodge Public SC 5pm Field 7

If Drinkers Pub United (facing an 0-2 Nittany United) doesn't derail anytime soon, then the losers of this one might find themselves adrift of the title race, with Mario Gentile et al of the Cannons possibly sweating a longer stay in Segunda than expected. While Cannons looks to shrug off anyone standing in their way back to the top flight, the Lodgers just might pounce on the chance to prove themselves against a fallen superpower.

Meanwhile, down in Tercera, two unbeaten teams face off as Organized Chaos FC takes on Lot Lizards. Lee Superville comes in as Tercera's second leading scorer, with four goals in two games, while Lot Lizards has been doing it with defense thus far, conceding only one goal this season.

Fall 2009 Week 4

In Abierto, this week sees two teams coming off of close wins and battling to stay at the top of the table. Park Towne United goes head-to-head with Marlton FC. Both new to the league, neither team wants this to be the game that marks their first loss. See who declares victory on field 1 at 5:00 p.m.

See box score here

Fall 2009 Week 3
By Ryan Pine

In May of 2005, American business tycoon, Malcom Glazer, acquired a controlling interest in Manchester United Football Club. The takeover effectively installed Glazer’s sons as chairmen of the club and alienated thousands of the Reds’ faithful supporters. Some Red Devils just couldn’t stomach the fact that a red-bearded, pirate from Tampa would be at the helm of the pride of Manchester. Out of this intense hatred for throwball and anything American, FCUM or Football Club United of Manchester, was born. Enjoying promotion from semi-professional status and into the National League System, the “Red Rebels” are flourishing in the 7th tier of English football.

In our third scheduled week of matches, Casa’s Tercera Division finds a similar situation. Sporting Philly saw had their own mutiny in the offseason with dissenters organizing themselves into a splinter club, PPR or the Pennypack Park Rangers. No, not the people in little Jeeps who rarely open the front gate on time. We’re talking about captain Matthew Kiel’s merry band of footballers. From the sweeper position, Matt will be guiding PPR in their quest to land the first body blow in what is sure to be Casa’s latest heated rivalry. However, Todd Boyko and the original Sporting Philly cast will have a lot to say about it. Come watch the drama unfold Saturday, 5 p.m., Pennypack 1.

See box score here

Fall 2009 Week 2
By Dan Walsh

Penn United starts its Primera division run with a big-time reality check. After their startling string of playoff upsets won them promotion from Segunda last spring, they open their Primera run against the Allstars, one of the division's top teams. It will be a tough first test for Penn United, but they'll aim to show they're in Primera to stay. Match starts Saturday at 5 p.m. at Philadelphia Soccer Club.

Meanwhile, in Abierto, we have a match between two of the most entertainingly named teams in Casa: PA Baracus vs. Spruce Goose FC.

Will Spruce Goose knock out PA Baracus and stuff them in a plane? Or will Baracus pity the fools and show who the real A-Team is by cooking Spruce’s Goose? Come see whose on-field form matches their off-field wit. Game on at 3:05 p.m. at Pennypack Field 1.

Fall 2009 Week 1
By Brion Shreffler

To put this game in perspective you'd have to imagine a matchup of Chelsea v Nottingham Forest in the Championship, albeit with a Nottingham team that had achieved top honors in more recent history. Freshly relegated, Cannons FC are in strange territory having won both the league and playoff cup on several occasions. In fall '08 they finished just above the relegation zone only to lose on PKs to current Primera champion Deportivo in the final. There was no such run for them in spring '09 and now they start their battle back to the top flight against another fallen champion, The Skulls, who tore up the league upon entry in spring '07, finishing the season perched atop the table. With 7 new signings up his sleeve, captain Ryan Pine is certain this season presents their best shot to date of moving on up. Letting the Cannons know that their own climb out isn't going to be easy would be a good start. Check it out, Saturday, at 3:05 p.m. at the Philadelphia Soccer Club on Field 2.

Charles Dickens famously once wrote, "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times". The final week of the Casa Spring 2009 season provides us with our own tale of two cities. Deportivo Arsenal has enjoyed an unbelievable run, conceding a paltry four goals in eight matches, while bagging seventeen of their own. The only blemish on captain Rory O'Kane's record being a narrow 2-nil defeat at the hands of Steagles United. The Gunners can wrap up the Primera season title with a win Saturday. But to do it they'll have to get past a Cannons team with everything to play for.

After two consecutive one-goal defeats to Milan and West Philly, Mario Gentile's Cannons FC find themselves near the Primera basement, with one chance left to try and avoid a wildcard match and potential relegation for the first time in franchise history. In order to do so, they'll have to score on Casa's stingiest defense. Thankfully, in perennial golden boot winner Tony Mitchell, they have the firepower to do just that.

A Cannons win and an AC Milan loss would go a long way to helping the Cannons maintain their hard fought Primera status. But Deportivo Arsenal's hunger for cup glory will have a lot to say about it first. Check it out, Saturday, at 5:00 p.m. on Pennypack 2.

See box score here

Spring 2009 Week 8
By Brion Shreffler

Sweet Lucy! the 4th division table bears an anomaly perhaps never before seen this late into a season: the number 4 team Sweet Lucy's FC has a higher GD(6) at 3-1-3 than that of the first place team, Lots Lizards(5 at 5-1-1). Okay, the 4th tier has only 6 teams, so perhaps this is due to familiarity arising from playing most of the opposition twice. But this facet could make for some of the most heated playoff match-ups come late June, with one of them potentially being another meeting of these teams in the first round(the top 4 make the playoffs)...that is, unless the smokehousers have something to say about it. Having lost to Lots Lizards 2-1 on April 18th, they seem set for revenge; they throttled SoB Union and Spruce Goose FC in their previous outings, with danger man Jonas Persson carrying over back-to-back braces, while Lots Lizards have stalled somewhat; they played to a scoreless draw with Vietnamese United following a 2-1 win to SoB Union. Perhaps Lots Lizards will hit their stride but a stumble here can jeopardize their chances of claiming the division with a return match the following week against VNU.

See box score here

Spring 2009 Week 7
By Dan Walsh

Three divisions will see their first and second-place teams face off in a scheduling fluke that promises a terrific weekend of soccer.

In Primera, second place Deportivo Arsenal take on the division-leading Allstars. Only one point in the standings separates the rivals, who have won the last two Primera championships. Allstars strikers Archyn and Schmuel Butler lead Casa’s most potent attack against a strong Arsenal defense that has surrendered only three goals this season. The winner takes first place. Game on at 9:20 a.m. on Field 1.

If a 9:20 game is too early for you, then check out these two 3:05 matches:

In Tercera, the 1 vs. 2 match-up pits another offensive powerhouse against Casa’s stingiest defense, as NewPhillyUnited seek to extend their 10-game winning streak against second place Nittany United. Strikers Mansour Ourasanah and Chris Velazquez have scored 10 of NPU’s division-leading 19 goals, but Nittany United and goalkeeper Lee Jacobs have allowed only two goals all season.

In Abierto, Vietnamese United will try to cut the division lead of Lot Lizards, a team comprised of several former Primera players led by captain Jeremy Samet, the division’s leading scorer.

Games start at 3:05, on Fields 2 and 5, respectively.

See box score here

Spring 2009 Week 6
By Eric Wirth

In the Abierto Division there are plenty of new names and faces but already a few rivalries are taking shape. In Week 2 Sweet Lucy's and Spruce Goose came to a 1-1 draw. Since then, both teams have struggled and find themselves at the bottom of the table. Each team desperately needs a win on Saturday if they want to position themselves for a run at the post-season so the intensity level is sure to be high.

While they only have one win between the two teams, Sweet Lucy's has thus far had the more potent offense, notching nine goals to the Goose's two. In this pivotal match might we see the beginning of a turnaround? Find out on Field 7 at 11:15 a.m.

See box score here

Spring 2009 Week 5
By Ryan Pine

When scanning the fixture list for Casa’s week five matches, the neutral fan’s finger comes to a halt over two names: Sons of Ben Athletic and Sons of Ben Independence. This is our El Classico. This is the Northeast’s version of Fenerbache v. Galatasaray. This is the mother of all derbies. This is...SONS OF BEN ARMAGEDDON!

Sure, off the field you know them as the lovable, affable, scarf-sporting, pint-downing, fun-loving boys loitering in your favorite football pub, singing songs about a yet-to-be-named Philly MLS team. They travel the region beating their drums and waving their flags in support of everyone from the U.S. Men’s National Team to the USL’s Harrisburg City Islanders. But come this Saturday, at 9:20 a.m. on Pennypack 7, they’ll drop the drum kits and strap on the footy kits for an all-out civil war.

Talk of derbies usually means tossing out the record books and stats. However, it’s worth noting that along with bragging rights, the victor of Saturday’s clash of Tercera titans will climb nearer to the division summit. A single point separates John Simpson’s Sons of Ben Independence from SoB compatriot Rich Rizzo’s Athletic.

SoB-A and SoB-I are both coming off identical 1-all draws in which both sides failed to score or concede in their respective second halves. Both managers will be looking to add a robust attack to an already stout defense. Peter Walters and his team-leading three goals and two assists will lead the charge for Independence; while Athletic counterpart Justin Call will surely seek to add to his three tallies.

A Casa instant classic you won’t want to miss...Saturday, May 2nd, 9:20 a.m., Pennypack 7.

See box score here

Spring 2009 Week 4
By Brion Shreffler

New Philly United has rolled smoothly through the first three weeks, having dropped unanswered braces on their last two opponents following a 7-2 route of FC Spartans in week 1. It will be a tough task then for FC Zot, who has yet to the find the goals, to hinder United's unchallenged run through the 3rd Division. To their credit, Zot did handcuff the high-scoring #2 seed, Sons of Ben Athletic, in a scoreless draw in week 3. But other than 3 goals against the luckless(and truly laconic) Spartans, Zot's one other goal came in a 2-1 loss to Gremio FBPA. Perhaps this is the week Zot's forwards finally see daylight and come to the aid of their D, led by sweeper Jonathan Liu, since razor wire matches are a bit easier to bear when ahead even by the slimmest of margins. 3:05 Field 5.

See box score here

Spring 2009 Week 3
By Brion Shreffler

The Skulls look to shake up the 2nd Tier table when they meet recently promoted Phillly Soccer Firm at 11:15 am on Field 7. PSF is top of the table, neck and neck with Cracovia with each team at 6pts, and shows no signs of letting up after dispatching Real Mensches(4-1) and Penn United(2-0) in strong displays. The Skulls though are retooled from last season, with architect Ryan Pine shoring up the defense and adding a lethal foot at the striking position, so things can get a bit jumbled in the early going, especially with Cracovia playing 4th place Real Optimus.

See box score here

Spring 2009 Week 2
By Ryan Pine
Week Two Match of the Week keeps us in the Primera Division of Casa as two original top-flight heavyweights square off.

Cannons FC are to Casa’s Primera as Manchester United are to England’s Premiership. In a word, dominant. They have the silverware in the trophy case to prove it. They have the stats in the vault to substantiate it. But in football, as in life, the question always seems to be, “What have you done for me lately?”. If we’re going to start using that other “d” word- dynasty to describe the Cannons, they’re going to have to do better than the nil-nil draw they posted in week one.

The ink on one particular page of the Casa history books could be dry by Saturday afternoon. At 1:10 p.m. on Pennypack 7, the Orange Crush will look to unload their arsenal on Les Levriers. The Greyhounds are no strangers to cup glory themselves and arguably possess the most gifted midfield in the league in Carlos Barbosa, Ethan Hughes, and Juan “Gattuso” Gennaro. They’ll need to be as swift as their namesakes if they have any ideas of galloping past the stingy Cannons defense, led by captain Mario Gentile.

This match-up has more trimmin’ and fixins’ than a Thanksgiving turkey dinner: a great exhibition of skill blended with power, pace, and passion. This is the best Casa has to offer.

Will their Blood Runneth Orange or will the Greyhounds runneth all over them? Come find out, 1:10 p.m., Pennypack 7.

See box score here

Spring 2009 Week 1
By Ryan Pine

Casa is back for the Spring 2009 season and Match of the Week takes us to the Primera Division in a clash of newly-promoted teams.

Original Casa squads West Philly FC and AC Milan lock horns in what is sure to be the main course in a smorgasbord of tasty weekend match-ups.

This tie used to be more Tiger v. Phil than Federer-Nadal with Milan’s record against West Philly standing at 0-2-1 going into last season. That all changed in the fall with the Rossoneri thumping the blue and whites, 3-nil, in the Segunda Cup Final.

However, Captain Mike Servedio and his merry band of West Philadelphians are surely out to reassert their dominance over their Primera rivals.

Can Brion Shreffler’s men begin the new campaign victoriously? Find out Saturday, March 28th, 9:20 a.m., Pennypack 1.

See box score here