Virginia Beach United Holds Heavy Advantages Ahead of Matchup With Virginia Marauders F.C.
By Nicholas King — June 26, 2024
In sports, no outcome is guaranteed. Victory or defeat cannot be precisely predicted with absolute certainty before a match. That is why the game is played. Regardless, there are instances where a team has no excuse for losing. For example, Virginia Beach United should not lose to Virginia Marauders F.C. on Wednesday night.
On all accounts, the Marauders are a lowly opponent. The Winchester-based club holds a lousy 1-6-0 record and sits in last place in the Chesapeake Division. Their lack of success cannot be pinned simply on one area of the pitch. The offense has only marked three goals on the year, which is not only bottom in the division but tied for last among all 128 USL2 teams. The defense isn’t much better, having conceded a division-high 22 scores on the season. Those figures result in a -19 goal differential, the sixth worst in all of USL2.
On the other hand, Virginia Beach United has scored more than four times as many goals as the Virginia Marauders in the same number of matches. With 13 goals this season, United’s attack holds a clear advantage, especially considering the Marauders have the worst statistical defense Virginia Beach has encountered all year. The biggest gap between the two teams in this match, however, is the disparity between United’s defense and the Marauders’ offense. Virginia Beach, who has surrendered a mere four goals this season, good enough for third in all of USL2, is set to be paired against the league’s worst offense. This significant mismatch gives United its largest advantage heading into a match all season. This significant mismatch gives United its clearest and greatest advantage heading into a match this season. Chris Mills’ defenses have been historically strong wherever he has coached, and this unit should be a suffocating one on Wednesday night when both teams take the pitch.
However, numbers can only tell a part of the story. The Marauders are on their hottest stretch of the season, having secured a victory in their last appearance to snap an eight-game winless streak. Yet, momentum still favors United. Virginia Beach has not lost a USL2 match since its opener on May 11. Not only that, Virginia Beach is still vying for a playoff spot, including a potential first-place finish. In contrast, the Marauders are now solely playing for pride at this point in the season. Although pride is a powerful motivator, it is unlikely to carry the Marauders through the potential adversity, especially when compared to Virginia Beach, which has accolades and franchise history on the line.
Combine the statistical and momentum advantages with United’s home-field advantage Wednesday night, and it becomes visibly apparent that in no universe should United lose this game. But England should not have lost to Iceland in the 2010 Euros. Argentina should not have lost to Saudi Arabia in the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Those games tell us that anything is possible, sure. But a loss to the Virginia Marauders on Wednesday night would be nothing short of unacceptable.
Virginia Beach United and Virginia Marauders F.C. kick off at 7 PM Wednesday night at the Virginia Beach Sportsplex. For the live stream, head to COVA Sports on YouTube.