With the Spring 2024 UPSL season gearing up for an exciting finish over the next few weeks, we take a look at how things are shaping up Vlora’s Premier, Women, and U21 sides.
UPSL Premier
Vlora FC Premier opened the 2024 campaign with two tough results. They loss on the road 0-1 to Austin Vill FC and followed that up with a 0-3 loss in their home opener to Worthington Community FC. Lossing the first two games against what many considered midtable teams really left the squad with an uphill battle for the remainder of the season. After making some tactical changes the team would bounce back with a big 2-1 away win against 18×26 Academy. They would follow that up with a hard fought 1-1 tie against Leon FC, a game that started late due to weather conditions and ended in the 71st minute due for that same reason. Vlora felt this was a match had they played it out could have grabbed three points.
They would then go on to win the next two games 1-5 on the road against Superior City FC and 1-0 at home against Granite City FC. These two results put Vlora FC’s Premier side back in the playoff picture as we saw some other unexpected outcomes throughout the league. The most recent result was a 2-2 tie away at St. Paul Blackhawks. Although the team was able to pick up a point a win would have fared much better for the team’s playoff hopes. Having earned 11 points through 7 games, the team currently sits in 6th place. 1-point behind St. Paul Blackhawks (5th) and 2 points behind 18×26 Academy (4th). With three games left in the regular season, the Premier team’s best chance at making the playoffs is to win out as they face St. Croix Legends II (1st), Minneapolis City SC (2nd), and FC Minneapolis (10th).
UPSL Premier | Midwest West Division Standings
| Pos | Club | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Minneapolis City SC | 10 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 38 | 20 | 18 | 25 |
| 2 |  St. Croix SC | 10 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 36 | 16 | 20 | 24 |
| 3 |  St. Paul Blackhawks | 10 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 37 | 14 | 23 | 21 |
| 4 |  18×26 Academy | 10 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 28 | 16 | 12 | 20 |
| 5 |  Worthington Comm. FC | 10 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 16 | 32 | -16 | 15 |
| 6 |  Vlora FC | 10 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 16 | 13 | 3 | 14 |
| 7 |  Leon FC | 10 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 32 | 21 | 11 | 11 |
| 8 |  Austin Villa FC | 10 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 15 | 22 | -7 | 10 |
| 9 |  Superior City FC | 10 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 19 | 33 | -14 | 9 |
| 10 |  FC Minneapolis | 10 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 15 | 28 | -13 | 4 |
| 11 |  Granite City FC | 10 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 8 | 45 | -37 | 3 |
UPSL Women
Vlora FC’s women side sit 4th in table with 12 points. The squad has already surpassed their point total of 9 from last season in which is they finished 5th out 6 teams. With the league expanding to 12 teams this year it has and becoming more competitive it has been great to see the team step up.
UPSL Women | Midwest West Division
| Pos | Club | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  MN Aurora FC 2 | 11 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 45 | 7 | 38 | 29 |
| 2 |  NOSC Blast | 11 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 41 | 5 | 36 | 29 |
| 3 |  Northern Tide FC | 9 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 25 | 17 | 8 | 21 |
| 4 | Vlora FC | 10 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 20 | 11 | 9 | 17 |
| 5 |  MN TwinStars FC | 10 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 31 | 12 | 19 | 16 |
| 6 | Granite City FC | 10 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 28 | 15 | 13 | 14 |
| 7 | Superior City FC | 9 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 24 | 20 | 4 | 14 |
| 8 |  Tonka Fusion Elite 2 | 9 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 20 | 16 | 4 | 13 |
| 9 | St. Paul Blackhawks | 9 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 27 | -20 | 6 |
| 10 | Tonka Fusion Elite | 10 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 19 | 24 | -5 | 4 |
| 11 | St. Croix SC | 10 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 13 | 33 | -20 | 4 |
| 12 |  Skills FC | 10 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 1 | 87 | -87 | 0 |
Similar to the Vlora FC men’s Premier team, the women’s team did struggle to start the season. They started out with a 0-3 loss that would eventually be overturned into a Vlora win by forfeit, due to Granite City FC playing an unregistered player. That was then followed up by 0-3 home loss to Tonka Fusion Elite 2. The women’s side we bounce back from their early season struggles by going on a three-game win streak.
In that win streak that would beat Tonka Fusion Elite, St. Paul Blackhawks, and Skills FC; 3-1, 3-0, and 0-3, respectively. After this hot streak the women would sit at the top of the table. That streak would unfortunately come to an end after a 1-2 loss to preseason favorites Minnesota Aurora FC 2. A game in which Vlora lead 0-1 at the half but were unable to hold on and close it out. With 5 league games remaining a lot can still happen, and Vlora women will continue fight to stay in the playoff hunt.
UPSL Division 1 (Vlora FC 2)
Vlora FC added a Under 21 side (Vlora FC 2) to UPSL Division 1 for the first time to more opportunities for younger players to develop within its ranks. This team is very talented and has been constructed with local college and high school players. The squad started off the season very strong with season 0-6 win over Dakota SC. They would then follow that up with a 1-0 win over Shakopee and 1-1 tie against Skills FC. Following the strong start the team would then get their first loss on the road 2-3 against Rochester FC. The squad bounced back by winning 0-3 on the road against Superior City FC 2.
Midway through the UPSL Division 1 regular season Vlora FC 2 is now sit third in the table in what is looking to be a very tight race at the top. Bateaux FC, Joy Athletic, Vlora FC 2, St. Paul United, and Skills FC sit 1-5 in the table in that respective order all having earned 10 points thus far. Bateaux, Joy Athletic and Vlora FC 2 all level on Goal Difference. The only separator is Goals For. Bateaux lead the league with 19 goals for, but also have an extra game played. Vlora FC 2 have a big opportunity this week to grab the top spot with two games this week. Friday, hosting St. Paul United FC at home and going on the road Sunday against Bateaux FC.
2024 UPSL Division 1
| Pos | Club | P | W | D | L | A | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Bateaux FC | 10 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 12 | 23 | 22 |
| 2 | Minneapolis City SC 2 | 10 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 15 | 18 | 20 |
| 3 |  Joy Athletic | 10 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 13 | 12 | 19 |
| 4 |  St. Paul United FC | 10 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 23 | 7 | 19 |
| 5 | Skills FC | 10 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 16 | 4 | 16 |
| 6 |  Shakopee | 10 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 13 | -1 | 13 |
| 7 |  Vlora FC U21 | 10 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 22 | -3 | 13 |
| 8 |  Dakota SC | 10 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 26 | -9 | 11 |
| 9 |  Manitou FC | 10 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 28 | -7 | 10 |
| 10 | Superior City FC 2 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 28 | -24 | 7 |
| 11 |  Rochester FC | 9 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 32 | -20 | 6 |
