Match preview: Tropics head to SIMA in showdown against Aguilas with playoffs on the line

MONTVERDE, Fla. – The Lakeland Tropics will face their biggest challenge yet on their late-season push to the playoffs when they hit the road Tuesday to take on the division-leading SIMA Aguilas.

The Aguilas sit atop the Premier Development League's southeast division at 10-1-1 (31 points), while Lakeland is in third with a mark of 9-2-1 (28 points.)  The two teams played July 1 at Bryant Stadium, with the Tropics handing SIMA their only loss of the season, 3-2.

Despite trailing the Aguilas, Lakeland controls its playoff destiny, as only two teams in the division advance to the post-season. The Tropics must defeat SIMA, and then win on the road Thursday against the Tampa Bay Rowdies U23 side. Should they pull off that daily double, the Tropics would be assured of one of the playoff spots. FC Miami City at 9-1-1 is in second place, and plays Monday night on the road against the South Florida Surf. This is the final week of the regular season.

Goaltender Jonathan Valerio will be available Tuesday, after sitting out the last two games because of a red-card suspension. However, Jorge Navarette has been good as well, winning both of those starts, highlighted by turning back a penalty kick against the Palm Beach Suns with the Tropics nursing a 2-1 lead.

Lakeland currently is on a three-game win streak, and won six in a row earlier this season.  SIMA is on a two-game win streak since their loss in Lakeland, and opened the season unbeaten in nine in a row (8-0-1).

Ricardo Diegues continues to lead the Tropics with 10 goals, although he has been kept off the score sheet the last two games despite several good chances. Victor Rojas, the team's second leading scorer, left the team last week to sign a professional contract in Portugal, but Juan Tejada continues his strong play up front, and has five goals on the year including one last week against Palm Beach. Rojas had two second half goals in the win over SIMA, while Diegues opened the scoring.

Bruno Lapa and Santiago Patino lead the Aguilas with four goals each. Biska Biyombo is the 15th ranked player in the PDL, according to the PDL's ranking of the top 50 players in the 72-team league. He played in the second-half only in Lakeland, and has three goals. Both Lapa and Biyombo scored in Lakeland.

Kickoff is at 7 p.m. at Montverde Academy.