Preview: Open Cup bid at stake when Steel City FC face Med City FC in NPSL Midwest Regional in Des Moines

photo courtesy John Krysinsky / Pittsburgh Soccer Now

NPSL Midwest Region Semifinal 

Steel City FC (1-seed) vs Med City FC (4-seed) 

5 p.m. (ET) – Indianola Stadium, Indianola, IA

Live Stream Here on FIFA+

 

Following the excitement of capturing the Great Lakes Conference Championship on Saturday, Steel City FC’s men’s squad are in Des Moines, Iowa for the NPSL Midwest Regional Semifinal match vs Med City FC Mayham (MN), to be played at 5 p.m. (ET).

The Club is promoting a watch party at Voodoo Brewing Co.  in New Kensington.

GAME DAY!! Men's team is in Iowa for the 2023 NPSL Midwest Region Semifinals! They are taking on @MedCityFC

Get to Voodoo to cheer the boys on! LET'S GO SC!! 👏👏👏

⏰5 pm ET (4 pm CT)
📺🎉📍956 5th Ave, New Kensington, PA 15068#pittsburghsoccer #npsl #strongertogether pic.twitter.com/qJN8Nwrlq7

— Steel City FC (@SteelCityFC) July 21, 2023

Head Coach Dan Brower’s squad defeated rival Cleveland SC, 2-0, on Saturday to advance in the National Tournament, where they’ll now travel to the Midwest Region playoffs, along with Med City FC, Tulsa Athletic and the hosts, Des Moines United FC.

“We have a long week ahead of us, and a lot of work to do,” Brower said after the big win on Saturday, before he knew his team’s travel plans and opponent.

“If we can win, we can guarantee a U.S. Open Cup bid, and this club deserves that.”

The NPSL’s top eight teams (each of the Regional Finalists), will be eligible to enter the 2024 U.S. Open Cup Despite being the top seed in the Region,

Steel City (11-0-2), were nudged out of being able to host the Region playoffs at Founders Field in the outskirts of Pittsburgh. Instead the site for the NPSL Regional was determined by proposal which was submitted by the participating teams, and reviewed by those teams, league Staff, and Board of Directors members from the Midwest Region.

Med City advanced to the semifinals by virtue of its 2-1 defeat of Diluth (MN), in what was a pretty wild match on Saturday.

The winner of the match will have a super quick turnaround, as they’ll face the winner of the second semifinal match between Des Moines United FC and Tulsa Athletic, on Saturday at 7 p.m.

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The Pittsburgh club has been selling t-shirts and seeking support to cover costs of their first-ever trip to the NPSL Regional tournament.   T-shirts can be purchased at store.steelcityfc.com

Orders still being accepted!! We're almost there! pic.twitter.com/1ZzZqzUYEf

— Steel City FC (@SteelCityFC) July 18, 2023

 

2023 NPSL Midwest Region Semifinals – July 21: Host Des Moines United FC

5 p.m.  (ET) — #1 seed Steel City FC x #4 seed Med City FC
8 p.m.  (ET) — #2 seed Des Moines United FC x #3 seed Tulsa Athletic

2023 NPSL Midwest Region Final – July 22: Host Des Moines United FC

7 p.m. (ET) — Highest remaining seed x Lowest remaining seed

 

INTERVIEW WITH STEEL CITY HC DAN BROWER