UPSL Midwest Central · Week 5
The UPSL Midwest Central race shifted in Week 5. FC 1974 Libertyville moved into sole possession of first place, KS Wisłoka Chicago handed Chicago Strikers a costly defeat and Chicago Nation FC produced the weekend’s biggest victory.
Five matches across Illinois delivered 18 goals, three shutouts and an increasingly crowded battle behind the conference leaders.
UPSL Midwest Central
Week 5 Final Scores
Saturday, Sept. 26
Sunday, Sept. 27
Match of the week
Wisłoka knocks the Strikers off the top
KS Wisłoka Chicago delivered the most important result of the round with a 3–2 home victory over Chicago Strikers at Bensenville Redmond Park.
Wisłoka entered the match following consecutive one-goal defeats, but responded by scoring three times against the conference’s most productive attack. The victory improved the club to 2–1–2 and moved it to seven points through five matches.
For the Strikers, the loss ended a three-game winning streak and dropped the club from first to third place. Chicago still leads the conference with 16 goals and owns the best goal differential at plus-11, but its second defeat of the season leaves it three points behind Libertyville.
Watch the full match
Video source: Midwest Media Network ↗
New conference leader
Libertyville takes control of first place
FC 1974 Libertyville continued its strong run with a 2–1 home victory over TBD FC at Libertyville Soccer Complex.
It was Libertyville’s third consecutive win and fourth victory in five league matches. The result lifted FC 1974 to 12 points and gave the club sole possession of first place.
TBD remained competitive in another close match but fell to 1–2–2. With five points from five games, the Madison club now sits eighth as the race for the postseason positions begins to take shape.
Statement performance
Chicago Nation makes an emphatic statement
Chicago Nation FC produced the biggest victory of Week 5, defeating Ethos Academy Chicago 5–0 at College of DuPage.
Nation remained unbeaten and improved to 3–2–0. The five-goal performance moved the club to 11 points, only one behind Libertyville, while its defense has now allowed just three goals in five matches — the best record in the conference.
Ethos dropped to 2–0–2 and remains on six points. After scoring four goals against Urbana in Week 4, the club was unable to break through against a Nation defense that has recorded three shutouts this season.
Watch the full match
Video source: Midwest Media Network ↗
Berber City remains unbeaten
Berber City FC continued its impressive start with a 3–0 road victory over Force Football Club at The MAC.
Berber City improved to 2–1–0 and moved to seven points despite playing only three matches. With games in hand on every team above it, the club remains one of the most dangerous challengers in the conference.
Force fell to 0–1–4 and has now lost four consecutive matches. The club remains in search of its first victory after conceding 19 goals through five games.
Round Lake earns an important road win
Round Lake Evolution FC collected three points with a 2–0 victory over Urbana City FC at Judah’s Field of Dreams.
The result gave Round Lake its second shutout and improved the club to 2–1–1. With seven points from four matches, Evolution joins Berber City and Wisłoka in a tightly packed group behind the top three.
Urbana dropped to 0–5–0 and remains the only team in the conference without a point. The club has scored three goals and conceded 20 through its opening five matches.
Conference table
UPSL Midwest Central standings after Week 5
| Pos. | Team | GP | W-D-L | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | FC 1974 Libertyville | 5 | 4-0-1 | +6 | 12 |
| 2 | Chicago Nation FC | 5 | 3-2-0 | +9 | 11 |
| 3 | Chicago Strikers | 5 | 3-0-2 | +11 | 9 |
| 4 | Berber City FC | 3 | 2-1-0 | +5 | 7 |
| 5 | KS Wisłoka Chicago | 5 | 2-1-2 | +4 | 7 |
| 6 | Round Lake Evolution FC | 4 | 2-1-1 | +4 | 7 |
| 7 | Ethos Academy Chicago | 4 | 2-0-2 | -4 | 6 |
| 8 | TBD FC | 5 | 1-2-2 | -1 | 5 |
| 9 | Force Football Club | 5 | 0-1-4 | -17 | 1 |
| 10 | Urbana City FC | 5 | 0-0-5 | -17 | 0 |
Libertyville leads, but the race remains open
FC 1974 Libertyville leaves Week 5 with a one-point advantage over unbeaten Chicago Nation, while Chicago Strikers remain within one victory of the top.
The biggest threat outside the leading trio may be Berber City. The club has seven points from only three matches and could climb quickly as it begins to make up its games in hand. Wisłoka and Round Lake are also level on seven points, while Ethos and TBD remain close enough to rejoin the leading group with one strong weekend.
Week 5 produced a new leader, ended the Strikers’ winning streak and confirmed that the Midwest Central race remains far from settled. Follow the Marketing Media TV UPSL Midwest Central hub for local match coverage and updated conference standings.
