Pro Soccer in Malden This Weekend

MALDEN, MA - Malden hosts an exciting pro soccer match Sunday when Boston City FC Lions, unbeaten in five matches, takes on one of its main rivals in a match with playoff implications when the Rhode Island Reds visit Malden Catholic at 6 p.m. on Sunday.

The Lions (6-3-2, 20 points) have played a match more than the Reds (6-3-1, 19 points) and sit a single point above their weekend visitors in the National Premier Soccer League Northeast Atlantic Conference standings, making this a clash for second place and an edge in the race for the postseason.

The Reds face the table-topping New York Cosmos B (9-2-1, 28 points) on Saturday and boast a six-match streak without a loss. The top two teams in the division will qualify for a six-team regional playoff, with Greater Lowell United (4-3-4, 16 points) also in contention.

Fans have a chance to own a unique piece of memorabilia by buying the shirt off the back of a Boston City FC player, a release said. The team will wear the club's third strip of white shirts, a change from the usual blue or red colors and those match-worn shirts will be sold, priced $60 each, to the first person who makes a payment and will be handed over to the buyer by the player after the match, a release said.

Boston City FC fans arriving at Malden T station can again travel free of charge to the match on a shuttle bus service courtesy of Malden Trans that will run at 6.30 p.m., 7 p.m. and 7.30 p.m. and offers a return ride after the match, a release said.

The Lions play the third of a four-match home stand that saw a 2-0 win over Kingston Stockade on Sunday highlighted by a stunning Homero Morais strike from distance after long spells of possession had proved fruitless until the midfielder scored after 72 minutes, a release said.

"The last three games we've played very well knocking the ball around and I don't think there was a doubt we would score," said Morais.

Fellow midfielder Michael Bustamante claimed his fifth and team-leading goal of the season, scoring at home for the second consecutive match.

"Every player wants to contribute and I'm here for the team," said Bustamante of his current rich vein of form. "Personally I'm happy, but so long as we're winning I don't mind who scores the goals."

Boston City will be without forward Pedro Da Silva, who will serve a one-match suspension for receiving two yellow cards against the Stockade, while fellow striker Yaw Addow hopes to return having missed that win with a knee injury.

The Lions' four-match home stand will be completed in midweek when the Seacoast United Mariners visit Malden Catholic, kickoff at 8 p.m.