Restored Keyworth Stadium in Hamtramck, Mich. was filled to capacity yesterday evening as the over 7200 in attendance saw the culmination of Detroit City FC’s dominant run to the 2020-21 NISA league championship. The game ended 1-0 in DCFC’s favor over the underdog Los Angeles Force in what, at the end, felt more a formality than a traditional championship match.

Spring season Golden Ball winner, Pato Botello-Faz, sat above attacking midfielder Maxi Rodriguez as the lone striker in DCFC’s attack. Both players weren’t on the Detroit roster in the fall with Rodriguez signed before the Legends Cup and Pato brought in during that tournament. In contrast, behind them in central midfield, along with Connor Rutz, sat Cyrus Saydee, the lone player still with the Rouge since their inception in 2012. That group helped form an improved attack since DCFC won the NISA Fall Tournament.

The engine that powered Detroit City to the first true NISA championship was their dominant defense anchored by 2020-21 season Golden Ball winner, Stephen Carroll, at center back and 2020-21 season Golden Glove winner, Nate Steinwascher, in goal. That crew had only given up three goals over the 12 combined games in the Legends Cup and spring season. Detroit piled up seven clean sheets to start the spring.

While not as stellar as Detroit’s run, LA Force came into the final on a hot streak of their own, winning eight of their last nine matches including an impressive 3-2 victory over Chattanooga FC in the semifinal/Spring Championship final where they came from two goals down in the second half.

Los Angeles seemed adrift after a moribund Legends Cup which ended in a 2-0 loss to Michigan Stars and, more importantly, a season-ending knee injury to striker Chandler Hoffman. That carried over to the first game of the season - a 1-0 loss to 1904 FC in which LA seemed unable to muster much offensively.

The club brought in striker, Christian Chaney, after that first game and the move scored dividends with Chaney scoring in the 11th minute to beat Stumptown AC 1-0. He was the spark the Force needed and the club improved as the season wore on with Chaney winning the Spring Golden Boot with six goals over the eight games plus another in the semifinal/Spring Championship.

Like Detroit City, LA Force’s lone striker was Chaney with Cristian Gordillo-Moreno sitting behind in the attacking midfield. Los Angeles’ hopes of scoring a massive upset hinged on the play of that duo. LA also went with five defenders in the back to help keeper Brandon Gomez stop Detroit from scoring.

Los Angeles immediately came after Detroit putting shots on goal in the opening minutes. The match soon balanced out with the crux of the action taking place in the midfield. Maxi Rodriguez may have been the key player in the middle and the match itself. The former Richmond Kicker was inevitably to be found pestering and dispossessing LA’s attacker while also keeping Detroit’s attack moving when the Rouge were in possession of the ball.

Detroit City had the better overall play in the first half with its offense getting more looks at goal than the Force. But this likely had more to do with Detroit’s stifling defense. Los Angeles did a good job of keeping Pato from being much of a factor. The Detroit striker’s most impactful play may have been an elbow that opened up a gash above the eye of LA’s captain, Abraham Villon, in the 19th minute. The play was physical, to say the least, with Detroit’s Connor Rutz getting a bloody nose after a boot to the face in the 41st minute. The half ended scoreless with both clubs positioned to take the match in the second.

Much like the first half, Los Angeles came out with a couple of quick scoring chances. After that initial spurt, Detroit City began to put on the pressure and put LA on their back foot for about a 10-minute span. DCFC employed a high press on defense and, when they acquired the ball, quickly moved through the midfield to look dangerous on goal.

LA was able to absorb that pressure and the match looked to stabilize again before they made a huge mistake. Steinwascher sent a long free kick up the right side past the midfield stripe to Kevin Venegas. He flicked the ball forward into the air towards Connor Rutz who was making a run to the box. The ball was intercepted by Force defender, Semus McLaughin, who volleyed it back to keeper Gomez. It was a misjudged pass and the ball looped over the goalkeeper’s head and into the net. The own goal put Detroit City up 1-0 in the 62nd minute.

With that one play, it felt like all the air had been taken out of what was, to that point, a tense nervy game. But, for Detroit City and their fans, especially the Northern Guard Supporters, it felt like vindication and an inevitable win was in the offing. And, for LA Force it was devastating. Thirty plus minutes were left to play but a one-goal deficit at this point against that DCFC defense looked insurmountable.

It soon became obvious that Los Angeles would need a similar shocking event to get back into the game. But, as has become clear, this Detroit side does not make mistakes and their defense is as good as you will find. The rest of the match showed DCFC in full control and LA chasing and frustrated in their inability to get many chances to score. Even the five minutes added to extra time, which usually seems to take forever in other matches, quickly disappeared as Detroit cut down LA’s attack with ease.

The Force’s last foray was an easy header smothered by Steinwascher who fell to the ground to protect the ball. The referee blew the final whistle as Steinwascher’s goal kick sailed through the air. On the sidelines, Coach of the Year, Trevor James, hugged assistant, Javi Bautista. The crowd in Keyworth erupted in celebration as the Northern Guard popped smoke in front of a huge banner spelling “UNSTOPPABLE” in all capital letters.

In the end, Detroit City FC were the undisputed champions of NISA.