Detroit 3 - 2 Chicago House AC

It would have been the score line of the day. Chicago House were minutes away from pulling off an upset and earning a point against defending champions Detroit City FC. Anthony Manning had other ideas. The Detroit City defender scored the match-winner from an 87th minute corner kick, collecting all three points for City.

“It was frustrating for that goal to happen in the last couple of minutes after we fought them off the whole game,” House goalkeeper Mike Novotny said. “I think it was a little bit of switching off from some people. Obviously, those are moments where you have to be locked in 110 percent.” It was a heartbreaking end to their first professional match, but Chicago House put in a performance all House fans and players can be proud of.

Dealing with the defending champions in front of an intense, passionate crowd of 6,000+ at Keyworth Stadium is not easy, but House held their own until the bitter end. “Overall, I was pleased [with the performance],” Head Coach C.J. Brown said. “I think in the first 20 minutes or so, we did what we wanted to do, and we kept fighting. We tried to make it difficult for [Detroit City] and I think we did that, but I think we created some problems for ourselves as well.”

House did whether an early storm as City created a couple of chances, including a penalty kick opportunity in the 15th minute. “Pato” Botello Faz was taken down in the box but was unable to convert the spot-kick as Novotny saved the shot to his right.

House would take advantage as Musa Morris delivered an excellent ball to Wojciech Wojcik in the 25th minute. The striker controlled it with his chest and put it past City keeper Nate Steinwascher for the opening goal.

NGS watch as DCFC roll to another win. Photo credit: Jon DeBoer

But House would see another penalty call go against them with defender Rodolfo Sulia taking down Botello-Faz. This time, Maxi Rodriguez would take the penalty for Detroit City, sending Novotny the wrong way and grabbing a 2-1 lead City would take into halftime.

House, however, did not go away without a fight. The visitors eventually got a penalty call of their own as Wojcik was tripped inside the box by Steinwascher. Drew Conner calmly slotted it past the City keeper and levelled the match at two goals apiece at the 50-minute mark.

The next 30 minutes or so were a back-and-forth affair with City creating the majority of chances. However, as the seconds ticked away, you believed more and more that House would come away with something. But it was not to be.

While House did come away with nothing at Keyworth Stadium, to even be able to lose on a last-minute goal against the defending champions should be considered an accomplishment for a team playing its first professional match.

“The guys should be proud of their effort,” Brown said. “They should be disappointed with not coming away with a point, but they did set the bar high for what we should expect throughout the year. Now, we have to keep raising it.”

Chattanooga FC 3 - 1 Stumptown

Chattanooga FC came into their first match of the fall 2021 NISA season on a hot streak. The club had won four of five matches in the offseason including three clean sheets in Independent Cup play. The Blues set up in a 3-4-3 formation that coach Peter Fuller implemented during the offseason but a late scratch of primary striker, Markus Naglestad, caused a bit of a shuffle. Brian Bement replaced Brett Jones up top in the attack. Jones moved behind Bement along with Juan Hernandez. Coach Rod Underwood began Stumptown AC’s campaign using a “4-2-Freedom” formation, called that due to an interchangeable front four. Stumptown hadn’t taken part in the Independent Cup and Saturday’s game was the club’s first match in 43 days.

Stumptown’s first shot came in the 19th minute and they took advantage of the opportunity. Left back Rhys Williams sent a long ball to the far post that was headed back into traffic at the top of the box. Two Chattanooga defenders headed up the ball which landed at the feet of Stumptown’s Luis Garcia Sosa. The midfield made a nice left-foot toe poke about 10 yards out to put Stumptown ahead 1-0.

For most of the rest of the half, Chattanooga spent a lot of time with possession but Stumptown was able to soak up the pressure. Stumptown was able to key on Bement as and overall controlled the first half play.

Garcia Sosa, Stumptown’s focal point in the attack, was subbed out after only three minutes into the second half due to the effects on an injury he received early in the first half. The second half again saw lots of pressure by CFC but the final piece still was missing to put dangerous chances on Stumptown keeper, Kevin Gonzalez.

CFC Brian Bement celebrates scoring his penalty kick. Photo credit: Chattanooga FC

The Chattanooga breakthrough finally came in the 77th minute. Left wingback, Jame Kasak, dribbled up the left side and sent a flat pass back to inside the top of the box. Brett Jones was there to take the pass and deftly slot it into the left side of the goal to tie the match.

Just three minutes later, Tate Robertson sent a pass up the left to Kasak who expertly got past Stumptown defender, Robert Hines, and into the box. Kasak sent a centering pass back inside the six yard box. Sean Hoffstater’s shot bounced off Gonzalez but ricocheted back off Hoffstater and into the goal to give Chattanooga a 2-1 lead. The Blues iced the match in the 89th minute by a penalty kick from Bement after Topher Marshall was fouled in the penalty box.

1904 3 - 2 Maryland Bobcats

San Diego’s 1904 FC started the NISA Fall season with a win against Maryland Bobcats FC, though it started off a little shaky for the home side. Before 5 minutes had even clicked by, Maryland’s early dominance created several good scoring opportunities for them, Forward Mohamed Sesay had one that made it in but was called offside. A few seconds later he had another one that was able to make it past 1904’s keeper, Austin Rogers, and this one stuck, giving them a 1- 0 lead.

Quickly after the Bobcats’ goal, 1904 turned on some offensive power, getting themselves into scoring position. Midfielder Romario Lomeli had a couple great opportunities and was able to complete the task in the 8th minute when he was in perfect position to head in a wobbly cross that came his way. Maryland’s Cristian Caulker couldn’t get a glove on it, making both sides even at 1 all.

The remainder of the first half was played at either end of the pitch, neither team being able to gain any control in the middle. This need for the advantage resulted in some aggressive play. Though no cards were pulled by the officials, many fouls were called on both the black and white sides which neither team capitalized on. The only other score came from the home team in the 33rd minute. Samuel Strong used his height to his advantage and headed in a corner kick. At the whistle for the break the score was 1904 FC 2 - 1 Maryland Bearcats.

In the second half, both sides were still aggressively trying to maintain any possession they could muster resulting in a flurry of yellow cards. All the fouls the officials gave discretion to in the first half were no longer overlooked. Substitutions were just as plentiful in this half as well. These exchanges helped, but it wasn’t until the 88th minute that someone finally made it past the goal line. 1904’s Wolfgang Prentice did a little give and go pass that was quickly returned to him and he easily jabbed it past Caulker.

With over 5 minutes of stoppage added by the officials ample opportunity was left for Maryland to try and get the two goals they were down. They were able to get at least one of those but not another and were dealt their first loss of the season. Final score after 90+ was 3 - 2, 1904 with the one goal win.

LA Force 1 - 1 New Amsterdam FC

This match certainly looked like a mismatch on paper. The runner up of the Spring season, LA Force, visting the last place New Amsterdam FC felt like it had every chance for a blowout. The offseason had been a challenging one for New Amsterdam, with a shakeup in the head coach spot. The team saw USMNT legend Jermaine Jones appear to be locking down the spot (though never confirmed, only teased), before a surprise move put ex-NY Red Bull and NAFC goalkeeper coach, Bouna Coundoul, into his first head coaching position with the club. What that would mean for the club was hard to know heading into the fall season. After this match, it appears the club might be a on a better track.

LA Force announced the re-signing of Spring Golden Boot winner Christian Chaney the day before the match and its a good thing as he was the provider of the one goal for away side. The scoring play, which came after each side exchanged possession in the 37th minute, was all Chaney. After Chaney was fouled by Muntaha Kalley (who earned a yellow for his work), a free kick was awarded to Los Angeles well outside the box in the attacking half. Chaney stepped up to the ball and put in one of the best free kicks you’ll see all year (granted this is week 1. Over the wall, beating the keeper, into the corner of the net. 1-0 in the 39th minute for LA Force.

And it looked like the match would stay that way until a 90’ corner kick for New Amsterdam FC. The kick, beautifully placed on the head of midfielder Fernando Cortez, went off the far post and it looked like the match would end with a road victory for LA Force. Instead, the ball bounced all the way to the other post, where Ojai Bedward was waiting. Bedward booted in the easiest goal of his life and New Amsterdam went wild, celebrating the last-second, come from behind draw.

Yes, in the end, it’s a single point for both sides, but this feels like a win for New Amsterdam FC. Considering the struggles of the last couple of seasons AND being down so late in this opening match, getting the draw was a massive deal and gives the team something to build on.

Michigan Stars 3 - 4 Cal United Strikers FC

Not exactly the modus operandi of the Michigan Stars to be part of a shootout, but it sure made for an exciting match. In the end, however, it was Cal United on the strength of an Omar Nuno hat trick who would come away with a 4-3 road victory to open the Fall 2021 season.

Two new players made their debut for the Stars: midfielder Alexandre Frank and forward Leon Maric. Both were brought in to give some life to the Stars’ offense, and in the first half they did just that. But before that, Michigan would get the opening goal in the second minute, and it would be textbook Stars: the high press causing a bad pass, and midfielder Zach Reynolds stepped in just inside the 18 and slipped a shot past Cal United’s Steven Barrera and just inside the post.

Then Frank and Maric would work their magic. In the 17th minute, Frank would send a long pass from the far right to Maric who struck the ball in the air and past the goalkeeper for a beauty of a goal. Up 2-0 and controlling play, it looked like a great home opener for the Stars.

Then came Nuno.

Having come off the bench during the Spring season, Omar Nuno got the start up top. And slowly started to make his presence known as the first half moved forward. In the 40th minute, Nuno would take a free kick from 20 yards and beat the keeper to cut the lead to one before halftime. In the third minute of the second half, a long lofted pass got to Nuno, who worked a nifty give and go with Christian Thierjung and then drilled it home to tie things up. And then in the 61st minute Nuno makes a great effort to slide onto a crossed pass and slip the ball home, completing the hat trick and giving Cal United the lead.

But the scoring wasn’t over, and the Stars were not going to go quietly.

In the 76th minute, substitute Waleed Cherif would take a low shot to Barrera’s right. The goalkeeper would make the stop, but Steven Juncaj would be right there to knock in the rebound, and tying the game back up. But Cal United found the back of the net once more as one of their second half subs Minjae Kwak would take a pass at the top of the 18 and banged it home. For Cal United, a trip home with all three points secured. For the Stars, a better showing on offense but an end result that was all too familiar from the previous season.