It’s The Rust Belt Derby Plus One! The NISA Independent Cup for 2021 brings Detroit City FC back to the Great Lakes Region along with two of their best buddies in Cleveland SC and FC Buffalo. Going back to when all three teams played in the NPSL, their games became known as “The Rust Belt Derby” and was quite the rivalry. Detroit City FC has since moved on to the professional ranks, but the three faced off in last year’s Independence Cup to re-stoke the flames. But who’s this interloper that’s joining them for this year’s tournament? Read on.

Detroit City FC (NISA)

If you are a frequent reader on this online publication, you may have come across this club. Few teams in the lower league realm of American soccer have as loyal a following as Le Rouge. They are the gold standard when it comes to demonstrating how a soccer club can grow from small beginnings to something special.

But let’s talk about the team’s play on the field. Since 2019, DCFC has a combined record in all competitions of – get this – 32 wins, 8 draws, and just 4 losses. That’s four losses in their last 44 games. Wow. The foundation of that success is a back line that makes few mistakes and gives up even fewer goals. During the just-completed NISA Spring Season, the club allowed one goal during the run of play. The heart of that defense is center back Stephen Carroll and goalkeeper Nate Steinwascher. The club added some offensive pieces for this past season, including Pato Botello Faz, making this team an even tougher matchup for opponents. They can score, they can defend, they have depth, and they’re coached well. Other than that, no big deal, right?

Cleveland SC (NPSL)

Who has the distinction of being the last team to stop Detroit City from winning a trophy? That would be Cleveland SC, beating DCFC in the 2019 NPSL playoffs on penalty kicks. Founded in 2018, CSC has quickly become one of the better clubs in NPSL. In their first two years of existence, the club finished 2nd then 1st in their division.

Vinny gonna Vinny. Photo credit: Ric Kruszynski

This year, Cleveland SC are having yet another excellent season in the NPSL’s Rust Belt Conference Division (make up your mind – is it a conference or a division?) with seven wins and a draw and sitting top of the table. The club has scored 23 goals in eight games, and my impeccable math skills tell me that this amounts to almost three goals a game on average. Leading the way up front in the club’s leading goal-scorer Vincent Bell, a player to watch during the Independent Cup tournament.

FC Buffalo (NPSL)

Of the four clubs competing in the Great Lakes Region, the one with the longest history is FC Buffalo. Founded in 2009, the club has played in the NPSL since 2010 with varying degrees of success. The 2021 season for FC Buffalo has not been as they would have hoped, sitting third currently in the Rust Belt Conference Division Group Region with two wins in seven games. Things are going much better for the women’s side, who look to clinch a playoff spot in their first year in existence and playing in the UWS First Division.

There have been rumblings from time to time about FC Buffalo making the move to go professional. While that remains to be seen, the club is viewed as another success story in the lower leagues of American soccer. They have partnered with many local businesses and have made themselves a presence in the local community. The club has also traveled abroad, playing friendlies in Germany in 2019.

Livonia City FC (MWPL)

While not part of the Rust Belt Derby, the team that is closest to Detroit City FC distance-wise is Livonia City FC which is based in, you guessed it, Livonia, Michigan. 2021 saw the club make the move from the Michigan Premier Soccer League (MPSL) to the Midwest Premier League, one of the affiliate leagues with NISA. In addition to the MWPL side, Livonia City has a U23 team playing in the MPSL and a women’s team that moved to UWS League Two this season.

The step up to the Midwest Premier League has made this season a learning one for Livonia City FC. In the eight-team East Division, Livonia City has only one win in eleven games. But what this club has shown is that they seek out higher levels of play to improve their own team. And when they step onto the pitch at Keyworth on July 28th to face Detroit City, Livonia will be facing its biggest challenge. How they handle themselves will say a lot about the club.

Livonia in action against Michigan Stars. Photo credit: Rena Laverty

- John Howard-Fusco