Milwaukee Torrent 2 - 0 Chicago House AC

The upset that some saw coming happened, which rarely happens, right? Everyone will point out the times they called it, but rarely point out all the times they missed. But yes, sir, this one happened. An NPSL side, Milwaukee Torrent, fit and rolling after a regular season run with a single loss faced off against a professional team, early on into their roster-building process. Chicago House had little chemistry and looked disorganized against a solid Torrent side who pounded the NISA team.

While Torrent scored once in the first half and once at the very end of regulation, the score could have been significantly worse. Torrent had chance after chance against House and narrowly missed a few that could have made the scoreline even more lopsided. Malik Mennana scored both for Torrent, the second a chip over the keeper in the final minutes of stoppage time.

Chicago House faces Med City on July 24th, which gives the NISA side two full weeks to tighten things up in preparation for its next matchup with an NPSL side. Med City and Union Dubuque played to a 0-0 draw in week one action. Torrent will travel to Dubuque on Wednesday for its second match.

LSR 2 - 2 Spurs

Won’t lie, wasn’t sure what to expect coming into this match, given that LSR has been playing in the Roja League. No lie, Roja League is a fantastic local league in the DFW area, but certainly it is pretty far afield from the more “national” leagues. The good thing for LSR (and the rest of the league members) is that the league is jammed pack with talented clubs who challenge each other every match. For the Spurs, they play in the UPSL and performed well all season, so certainly less of an unknown coming into this match.

Before talking about the match itself, kudos to the broadcasting team. Super professional and well done throughout. Loved the announcers and presentation especially when compared to some of the other matches that lacked some of those aspects. And REPLAYS, oh my god, beautiful replays. Multiple cameras? Yes, please.

The first goal, scored in the 5th minute by Spurs was a self-inflicted wound for LSR, who misplayed an easy long ball, allowed it to bounce into the way of an opponent who slotted it to Kaine Tutt who was streaking into the box. He slotted it home past Tyler Watterson to put Spurs ahead. LSR would equalize in the 24th minute when Thierry Assomoi split defenders with a through ball to Dumisani Manyange who dribbled around the keeper and put the ball into the net for the equalizer. Keine Tutt would finish his brace in the 30th minute on an errant pass by LSR. Tutt gathered the ball, took a touch, then slotted the ball left of Watterson into the goal. And that finished the first half.

Second half saw a back and forth battle through the end of regulation and it looked like Texas Spurs would get away with 3 points. Except LSR earned a corner in the second minute of extra time. The ball was perfectly crossed in and met in the air by Tyler Lee for the game-tying goal. The draw certainly feels like a win for LSR, who trailed throughout the second half.

MDB 0 - 0 Steel Pulse

Last year, the then-amateur Maryland Bobcats definitely prioritized winning the Independent Cup Mid-Atlantic region and put their best players on the field against the three other clubs (including two NISA professional teams). This year, after a mid-table finish in the NISA Spring regular season, the Bobcats used the first match of the Independent Cup as a preseason tune-up. The match-up was against Baltimore-area side Steel Pulse FC, an opponent well-known to the Bobcats as the clubs have played each other regularly in state and regional adult amateur leagues.

Unlike a number of other NISA clubs, the Bobcats rested almost their entire starting roster. A few regulars dotted the lineup namely Nico Brown at forward, Joel Isyaq in goal and Davey Mason at left back. The latter two had been starters earlier in the spring but were injured during the Spring. This was a game for injured players to knock off some rust and for bench and reserve players to impress the coaching staff.

The Bobcats dominated having the lion’s share of possession for the entire match. They were constantly in and around the Steel Pulse goal but the finishing was lacking. While Maryland’s defense and transition game were near perfect, final passes were out of sync and shots on goal weren’t strong enough to get a goal on the scoreboard. Steel Pulse’s game plan was to defend first and hope to catch Maryland on a counterattack. They only had a few good scoring chances but their plan almost worked near the end of the 2nd half when a shot on goal had to be cleared off the line by a Maryland defender.

The game ended in a scoreless draw. On Saturday, Maryland will host Allentown United at the Evergreen Sportsplex and, on Sunday, Steel Pulse hosts Atlantic FC at Blandair Regional Park in Columbia, Md.

Chula Vista 3 - 3 Magia

This was the story of the grizzled veteran against the newcomer. Over the years Chula Vista FC have created a reputation for its player development. CVFC turned heads in 2015 when it shocked by beating both FC Tucson and Arizona United SC, known now as Phoenix Rising FC. Magia Futbol Academy have dominated the ‘21 SoCal Premier summer league with goal differential of +25 in 6 matches.

The match had a tempo that changed about every 15-20 minutes. At one interval a team would be in control passing out of the back, then in the next interval end-to-end madness would ensue. Due to the frequent changes of pace and the San Diego sun beating down on the players, many players gassed out and ultimately it was smart substitute decisions that made the difference.

Magia started the match confident and holding possession. They were willing to pass out of the back even when being pressed into tight spaces. While they managed to hold possession, CVFC was able to find pockets of space on the outside of each center back. The CVFC attackers exploited that with brilliantly timed runs and perfect through balls, which led to the first goal about the 20th minute. The goal opened the match up as both teams exchanged bouts of possession. The first half ended 1-0 in favor of Chula Vista. After the goal, CVFC looked to dominate the match by pinning Magia in its own half. Magia did well to battle, not conceding another goal and getting a few chances off the counter.

Magia made a few adjustments in the first half, but immediately gave up another goal to Chula Vista. What was most impressive about the Magia crew is that they never looked to be defeated. The players kept composed and began to control the match against a group of CVFC players who looked like they were beginning to lose gas.

Magia would go on to control the majority of the half and quickly earn a goal back off a counter that ran the entire field after a CVFC corner kick was stopped. The magia goal opened the match up and once again it was an end to end battle which continued to drain the energy of the Chula Vista players. Magia FA Coach Shawn Alvari made smart substitutions which brought in more physicality to face off against a tired Chula Vista defense.

Magia would go on to score two more goals and sat on its lead perfectly, until the final moment of the match as Chula Vista was on the attack trying desperately to get the ball into the box for an opportunity at goal. Two opposing players ran to what looked like a fifty-fifty ball, both players stretched for the ball making contact and falling down. A penalty was called for Chula Vista and was easily converted, drawing the match at 3.

It was a great opening match and showing on behalf of both of the Southwest Premier League clubs. Rafael Espinoza (CVFC) and Branden Sanchez (Magia) are now tied for most goals in the competition at two each.

Lansdowne Yonkers 2 - 1 Newtown Pride

Hard to beat a match featuring Lansdowne Yonkers announced by a voice with an Irish accent, the legendary soccer voice, Tommy Smyth. On the negative side of things, the match was played on a field corrupted by a VERY ORANGE baseball diamond. Not a good look, but this match featured two amateur sides going up against each other, so a city park may have been the best fit.

The first goal came from a corner for Lansdowne. Swung into the box, flicked further along by a LY player, the ball was met by Sean Reilly for a headed goal. Up one, LY stayed in the lead through the half. After one of the prettiest misses off the post you’ll ever see by Patrick McCann, the team continued to threaten before Shamir Mullings would finish off a chance for Lansdowne, giving the team a 2-0 lead. After the half, Deandre (couldn’t find a last name) found himself on the end of a cross and put it past the keeper, making the score 2-1, which is where the match ended.

Allentown United 2 - 1 Atlantic City

Giving up an own goal is never a good thing, and Atlantic City FC gave up a dreadful one in the 21st minute that would end up being the difference in a 2-1 loss on the road against Allentown United FC. An AC FC midfielder attempted to pass the ball back to the goalkeeper, but ended up putting a little too much on it and to the far side of goal. Allentown would add to the lead in the 50th minute when the Atlantic City ‘keeper was not able to clear a ball that popped up in the box, allowing Allentown’s Jose Avila to take it to the right side of the goal and slot it home.

Atlantic City would get one back in the 83nd minute. A bad giveaway by Allentown deep in their end of the field turned into a goal and gave the Aces a lifeline. A penalty was awarded to Atlantic City in the 90th minute, but hopes of pulling out a draw were dashed with the PK effort clanged off the crossbar.

With Steel Pulse and Maryland Bobcats playing to a 0-0 draw, Allentown United FC find themselves top of the table in the Mid-Atlantic Region.

Savannah Clovers 1 - 1 Soda City

These teams have a ton of history, having played each other in the UPSL AND in last year’s Independent Cup. Soda City has traditionally gotten the upper hand, but Savannah is a scrappy club and came into this competition with hopes of changing the narrative of this clash.

This match saw all of the scoring in the first half. The Soda City goal in the 23rd minute was a thing of beauty, with the player side stepping his defender and hitting a low shot that beat everyone into the corner putting his team up early. For the equalizer from Savannah, it was the opposite method, almost brute force, that got the job done. With the ball bouncing around the box, players clashing, Gio Laures managed to punch it in and give the match its ending scoreline. The second half would be clash without scoring, as both teams tried to find a winner but were left unsatisfied.

CFC 1 - 0 Atletico Atlanta

This match was as much of a clash of equals as we expected, though one was amateur and the other pro. Atletico won the UPSL last season and is as well-coached as any soccer club in the country. The depth of talent on this roster showed this evening as the away side was threatening at times, even going off the crossbar at one point. The other two UPSL sides should be wary of this squad.

Honestly, our favorite picture of the weekend. Photo credit: Troy Alton

To Chattanooga’s credit, the hometown team played well in the match, and scored the only goal of the match in the first half when James Kasak lifted a ball into the box that Markus Naglestad flicked past the keeper. The touch on the ball was so light, it almost appeared that the pass had gone in without contact, but Naglestad gets the touch and the credit for the game winner. 2,094 fans were in attendance for the NISA side, a pretty fantastic number for a match that was basically a friendly.

CFC plays Savannah Clovers next weekend on the road, looking to extend its win streak in the region. For Atletico Atlanta it’s a weekend off before playing the same Clovers on the 24th.

Atletico Olympians 1 - 4 Cal United Strikers

It was the tale of two halves in this one, Olympians scored early against the pro side and held the lead 1-0 at the half. And then Cal United went on a tear, eventually putting in 4. Aydan Bowers and scored one, while Christian Thierjung had a brace.

You might ask, but who scored the 4th? I don’t know. This match was on beIN Sports and the replay isn’t available on Eleven Sports. To make matters worse, neither team posted goal scorers online. A graphic from Cal United says Vedamanikan scored the 4th, but I can’t find that player on CUS’s website. If it was an own goal from a AO player, I can’t find that team’s roster and couldn’t spot the player anywhere on their social media.

I’m all for national broadcasts, obviously. And shame on me for choosing to watch other matches the day this aired, but I should be able to find basic information about the match online.

Bay Cities 1 - 1 Cal Victory FC

For most soccer fans outside of California, this was the introduction to Bay Cities. And this match almost kicked off with a goal in the first minute, with Cal Victory putting it off the post. After that near goal, the first half was very back and forth, with Cal Victory having a slight advantage on chances. That advantage would pay off when Giovanny Aguillar put in a wonderstrike from 35 yards out (I know this because they were playing on a football field) that rose and went to the right of the diving keeper. Best goal of the weekend, in my opinion. Dude walked back to his half blowing kisses to the crowd, legend.

That scoreline looked like it would hold throughout the rest of the first half, then through the second half. Bay Cities would follow Chicago House as a pro team losing to an amateur side. That is, until the last minute of stoppage time, +4 if you’re counting. A long ball into the box, clearly misplayed by the keeper, fell to the feet of Miguel Najar, who punched it past two defenders into the net. An equalizer at the death. What an ending for this first weekend match!

PDX 2 - 2 Space United

Before the match, there was a real hope for a great game between these two teams and when PDX FC scored early off an Alex Segovia header it looked like we were going to get what we hoped for. However, after that 8’ goal the two sides were tepid at best, playing ones and twos, running into each other, and drawing petty fouls. Both squads entertained in fits and when, after 72 more minutes of the dull affair, Alex Segovia slotted home his brace it looked like the proverbial nail in the coffin.

For ten more minutes, the game was spastic, sometimes with only the person on the ball moving at all and at other moments everyone running around with no plan - only occasionally we would see a combination of more than two passes resulting in a break on the wing or exploiting an unmarked channel. The fouls were forthcoming and with each stoppage, more time was added onto the backend.

In the 91’, surely the visitors from Oregon imagined the game was done, but they gave up a free kick 20 yards out on the north side of the pitch. The keeper was facing the setting sun and with a great piece of service, Space United finally scored with a karate kick at the back post in the 91’. A great way to end a match - except it wasn’t over. PDX FC gave up possession immediately on the kickoff and Space United found their way back, to the exact same spot, with yet another foul to give them a free kick. This time the offender was sent off with his second yellow and the match ended with another great ball, this time bypassing teammates, and ending up in the back of the net on its own accord. Space United tied the game up in the 93’, 2-2, and the whistle finally blew.

Med City 2 - 1 Union Dubuque

This was a sneaky good match between two amateur sides which could have easily been overlooked. It was the final match of the weekend in the Independent Cup, played on Sunday. But regardless of the attention the match did (or didn’t) receive that didn’t affect the quality of the match between these two teams. It was a beautiful day and the field looked fantastic in Rochester

Med City FC has been in a banger of a season in the North, battling into the top three with MPLS City and Duluth. All of that action (which isn’t done just yet) has this team clicking going into this competition. Dubuque has had the opposite type of season, struggling in the MWPL all season.

The first goal, scored by Patrick Asamoah in the 8th minute put Union Dubuque up early in the first half. Asamoah found himself on the end of a long pass up the left hand side, which he one-twoed with a fellow player, then took the shot from just inside the left side of the box. Great play, great goal. After this play, it seemed UD was willing to sit back and absorb the attack from the Mayhem. Sadly it was not a winning formula. After multiple chances for MCFC, Toby Millward scored the first goal off a corner in the 21st minute. The Union Dubuque keeper took a swipe at the ball, missed it, and Millward finished the work. He was not done as he assisted on Peter Lange-Nielson’s winner in the 56th. The play typified the run of play in this match, with the keeper facing a 3-on-1 situation in the box.