Joshua Duder

LA Force vs Oakland Roots

The Fall season has only just begun for NISA and this weekend offers up a battle at the bottom of the standings. LA Force, who have won one lost one, will host Oakland Roots at Rio Hondo College. Well-branded and flashy Oakland Roots haven’t won a match yet, drawing two and losing one – both teams have a -1 goal differential. The two teams have never faced each other and this match offers a great place to get started if you’re interested in supporting a new team. For those who cannot make it to Whittier, California to catch the game, MyCujoo will be hosting it live and it starts at 7:00 pm PST. However, if you can get there, tickets are on sale at the LA Force website starting at just $10.00

Dan Vaughn

Chattanooga FC vs Detroit City FC

Look, if you are a fan of the NPSL, hell, a fan of grassroots soccer, you have to be fired up everytime these two clubs play each other. Both clubs are set to hop ship for a new league next year and are finishing off their commitments to NPSL’s Member’s Cup. But if they are checked out, you wouldn’t know it by their level of play. Currently 2 and 3 in the MC’s standings, DCFC leads CFC by 2 points, a margin that could be surpassed if the home team takes all three points.

I’m a big fan of checking goals for and against when measuring a club’s success. Currently second in the standings, DCFC has done it with a staunch defense, only yielding 2 points in 5 matches, leading the league in that category. Their offense has been the third best, goals-wise, in the competition, but the gap between the bottom three and top three is wide. DCFC has managed 11 goals, good for just over 2 goals per match.

On the other side, CFC has almost double the goals scored, but has given up 9, tied for second worst in the league. That defense will need to get tighter against a side that is sure to not give up any cheap chances. CFC will have homefield advantage and, in this matchup, that’s an important part of the equation. At Keyworth earlier this season, DCFC won 2-1.

Can Detroit maintain that scoring pace, while locking up that backline? I say yes. DCFC wins and maintains their position in the standings.