HAMTRAMCK, MI (July 3, 2021) – Historic Keyworth Stadium was the venue for NISA’s 2021 Championship match between Detroit City FC and LA Force. The Force earned a spot in the Championship game after defeating Chattanooga FC in the semi-finals earlier in the week 3-2. Detroit City FC finished their Spring season with an undefeated record of 6(W)-2(D)-0(L) while the LA Force finished runners up with their record of 6-0-2.
Under the lights the referee blew his whistle for kickoff and the fight for a trophy was on. Things started quickly for both sides in this match with some end to end action. LA took the first chance of the game, but #1 Nate Steinwascher was able to send it away for a corner kick, which he was also able to successfully punch out of the box. After that #21 Maxi Rodriguez showed off his skill with a shot off the outside of his foot that fizzed just over the goalpost.
Throughout the rest of the first half, City would see a few more chances come through the work of their attacking playmakers. #10 Cyrus Saydee played a ball for #11 Connor Rutz whose shot was grabbed before it could roll over the line. And later on #19 Pato Botello Faz would earn a few shots, however none of them converted, sending the match into halftime scoreless.
Both goalkeepers would be called into action early in the second half. First, LA Force unleashed a shot from distance that Steinwascher kept from entering the top corner of the goal with an outstretched dive. On the other end, Saydee struck the ball on a volley but the diving Force keeper was able to keep it from finding the bottom corner.
Before long, Le Rouge grew into the match and their passing was quick and crisp enough to cause relentless problems for the Force. Eventually, some confusion led to a ball bouncing high and over the LA defender as well as the keeper who half-heartedly came out to attack it. No bodies were left for LA to stop the ball from bouncing into the goal for the first goal of the match.
With the momentum on their side, and substitutes with fresh legs Le Rouge put their foot on the gas. In the second half, City sent on #14 Javi Steinwascher, #3 Javan Torre, #23 Darwin Espinal, and #20 Yazeed Matthews all caused fits for LA who couldn’t keep up with the speed of the game.
And after 90 hard fought minutes, City’s pressure and impressive defense were enough to keep the LA Force off the scoreboard, and the match finished 1-0 as Detroit City FC as the NISA Champions.
Match: Detroit City FC vs. LA Force
Date: July 3, 2021
Competition: NISA
Venue: Keyworth Stadium – Hamtramck, MI
Kickoff: 7:30 pm ET
Weather: 82 degrees, partly cloudy
Attendance: 7,241
Lineup: 1-Nate Steinwascher, 2-Jimmy Filerman (‘65), 4-Anthony Manning, 5-Stephen Carroll (Capt.), 10-Cyrus Saydee, 11-Connor Rutz (‘77), 15-Matt Lewis, 21-Maxi Rodriguez, 22-Kevin Venegas, 19-Pato Botello (‘84), Faz, 99-George Chomakov (‘77)
Subs: 3-Javan Torre (‘77), 6-Max Todd, 7-Roddy Green, 13-Armando Quezada, 14-Javi Steinwascher (‘65), 20-Yazeed Matthews (‘84), 23-Darwin Espinal (‘77)
