OK everyone I know I’m like a month late on this but why not let’s do a brief recap on the first four weeks of the NISA season so far.
NISA Matchweek Recap
Week 1
Michigan Stars FC 3 Savannah Clovers FC 2
Praise Maduekwe put the Stars in front in the first half to score his first professional goal. The Clovers showed some fight in this one, and in the second half, Lester Hayes and Jedidiah McCloud put the Clovers ahead 2-1 after 85 minutes of play. It looked like the Clovers were going to steal this one, but in stoppage time, the Stars got two late goals from Niels Lellouch and Elias McCloud to pull out a 3-2 win against the Clovers at Romeo Stadium.
LA Force 2 Irvine Zeta FC 2
We got the 405 Derby in SoCal as the Force hosted Irvine Zeta FC. We had drama in the first half as Ronaldo Pineda got a red card for LA Force and had to play down to 10-men for the rest of the match. Despite both teams creating chances, the match was scoreless at halftime. All the drama would be in the second half as Greg Stratton and Alex Culwell scored for Irvine Zeta FC to give them a 2-0 advantage over the Force. Bryan Ortega would score a golazo to pull LA within one. Chila scores the late equalizer at the death in stoppage time to end this thrilling match in a 2-2 draw.
Week 2
Georgia FC 1 Club de Lyon FC 1
The first home match for Georgia FC at Silverbacks Park was very entertaining. Patrick Okonkwo scores the first goal for the club on a penalty kick to put Georgia FC up 1-0 just before halftime. The second half was a physical battle between these two sides until the 75th minute when Tolunimi Ibikunle got the equalizer in the second half for Club de Lyon FC to tie it at one. GAFC did go down to ten men, with Lamin Jawneh receiving his second yellow, but CDL couldn’t capitalize, as this match would end in a 1-1 draw.
Savannah Clovers FC 0 Maryland Bobcats FC 3
The Bobcat’s offense was firing on all cylinders in this match. Darwin Espinal, Elijah Amo, and Drew Wivell all scored for Maryland to give the Bobcats their first win of the 2024 season with a 3-0 win on the road against the Savannah Clovers. After the strong showing the Clovers put in their first match in Michigan, maybe being at home, they would find a way to win, but it wasn’t their day, and they’ve also been dealing with injuries. Maryland’s offense was too hot to handle, and they got their first win of the season, now a break for the Bobcats until their next match in Michigan on May 4.
LA Force 4 Arizona Monsoon FC 0
LA Force cruised in this match with goals from Bryan Ortega, Mouhamadou War scored twice, and Victor Blanco scored his first goal for the black and gold to take this matchup. Arizona struggled in this one, and their only match before this was their 2-1 defeat in the U.S. Open Cup First Round against the Lubbock Matadors. Being one of four new expansion teams in the league, it will take time for this team to find its rhythm, but for LA, it gets their first win of the season.
Irvine Zeta FC 1 Capo FC 1
Jonathan Estrada scored the opener for Zeta FC in the first half. Late in the second half, Gustavo Chavez scored the equalizer for Capo, and this match ended in a 1-1 draw.
Week 3
Michigan Stars FC 2 Georgia FC 0
The Stars put on another strong performance at Romeo Stadium, securing a 2-0 shutout. Praise Maduekwe and Andres Chalbaud found the back of the net. It was a tough matchup for Georgia FC, but it felt like, at times, the Stars would find a way to win. Maduekwe scored his second goal of the season, and it’s back to the drawing board for GAFC.
Club de Lyon FC 0 Savannah Clovers FC 2
The Clovers bounce back with a stellar performance, shutting down Club de Lyon FC on the road. Lester Hayes scored twice, giving the Clovers their first dub of the 2024 season despite it being a physical match and seeing Yustin Serna sent off for CDL in the second half. CDL still fought to the end, but with a young roster and players like Juan Burrito Martinez out with injuries, it will be interesting to see how those new players get acclimated once they return from injury.
Capo FC 1 Arizona Monsoon FC 1
Parker Scalzo puts Capo FC on the board in the first half. You thought Capo would get their first win as a professional side, but AZ Monsoon had other ideas. Isaias German scores a late equalizer goal for Monsoon FC, and both sides get a point in a thrilling 1-1 draw at JSerra Stadium.
Week 4
Georgia FC 3 Savannah Clovers FC 0
The first edition of the Georgia Derby kickoff in Silverbacks Park in Atlanta, but unfortunately, it was all one-sided in this one as Georgia FC dominated this match to get their first win as a pro club. Patrick Okonkwo puts GAFC in front 1-0. A few minutes later, Kevin Herrera would extend GAFC’s lead by two just before the half. Geovanni Rios added the insurance goal in the second half to put this match away with a 3-0 win against the Savannah Clovers FC. The next edition of the Georgia Derby is Wednesday, May 15, in Savannah.
Michigan Stars FC 3 Club de Lyon FC 2
Another thriller in Michigan as the Stars rally back for another dub at Romeo Stadium. Leon Maric opens the match with his first goal to put Michigan in front. Two minutes later, Ivan Arenas tied the match for Club de Lyon FC. In the second half, CDL takes the lead in the 79th minute with a goal from Andrew Anyafo, and you thought CDL would steal this one. However, what I’ve learned and keep repeating is never to count out the Michigan Stars. Niels Lellouch scored two late goals in stoppage time to pull out a 3-2 victory, and the Stars get their third consecutive win and stay atop the NISA East Conference.
LA Force 0 Capo FC 2
It was the Brandon Zambrano show in this one for Capo FC. He found the back of the net twice to give Capo FC its first-ever win as a professional side and secure the upset over the LA Force. Capo played well and frustrated the LA attack all evening, while Brandon Zambrano put on a stellar performance on the pitch. Capo FC gave the Force their first loss of the season and briefly took over first in the NISA West Conference.
Irvine Zeta FC 4 Arizona Monsoon FC 0
Irvine Zeta FC dominated this match with a 4-0 win over Arizona Monsoon FC. Marcel Salceda and Shinya Kadono scored, while George Almeida scored twice to put this match away. It’s the second match this season that Arizona has given up four or more goals while Irvine Zeta FC clinches their first win as a pro side and now moves atop the NISA West Conference table on goal difference.
That concludes my NISA Matchweek Recap. Stay tuned for another one for Matchweek 5 later this week.
Awesome to have more NISA coverage! Welcome!
Michigan looks like the team to beat this year, and the West has been surprisingly competitive. Meaning, I think it was expected that Force would dominate, but Zeta and Capo didn't get the memo