NISA Matchweek 5 Recap
Club de Lyon FC, Michigan Stars FC, and LA Force all get wins in Week 5
After five weeks of action in the 2024 NISA season, the table is beginning to take shape in the East and West conferences. Let’s recap all the matches from matchweek 5 in the NISA league.
Georgia FC 1 Club de Lyon FC 3
Club de Lyon FC finally secured their first win of the season with a 3-1 victory against Georgia FC at Silverbacks Park. CDL overcame a 1-0 deficit early in the first half after Kevin Herrera slotted it past CDL goalkeeper Alvaro Rezzano to put Georgia FC in front. Later in the first half, GAFC goalkeeper Elijah Clark pulls down Christian Aragon Ruiz in the box, and the referee gives a penalty to Club de Lyon. Juan Burrito Martinez buries it from the spot to tie this match at one. In the second half, Georgia FC had some chances early on in the match but couldn’t take advantage. In the 60th minute, Juan Burrito Martinez would make GAFC pay again as Matias Cruz crosses this ball into the box. Martinez just sneaks his shot past Clark and in to put CDL ahead 2-1 and get his second goal of the day. Later in the second half, Ivan Arenas added another goal, extending CDL’s lead by two. Club de Lyon goalkeeper Rezzano made a clutch save in the 78th minute as Geovanni Rios connected with Patrick Okonkwo, who went for the header, but Rezzano got a hand on it to keep CDL’s lead. Club de Lyon bounces back after being down early to pull out a 3-1 win and moves ahead of Georgia FC to second in the NISA East conference with 4 points.
Michigan Stars FC 2 Maryland Bobcats FC 0
In the marquee NISA matchup over the weekend, The Michigan Stars FC performed strongly at Romeo Stadium with a 2-0 win over the Maryland Bobcats FC. Leon Maric found the back of the net twice to give the Stars their fourth consecutive win. The Bobcats hadn’t played a competitive match in three weeks and had to deal with finding their rhythm throughout the match. The Bobcats certainly didn’t look like a club that’s been off in this one in the first 20 minutes of the match and had some good chances early on in the first half but couldn’t capitalize. In the 21st minute, Leon Maric took advantage after the ball bounced around inside the box as it deflected off a Bobcat defender and pounced on the rebound to put the Stars up 1-0. Just three minutes later, Maric would find the back of the net again, this time off a set piece. The Stars had a free kick chance as Steven Juncaj sent this cross into the box, and Maric got set up by one of his teammates and volleyed his shot past Bobcats goalkeeper Jake Boyle for a 2-0 advantage in the first half for Michigan. In the second half, Darwin Espinal almost pulled the Bobcats within one early on, but Stars goalkeeper Tatenda Mkuruva made a finger-tip save on the back post. Maric thought he scored a hat-trick with a brilliant header in the 60th minute, but his goal was ruled offsides and was waived off. Despite a better performance in the second half from the Bobcats, the Stars held on for the win. The Stars remain first in the NISA East Conference with 12 points, while the Bobcats drop to fourth with 3 points but have two matches in hand.
LA Force 1 Irvine Zeta FC 0
The LA Force bounced back with a 1-0 win at Veterans Memorial Stadium against Irvine Zeta FC in the 405 derby. The Force scored in the first two minutes of the match, with Joel Quist surprising everyone with a golazo that went into the top corner of the far post and in to put LA ahead 1-0. The Force played well defensively throughout the first half, limiting Irvine Zeta FC’s goal-scoring chances while goalkeeper Seth Torman made some big saves. In the second half, the LA Force almost doubled their lead with a free kick chance when they crossed the ball in the box, and Ahmed Shaibu Jr. slotted it into the net, but the referee waived off the goal due to offsides. There was another free kick chance, this time for Irvine Zeta FC, late in the second half. Rafael Espinoza rips a shot, but it sails over the crossbar. The Force moves atop the NISA West conference with 7 points, while Zeta FC drops to second with 5 points.
That concludes my NISA Matchweek 5 recap. Stay tuned for my NISA Matchweek 6 weekend preview and new podcast episode tomorrow.
CDL looked so good in the second half!
I appreciate this content. It would be great to also have some mention of broadcast quality, venues, fans or attendance figures, whenever possible and not detracting from the narratives, however! Sports are experiences to be shared, after all, not just a simple competition. Thanks much for all that you all do!