FC Motown Defeats Columbus United FC 2-0 to Advance to NPSL National Championship
By Michael Lewis/NPSL.com
El Mahdi Youssoufi scored one goal and set up another in the first half as FC Motown recorded a 2-0 victory over Columbus United FC in a NPSL National Semifinals match at Ranger Stadium on the campus of Drew University on Saturday night.
FC Motown will host the winner of the El Farolito-Duluth FC game, which was played later on Saturday night, at Drew University on Saturday, August 3.
The New Jersey team reached the NPSL championship for the third time in seven years, having hosted the final in 2018 and winning the title on home turf in 2022.
Columbus United FC, a first-year expansion team that won three playoff games in its run to the semifinals as the South Region Champions, lost for only the second time in its last 12 matches (9-2-1).
FC Motown goalkeeper Joshua Schaffer recorded the clean sheet for the East Region Champions.
Both teams came out playing attacking soccer in an entertaining opening half, as it was FC Motown that struck early and late in the frame.
Nico Nee, who tallied twice as a late-match substitute in last week’s 5-0 win over the New York Shockers, did his damage early, lifting the hosts into the lead in the fifth minute. The Princeton University rising senior volleyed home a long right-wing cross from Youssoufi past goalkeeper Matheus Campos at the far-left post.
FC Motown, coached by former MLS midfielder Dilly Duka, almost doubled its lead in the 17th minute, but Campos denied Maudwindo “Mo” Germain’s close-range header.
Columbus United, directed by veteran head coach Brett Teach, had its opportunities. That included Damian Gallegos’ shot from distance in the 28th minute and a 35-yard blast by Rafael Kawata that bounced off the right post in the 40th minute.
With time running out in the half, FC Motown turned some nifty short passing between Bermudez and Germain into a goal, as Youssoufi scored from eight yards in the 45th minute for a two-goal halftime advantage.
The visitors had a golden opportunity to slice the lead in half in the 55th minute but halftime substitute Carter Berg booted a left-wing cross over the bar.
Photo Credit: Vinny Carchietta/NPSL.com
