WEEKEND RECAP: LOADS OF NPSL ACTION

FRIDAY

A busy weekend of matches began on Friday with the ISNSoccer.com Game of the Week as Detroit City FC defeated rival AFC Cleveland 3-2 in front of a home crowd of over 3,000 supporters.

With the stakes high and time winding down, Detroit’s Seb Harris delivered. Off a corner kick in the 88th minute, Cyrus Saydee delivered a ball to Harris, who got enough on the cross to score what would be the game-winning goal.

Corinthians FC SA remain on top of the conference after an impressive 5-0 win over Liverpool Warriors. The result maintains Corinthians FC SA’s top spot as they now have a perfect six points with an impressive 8-1 goal difference from the opening two matches.

Miami Fusion FC rebounded from a 5-1 defeat to Miami United last weekend to defeat Weston FC 2-0.

SATURDAY

The Sonoma County Sol started their weekend off right, defeating FC Tacoma 253 3-0 before claiming a 2-0 victory over Portland Spartans FC on Sunday.  Staying with West Region action, the San Francisco Stompers dominated Real San Jose in a 4-0 scoreline.  FC Force and the San Diego Flash finished with a 1-1 draw, while FC Hasental defeated Temecula FC 4-2.  FCH was buoyed by the return of forward Faisal Abduljawad, who missed the first four games yet earned Man of the Match honors on Saturday.

Chattanooga’s dominance over Georgia teams continued as they defeated the Atlanta Silverbacks Reserves 1-0 off a late Chris Ochieng goal.  Last week Chattanooga manhandled the Georgia Revolution 6-0.  The Carolina Railhawks U-23s came away with a 5-3 win over the Upward Stars, a team that advanced in the U.S. Open Cup Wednesday.

The Myrtle Beach Mutiny came away with a hard-fought 4-3 road victory over FC Carolina Discoveries.  The Mutiny were led by midfielder Aksel Juul, who finished with two goals and an assist in one of the weekend’s best individual performances.  Chesterfield United finished with a win after their first game of the 2015 season. A repeat from 2014, Chesterfield United played away at VA Legacy 76 and pulled out a 3-1 win.

Nashville FC is fresh off a nail-biting draw on the road against the New Orleans Jesters in the first league game of the season. Nashville FC’s Liam Collins scored on a free kick in the 93rd minute to level the game at 1-1.  Fort Worth and Houston finished with a 0-0 draw, giving the Regals their first point of the season.

The Minnesota TwinStars and Madison 56ers couldn’t get beyond a 2-2 result.  Julian Ekeze scored a pair of first-half goals as FC Buffalo gutted out more than a half-hour of play with ten men in a 2-1 win over Cincinnati Saints at Hamburg’s Howe Field.

Seacoast United Mariners gave New York Cosmos B quite a challenge as the two battled to a 3-3 draw.  Another draw came from GBFC Thunder and Electric City Shock SC, who finished with a 2-2 draw.  Michael Ilodigwe finished with a brace to lead the Shock attack.

The Brooklyn Italians defeated Greater Lowell United FC 1-0, leaving the latter winless on the season after four matches.  Hershey FC defeated Jersey Blues FC 2-0 to round out the Northeast Region action.

SUNDAY

Manolo Piña’s hat trick led Sacramento Gold FC to a stirring 4-3 comeback win in a thrilling, back-and-forth game against FC Tacoma 253 at Starfire Sports Center.  This followed a 2-1 defeat at the hands of the Portland Spartans FC at Delta Park on Saturday.

A six-goal performance from Seacoast United Phantoms gave them a strong shutout win over the Rhode Island Reds.

Liverpool Warriors suffered their second heavy defeat of the season, losing to newcomer FC Wichita 4-1.

Expansion side Kraze United came away with an impressive 2-0 win over Jacksonville United FC at Patton Park.  Miami United continued their winning ways with a 2-1 win over Storm FC.

Coming off a U.S. Open Cup win on Wednesday, Virginia Beach City FC sent FC Frederick home with a 3-1 defeat.  Michigan Stars and AFC Cleveland battled their way to a 1-1 draw at Wisner Stadium, giving Cleveland a point from a busy and tiring weekend.