Round 1 of the NISA Independent Cup is in the books. It featured ten matches, mostly between NISA Pro sides and amateur sides. Over the past week, we also had some upsets, a few close matches, and some big-time blowouts. Let’s recap all the action in Round 1 of the NISA Independent Cup.
Savannah Clovers FC 5 Kalonji Pro Profile 1 (Saturday July 6)
The Savannah Clovers FC dominated UPSL side Kalonji Pro Profile with a 5-1 victory at Memorial Stadium. The Clovers strike first in the 25th minute as Roddy Green pulls Savannah ahead 1-0. Ford Hunt would add another goal to give the Clovers a 2-0 advantage just before halftime. In the second half, the Clovers quickly added three goals in 10 minutes from Lester Hayes, got an own goal, and Corey Lundeen to go up 5-0. Kalonji Pro Profile would finally get on the board in the 84th minute with a strike from Tidiane Coulibaly. The Clovers win 5-1 and will go on the road in round 2 to face another UPSL side, South Carolina United Heat, on Tuesday, July 16, at Southeastern Freight Lines Soccer Complex.
Maryland Bobcats FC 2 Alloy SC 1 (Saturday July 6)
After a scoreless first half, the Maryland Bobcats FC overturned a 1-0 deficit to defeat EPSL side Alloy SC with a 2-1 victory in round 1 of the NISA Independent Cup. Luke Nall put Alloy SC in front before the Bobcats grabbed the equalizer in the 67th minute from Caleb Pritchett to tie this match at one. In the 87th minute, Pritchett would strike again to score the game-winner for Maryland to seal a 2-1 victory in a thriller. The Bobcats will travel up the road to visit the Charm City in round 2 of the NISA Independent Cup to face another EPSL side Baltimore City FC at BGE Field on Saturday.
Georgia FC 4 UMA FC 1 (Saturday July 6)
Georgia FC cruised past UPSL side UMA FC for a 4-1 win at Dalton Stadium in their first-round matchup in the NISA Independent Cup. GAFC strikes fast as they get a corner kick, and Fuad Adeniyi’s header puts Georgia FC in front two minutes into the match. In the 26th minute, UMA FC gets an equalizer as Donghyeon Kim slots it into the back of the net and we are tied at one. Just before halftime, Alexander Filian rips a shot to put Georgia FC back up 2-1 to close out the first half. Filian would add another goal in the second half to extend Georgia FC’s lead by two. Patrick Okonkwo would add one more to finish this game as GAFC wins 4-1 over a tough UMA FC side. Georgia FC will travel to the Hampton Roads region in Virginia and face Golden Ball Soccer Academy on Sunday at Nansemond-Suffolk Academy.
LA Force 7 Laguna FC 0 (Saturday July 6)
The LA Force put a dominating performance at LBCC Soccer Field as they shut out NISA Nation side Laguna FC 7-0 in round 1 of the NISA Independent Cup. Michael Salazar, Dekel Keinan, and Joel Quist added one, and Dante Brigida scored twice, and Mouhamadou War and Oscar Delgado also got on the scoresheet for the Force as they cruised in this matchup. LA’s next opponent was supposed to be at SWPL side Lobos FC in round 2, but that club has elected to forfeit the match, and the Force will receive a bye to the west regional championship.
Capo FC 1 Albion Silicon Valley 2 (Saturday July 6)
We got our first upset in round 1 of the NISA Independent Cup as Capo FC lost to NISA Nation side Albion Silicon Valley 2-1 at JSerra Stadium. ASC Silicon Valley scored in the 17th minute with a goal from Kevin Salto to take a 1-0 lead early in the first half. They would take that lead into the half. Capo FC got an equalizer as Allen Escalante Alanis scored in the second half to tie this match 1-1. In the 63rd minute, ASC Silicon Valley pulled back in front with a goal from David Woodruff to take a 2-1 lead, which would turn out to be the winner. Albion Silicon Valley will face fellow NISA Nation side Olympiacos CA in the next round on Saturday at Biola University’s Al Barbour Stadium.
Dakota Fusion FC 2 Vlora FC 1 (Sunday July 7)
This was the only matchup in round 1 of the NISA Independent Cup to feature two amateur teams facing off as NPSL side Dakota Fusion FC defeated Vlora FC 2-1 at Jim Gotta Stadium to advance to the next round. The Fusion took a 1-0 lead in the 18th minute with a goal from Nicolo Lai. A few minutes later, Vlora FC got an equalizer from Tenzing Walker to tie the match 1-1. In the second half, James Narke came off the bench and scored to put the Fusion back in front 2-1 in the 76th minute, and that was enough to edge past Vlora FC. The Dakota Fusion FC remains undefeated at home across all competitions and will go on the road next week to face FC Milwaukee Torrent at Hart Park.
Club de Lyon FC 10 AS Frenzi 0 (Sunday July 7)
Club de Lyon FC demolished 2023 UPSL Champions AS Frenzi with a 10-0 scoreline at Lake Mary Stadium in their first-round NISA Independent Cup match. CDL scored eight goals in the first half alone, and Juan Martinez scored four in the match. On Sunday, Club de Lyon FC will travel north to Jacksonville to face United Soccer Alliance at Fleming Island Stadium in Orange Park.
Michigan Stars FC 0 Inter Detroit 1 (Wednesday July 10)
MWPL side Inter Detroit stunned the Michigan Stars FC with a 1-0 win on the road at Romeo Stadium in round 1 of the NISA Independent Cup. Cesar Zamudio scored the lone goal in the 77th minute for Inter. The Stars had chances to get back into this one but couldn’t find the back of the net, and Inter Detroit held their nerve with a stellar performance on defense to keep the shutout. Inter Detroit also avenged their 3-2 loss to the Michigan Stars in last year’s Great Lakes regional championship. Inter Detroit will face United Stars Soccer Academy in round 2 on Saturday at the Michigan Stars Complex.
Arizona Monsoon FC 0 SC Union Maricopa 5 (Wednesday July 10)
The Valley Derby was one-sided in this one as SC Union Maricopa routed Arizona Monsoon FC 5-0 in their first-round matchup at Dysart Stadium in the NISA Independent Cup. This was the third upset in the 2024 NISA Independent Cup after fellow NISA Pro sides Capo FC and the Michigan Stars FC were defeated by amateur clubs. Richard Tabares scored two goals in this matchup that sees the UPSL side advancing to round 2 of the competition and will host UPSL side Indios Denver FC at Willow Canyon Stadium on Saturday.
Irvine Zeta FC 7 Bay Area United FC 1 (Wednesday July 10)
In the final matchup in round 1 of the NISA Independent Cup, Irvine Zeta FC rolled past NISA Nation side Bay Area United FC with a 7-1 victory at Championship Stadium. Jonathan Estrada scored twice, Aaron Keita and Noah Egan got one, as Irvine Zeta FC found its scoring rhythm and couldn’t stop scoring. Bay Area United FC’s lone goal was a penalty kick in the first half. Irvine Zeta FC has advanced to round 2 and will host another NISA Nation side, Silicon Valley Rush, later this month at Championship Stadium.
That concludes my first-round recap of the NISA Independent Cup. Enjoy the round 2 matches this weekend, and I’ll see you next time.
NISA Today FC Podcast 