Detroit City FC (NISA) at Chattanooga FC

September 4, 2021
2021 NISA Fall Season Match
Finley Stadium, Chattanooga TN

Chattanooga FC 1, Detroit City FC 2
DCFC: Patricio Botello-Faz (Jimmy Filerman) 43′
CFC:  Markus Nagelstad (James Kasak) 56′
DCFC: Yazeed Matthews (Javi Steinwascher) 88′

Attendance:  1,946

The second-leg of the two-game road trip landed Detroit City FC in Tennessee, where they would play Chattanooga FC on the Saturday of Labor Day Weekend.

There has been a bit of history generated over the last four years between City and Chatta.  From a home-and-home series of friendlies in 2018, when both teams were in the NPSL (in different divisions) to the 2021 Legends Cup Final Match here in April, the teams have met on the pitch eight times, with City winning five, Chatta winning two, and one draw between them.

CHATTANOOGA FC
Starting XI

Alec Redington – GK
Shaun Russell – D
Richard Dixon – D
Nick Speilman – D
James Kasak – D
Tate Robertson – M
Charles Coleman – M
Daniel Jackson – M
Sean Hoffstatter – M
Alec McKinley – M
Juan Hernandez – F

DETROIT CITY FC
Starting XI

Armando Quezada – GK
Stephen Carroll – D
Matt Lewis – D
Tendai Jirira – D
James Vaughan – M
Richard Bryant – M
Connor Rutz – M
Maxi Rodriguez – M
Jimmy Filerman – M
Cyrus Saydee – F
Pato Botello-Faz – F

The control of the play was pretty much even through the first half.  Chattanooga would gain control and possession and try to penetrate City’s defense, then the script would flip and City would move the ball around the pitch and press the Chattanooga defense.  Each team had a corner or two, but none of them dangerous.  In the 30th minute, Stephen Carroll drove a long ball down field onto the foot of Richard Bryant.  Bryant took the shot which CFC’s keeper Alec Redington was forced to save.  As the half was winding down, it was deja vu as Carroll rocketed another long ball down field to Bryant.  Bryant drew three Chattanooga players, then passed the ball to Jimmy Filerman.  Filerman crossed the ball into the box where Pato headed it perfectly beyond Alec Redington and into the goal, giving City the one-nil lead with a couple minutes left in the half.

As the teams set up for the opening of the second half, Chattanooga made a single substitution, replacing Charles Coleman with Markus Naglestad.  The substitution paid off, for in the 63rd minute, Nagelstad headed in a James Kasak corner kick to level the match.  Naglestad continued to be an offensive threat for Chattanooga, finding himself with a few more opportunities that either sailed wide or were stopped by Armando Quezada.

Momentum went Detroit City FC’s way after Richard Dixon was red carded in the 63rd minute for taking down Connor Rutz on a clear scoring opportunity just outside Redington’s box.  City pressed with the extra man for about fifteen minutes, but with both teams making substitutions, Chattanooga generated some pressure in the City end for about five minutes.  Around the 85 minute mark, they seemed to shut off and hope to take a point from the NISA champions, but City wasn’t the NISA champions because they settled for draws.  In the 88th minute, Javi Steinwascher, who was an 80th minute sub for Jimmy Filerman, corralled the ball to the right of goal and sent a cross to Yazeed Matthews, the 80th minute sub for Pato, who executed a beautiful scissor kick that sailed beyond Redington’s reach and into the upper corner of the goal to give City the win.

Player of the Match: Yazeed Matthews

The results of another full slate of NISA matches this Saturday evening were:

Michigan Stars 0, Chicago House AC 0
Maryland Bobcats 1, Stumptown AC 1
1904 FC 1, Los Angeles Force 2
Cal United Strikers 4, New Amsterdam FC 1

City’s four wins and one draw topped the table.  The next match would be back home in Keyworth against New Amsterdam FC next Saturday.