Michael Kitchen's Blog

“thousands of people…”
Haiku Society of America Members’ Anthology 2025“summer afternoon…”
The Best Haiku Collection 4: International Anthology“geese soar…”
Haiku Society of America Members’ Anthology 2024“late summer creek…”
Haiku Society of America Members’ Anthology 2023“spring walk…”
Haiku Society of America Members’ Anthology 2022.“countless decades…”
Haiku Society of America Members’ Anthology 2021.The following two haiga were published in failed haiku, Volume 6, Issue 67, July, 2021 (page 27 & 28)

The following two haiga were published in failed haiku, Volume 6, Issue 64, April, 2021 (page 146 & 147)
“crossing the bridge…”
Prune Juice Journal, Issue 33, March 2021.“summer afternoon…”
failed haiku, Volume 6, Issue 61, January 2021 (page 129)“September morning…”
2020 Haiku Society of America Members’ Anthology.“it crosses the line…”
Haiku/Senryu
read on Poetry Pea Podcast, Series 3, Episode 6 (at the 10:00 mark)
The Poetry Pea Journal of haiku and senryu, Autumn Edition 2020.“in the hotel…”
Haiku
failed haiku Volume 5, Issue 53 May 2020 (page 142)“sitting on a cushion…”
Haiku
frogpond Autumn 2019“an inmate’s kite…”
Haiku
2019 Haiku Society of America Members’ Anthology

 

Book“Down Through the Years: The Memoirs of Detroit City Council President Emeritus Erma Henderson” (co-author) (Authorhouse, 2004)

AppleMark

Articles, Columns, Essays“Beyond the Kaepernick Effect: How Detroit City FC & NISA Answer the Call for Justice”
Guest article on “Words About Shapes by Sean Spence”
October 5, 2021“Case Dismissed.  Now Pay Your Court-Appointed Attorney Fees?”
Article
Bar Briefs
Official Publication of the Macomb County Bar Association
Volume 35, Number 09.
March, 2017“The Derby of the People”
Article
FCUM Review, Volume 12, Issue 1
Official FC United of Manchester Match Day Programme
23rd July, 2016
Pre-season Friendly – Hereford FC.“The Inspired Box: Vipers Face Adversity in Winning Style”
Great Lakes Hockey Alliance, June, 1998.“Two unique teachers will be visiting the Church of Today: They are Paul Ferrini and Nick Bunick”
Church of Today newsletter, May/June 1998.“The Inspired Box: Being Prepared for Life Out of Hockey”
Great Lakes Hockey Alliance, May, 1998“The Inspired Box: Hockey’s Ironmen”
Great Lakes Hockey Alliance, April, 1998.“The Inspired Box: The Travis Roy Story”
Great Lakes Hockey Alliance, March, 1998.“The Inspired Box: Hockey’s African-American History Month”
Great Lakes Hockey Alliance, Feb. 1998.“The Inspired Box: A Season for Nonviolence”
Great Lakes Hockey Alliance, Jan. 1998“The Inspired Box: Fans: the Heart of Hockey”
Great Lakes Hockey Alliance, Dec. 1997.“Ho-Ho-Ho…Let There Be Light”
Church of Today newsletter, Dec. 1997.“The Inspired Box: There’s no such thing as failure”
Great Lakes Hockey Alliance, Nov. 1997.“The Tools to Build a Life”
Church of Today newsletter, Nov. 1997“The Inspired Box: Amway/Nutrilite Man of the Year award in the IHL”
Great Lakes Hockey Alliance Oct. 1997.“It’s Time”
Church of Today newsletter, Oct. 1997.“The Inspired Box: Kevin Smyth and Sheldon Kennedy.”
Great Lakes Hockey Alliance, Sept. 1997.“Be Careful What You Ask For”
The Horizon, Church of Today Eagles Club Newsletter. Aug. 1997.
(This piece was also accepted for publication in The 1997 Church of Today Anthology: A Collection of Poetry, Prose, and Essays, Written by and for the Church of Today Congregation.“)“The Choice is Ours”
Church of Today newsletter, Aug. 1997.“The Inspired Box: Untitled, introductory column featuring story about Gordie Howe.”
Great Lakes Hockey Alliance, June, 1997.“Happy Father’s Day: An Open Letter to Fathers”
Church of Today newsletter, June, 1997.“Whether Season or Soul, From Winter Comes Spring”
Church of Today newsletter, Apr. 1997“A Personal Perspective About the Men’s Conference”
Church of Today newsletter, Feb. 1997.“10 Things We Forget to be Thankful For”
Church of Today newsletter, Nov. 1996“Spiritual Education: Roads to Growth”
Church of Today newsletter, Sept. 1996“Making the Pennant Run…Reviewing Your 1996 Goals”
Church of Today newsletter, July, 1996.“America’s Gift to Us”
Church of Today newsletter, July, 1996.“On the Rise: Junior Red Wing Update. The Diamond Dozen, Part Three”
Fanfare: The official publication of the Detroit Red Wing For’em Club, January, 1994.“On the Rise: Junior Red Wing Update. The Diamond Dozen, Part Two”
Fanfare: The official publication of the Detroit Red Wing For’em Club, December 1993.“On the Rise: Junior Red Wing Update. The Diamond Dozen, Part One”
Fanfare: The official publication of the Detroit Red Wing For’em Club, November 19931993-94 Detroit Jr. Red Wings Booster Club Newsletter
President, editor and writer of several articles and interviews of the monthly publication during the Detroit Jr. Red Wings OHL season.1992-93 Detroit Jr. Red Wings Booster Club Newsletter
President, editor and writer of several articles and interviews of the monthly publication during the Detroit Jr. Red Wings OHL season.“The Unknown Heroes: Stig’s Inferno”
Fantastic Fanzine, Vol. 1, Issue 11, published Oct. 1985.“The Unknown Heroes: Mage”
Fantastic Fanzine, Vol. 1, Issue 10, published Sept. 1985“The Unknown Heroes: The Masked Man”
Fantastic Fanzine, Vol. 1, Issue 9, published July, 1985.“The Unknown Heroes: Atari Force”
Fantastic Fanzine, Vol. 1, Issue 8, published June, 1985.“An East Coast Comics Report”
Fantastic Fanzine, Vol. 1, Issue 7, published April, 1985.“Heroes Unknown: Nexus”
Fantastic Fanzine, Vol. 1, Issue 6, published March, 1985.“Heroes Unknown: Jonah Hex”
Fantastic Fanzine, Vol. 1, Issue 4, published Jan. 1985.“Study Break or How to Become a Comic Collector Without Realizing It: Part Two”
Fantastic Fanzine, Vol. 1, Issue 4, published Jan. 1985.“Study Break or How to Become a Comic Collector Without Realizing It: Part One.”
Fantastic Fanzine, Vol 1, Issue 3, published Nov. 1984.

 

Novel The Y in Life
Novel
Grey Wolfe Publishing, 2013

Short Stories“Accessory” (short story)
Margin Releases: Typewritten Tales of Transgression
Cold Hard Type Volume 5, 2022“Immunity”
Short Story
Paradigm Shifts: Typewritten Tales of Digital Collapse (Cold Hard Type) May 28, 2019“Some Animals Are More Equal Than Others”
Short Story
Write to Woof 2014 (Grey Wolfe Publishing, 2014)“Confession” (short story)
“Walking Together” (essay)
“With Prejudice” (short story)
Legends: A Literary Journal from Grey Wolfe Publishing  Autumn 2013.“Confession”
Finalist
2013 Michigan Bar Journal Short Story Contest“Mother Nature Makes the Extra Point” (short story)
“The Word of the Day is ‘Trust’” (short story)
Legends: A Literary Journal from Grey Wolfe Publishing  Summer, 2013“With Prejudice” (short story)
“Walking Together” (essay)
“The Word of the Day is ‘Trust’” (short story)
Written in the Mitten 2013: An Annual Anthology Celebrating Michigan Authors (Heron Bay Books, 2013)“With Prejudice”
Finalist
2011 Michigan Bar Journal Short Story Contest“The Word of the Day is ‘Trust’”
First Place Winner
2009 Michigan Bar Journal Short Story ContestA Blooming Affair
Short story under the pseudonym Eric Osten
Gent Magazine, March, 1993.“Friends to the End” (story by Mike Kitchen, art by Pat Sandy)
Fantastic Fanzine Vol. 2, Issue 1, published 1986.

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*Spinning around the sun: my first year of indoor cycling.
** Joe Van Cleave’s YouTube channel.

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*** Michigan Coronavirus Timeline – ClickOnDetroit.

 

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**** Kaleigh Cohen Fitness.

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OTHER TYPEWRITTEN PAGES

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NISA 2020 Fall Championship Tournament
By the Numbers

These are the statistics, as best as I could compile them, from the Tournament.  They were accumulated from the incomplete NISA Match Center for each game, with a bit of internet detective work and game video review to try to fill in the holes.  They are not the “official” stats.

As a whole, for the tournament, there were 42 goals scored over 15 matches, for an average of 2.8 goals per game.  Eight clean sheets were recorded.  The cumulative goal differential was +18 for an average of 1.2 goals per game.

Individually, there were 22 players who played every minute for their team in the tournament.

Leading goal scorers were:

Shawn Claud Lawson (DET) – 4 goals

Cristian Gordillo Moreno (LA) – 4 goals

Michael Bello (NAFC) – 3 goals

Matt Fondy (OAK) – 3 goals

There were 5 penalty kicks in the tournament, with only two of them resulting in goals (Steven Juncaj – Michigan Stars, Cristian Gordillo Moreno – Los Angeles Force).  Los Angeles keeper Hugo Gomez stopped two PK’s.

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Cal United Strikers

GP
GS
Min
G
A
YC
RC


Christian
Thierjung
3
3
270
2





Steven
Barrera
3
3
270






Chris
Klute
3
3
270






Aydan
Bowers
3
3
270






Shinya
Kadono
3
3
270






Michael
Bryant
3
3
270

1
1



Kevin
Garcia-Lopez
3
3
225






Abraham
Villon
3
3
225






Ikaika
Fuerte
2
2
164






Omar
Nuno
3
1
144
2
1




Evan
Waldrep
2
1
130






Shane
Kaemerle
2
2
90
1





Gonzalo
Salguero
1
1
90






Duncan
Capriotti
2
2
80






Tony
Lopez
2
0
50






Kevin
Jeon
1
0
45






Kyle
O’Brien
1
0
19






Andy
Contreras
1
0
17






Juan Pablo
Ocegueda
1
0
16

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Chattanooga FC

GP
GS
Min
G
A
YC
RC


Nick
Spielman
4
4
360






Shaun
Russell
4
4
344






Kyle
Carr
4
3
332

1
2



Alec
Redington
4
4
330






Juan
Hernandez
4
3
315


1



Darwin
Lom
4
3
267
1
1




Ian
McGrath
4
3
261
1





Cameron
Woodfin
3
3
258


1



Jose
Ferrraz
3
3
252






Brian
Bement
4
2
226
1

2



Sean
Hoffstatter
3
3
225
1





Ryan
Marcano
4
1
215
1

2



David
Koloko
3
3
199


1



Wilfred
Williams
2
2
135






Erik
Panzer
2
0
61






Clayton
Adams
2
1
49






Matt
Mozynski
1
0
30






Richard
Dixon
1
1
28






Jowayne
Laidley
1
1
28






Christopher
Marshall
3
0
19

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Detroit City FC

GP
GS
Min
G
A
YC
RC


Tendai
Jirira
5
5
450

1




Bakie
Goodman
5
5
449






Kevin
Venegas
5
5
415
1





Steve
Carroll
5
5
405






Jean
Antoine
4
4
360






Cyrus
Saydee
5
4
355


1



Jimmy
Filerman
4
4
348

1
1



Yazeed
Matthews
5
5
345
1
1




Max
Todd
5
5
341
1





Michael
Kafari
4
3
300
1

1



Ibrahim
Conteh
3
3
207






Connor
Rutz
4
2
169

1




Shawn Claud
Lawson
5
0
142
4





George
Chomakov
3
1
138






Sebastian
Capozucchi
4
1
137






Brandon
Clegg
2
1
135


1



Parker
Siegfried
1
1
90






Ryan
Peterson
4
0
77
1
2




Evans
Frimpong
1
0
1

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Los Angeles Force

GP
GS
Min
G
A
YC
RC


Hugo
Gomez
4
4
360






Gregory
Salazar
4
4
344


1



Cristian
Gordillo Moreno
4
4
343
4

1



Spencer
Moeller
4
3
343






Josue
Espana
4
4
339






Jimmie
Villalobos
4
4
315

1




Cyro
Reis de Oliverira
4
4
289






Paolo
Cardozo
4
4
279

2




Danny
Trejo
4
4
264
1





Quinton
Carey
3
2
254






Abraham
Torres
3
3
189



1


Erick
Villatoro
3
2
173


2
1


Jonatan
Valle
2
1
97






Christopher
Ribet
3
0
96






Franky
Martinez
1
1
90






William
Raygoza
1
0
63






Jesus
Gonzalez
2
0
62






Moja
Hale
2
0
14






Jonatan
Partida
1
0
8

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Michigan Stars












GP
GS
Min
G
A
YC
RC


Gonnie
Ben-Tal
3
3
270
2





Tatenda
Mkuruva
3
3
270


1



Joseph
Aidoo
3
3
270






James
Abraham
3
3
270






Devon
Amoo-Mensah
3
3
270






Kyle
Nuel
3
3
261

2




Andres
Chalbaud
3
3
259






Steven
Juncaj
3
3
246
1
1




Tomas
Bernedo
3
3
224
1





Alexander
Satrustegui
3
3
177


2
1


Tekodah
Lobsiger
3
0
86






Zachary
Reynolds
1
1
77






Sebastien
Des Pres
1
1
56






Brian
Vang
2
1
54


1



Cameron
Schneider
2
0
34






Remy
Tazifor
2
0
25



1


Patrick
Sullivan
1
0
11






James
Pipe
1
0
11

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New Amsterdam FC

GP
GS
Min
G
A
YC
RC


Danny
Vicente
3
3
270
1
1
1



Jesus Alvarez
Riesco
3
3
270






Evin
Nadaner
3
3
270


2



Oluremi
Williams
3
3
239

1
1



Cordt
Flaetgen
3
3
225






Danny
Bedoya
3
3
225






Mahmoud
Keita
3
2
224

1




Tobi
Esche
2
2
180






Michael
Natsu
2
2
180


1



Michael
Bello
3
1
166
3

1



Tommy
Yorston
3
3
135


1



Mahamed
Keita
2
2
135






Aldo
Munez
2
1
135






Carlton
McKenzie
2
1
135

1




Saad
Afif
1
1
90






Zaire
Bartley
2
0
90


1



Yusuf
Mikaheel
1
0
1

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New York Cosmos

GP
GS
Min
G
A
YC
RC


Shavon
John-Brown
3
3
270
1





Pedro
Galvao
3
3
270






Konrad
Plewa
3
3
270






Matt
Lewis
3
3
261






Danny
Szetela
3
3
249


1



Ansi
Agolli
3
3
225






Mattia
Cella
3
3
225


2



Jesse
Corke
2
2
180






Isaac
Acuna
2
2
178






Aly
Hassan
3
1
137






Leandro Geo
Alves
2
2
122






Bledi
Bardic
2
2
115






Kevin
Tenjo
1
1
90






Charlie
Ledula
2
1
76






Giuseppe
Barone
2
1
70


1



Darwin
Espinal
2
0
68

1




John
Denis
3
0
65






Salvatore
Barone
1
0
45






Dominick
Falanga
1
0
9

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Oakland Roots

GP
GS
Min
G
A
YC
RC


Christian
Herrera
5
5
450






David
Abidor
5
5
450


1



Diego
Casillas
4
4
360

2
1



Tarn
Wier
5
5
342


1



Peter
Pearson
5
4
342






Matt
Fondy
5
4
337
3
1




Ariel
Mbumba
4
4
316


1



Yohannes
Harish
4
4
298






Johnny
Rodriguez
4
3
255
2





Nana
Attakora
3
3
252






Jack
McInerney
5
2
250
1
1




Angel
Heredia
5
2
216
1





Daniel
Navarro
4
2
212


1



Niall
Irwin
3
2
185


1



Nelson
Blanco
4
1
178
1
1
1



Manny
Gonzalez
4
1
157

1




Robert
Hines
2
2
143






Seo In
Kim
1
1
55
1

October 2, 2020
2020 NISA Fall Tournament Final
Keyworth Stadium, Hamtramck, MI
Detroit City FC 2, Oakland Roots 1
Attendance: 1 (Smokey the Bot)

OAK Johnny Rodriguez (Nelson Blanco) 27′
DCFC Shaun Claud Lawson 65′
DCFC Ryan Peterson 84′

Yellow Cards
Cyrus Saydee (DCFC) 16′
Daniel Navarro (Roots) 77′
Tarn Weir (Roots) 80′
Niall Irwin (Roots) 89′

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The two-week marathon of the tournament was ninety or more minutes away from completion.  Detroit had already earned the right to host the NISA 2021 Spring Tournament by virtue of the Oakland Roots departure from the league after this match.  But we’re Detroit, and the goal is to win the tournament to earn that future benefit and add another trophy to the shelf.

During the drive to the stadium I was experiencing mixed feelings.  It was a championship match, with the promise and potential of being one of those memories that becomes legacy.  As exciting as that was, I was also feeling sadness.  The empty stadium, neutralized for the tournament, triggered feelings of loneliness.  The joyous voices and faces of the Northern Guard would be missing.

Damn the COVID.

But I felt a warmth in my heart when I pulled into the parking lot and saw the return of flags, fence-banners, and Smokey the Bot, and the NGS crew who were setting things up.  Okay, yes, I teared up a little.

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Oakland and Detroit met in the second match of the Group A round.  City had suffered a tough loss in the first match, and needed a win, which they earned, to stay in the competition.  It was the first of three straight for them walking into the final match. 

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Oakland’s only loss to this point was the City victory, so there was the added incentive for them to win by beating Detroit and leave the league with a piece of silverware.

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Oakland made three line-up changes from the team that started in the semi-final match against Chattanooga FC.  Daniel Navarro, Nelson Blanco, and Diego Casielles started in place of Nana Attakora, Angel Heredia, and Niall Irwin.

STARTING XI

Oakland Roots
Christian Herrera – Keeper
Daniel Navarro – Defender
Tarn Weir – Defender
David Abidor – Defender
Nelson Blanco – Midfielder
Peter Pearson – Midfielder
Diego Casielles – Midfielder
Ariel Mbumba – Midfielder
Yohannes Harish – Midfielder
Matthew Fondy – Forward
Johnny Rodriguez – Forward

 

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For Detroit, two changes were made to the starting line-up that defeated the Los Angeles Force in the semi-final.  Cyrus Saydee and Ibrahim Conte replaced Connor Rutz and Sebastian Capozucchi.  This was the same starting eleven that lined up against Oakland in their earlier victory against them.

STARTING XI

Detroit City FC
Jean Antoine – Keeper
Steve Carroll – Defender
Tendai Jirira – Defender
Michael Kafari – Defender
Kevin Venegas – Midfielder
Jimmy Filerman – Midfielder
Bakie Goodman – Midfielder
Cyrus Saydee – Midfielder
Ibrahim Conteh – Midfielder
Max Todd – Forward
Yazeed Matthews – Forward

 

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Johnny Rodriguez put Oakland ahead in the 27th minute, redirecting a cross from Nelson Blanco to give the Roots a 1-0 lead.

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Just like the previous match, Oakland went into halftime with a 1-0 lead.  They almost made it 2-0 just before stoppage time, however it was ruled offside.

During halftime, City regrouped, just as they had in the previous match against the Roots.

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In the 62nd minute, City pulled a double substitution, relieving Yazeed Matthews and Kevin Venegas for Shawn Claud Lawson and Sebastian Capozucchi.  It only took Shawn three minutes to sneak into the Roots zone, steal a clearing pass by Diego Casillas, then bury it past Christian Herrera to level the match.

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In the 68th minute, Niall Irwin subbed in for Ariel Mbumba for the Roots.  In the 75th minute, Max Todd and Ibrahim Conteh made way for Ryan Peterson and Connor Rutz.  Oakland countered when Jack McInerney subbed in for Nelson Blanco in the 79th minute.

City broke the deadlock in the 84th minute.  A long clearance from a free kick given due to an offside, the ball bounced into the Roots zone.  As it continued its bounce toward the box, Ryan Peterson out-hustled the Roots defender then chipped the ball well over the head of Christian Herrera, which dropped into the back of the net.

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With six minutes remaining, plus five minutes added time, the Roots threw everything at City.  In the 88th minute, Angel Heredia and Manny Gonzalez subbed in for Tarn Weir and Peter Pearson.  Two minutes into stoppage time, Evans Frimpong, who subbed in for Cyrus Saydee as stoppage time began, blocked a shot on the line labeled for the corner.  A minute later, Jean Antoine snatched the ball out of the air as a long pass was aimed for the head of a Roots player.  Five minutes in, Connor Rutz headed a Roots shot away that was on its way to the goal.  Back-to-back corner kicks in the final seconds were repelled.  The final whistle blew, and Detroit City FC was crowned the NISA 2020 Fall Tournament Champions!

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NISA Commissioner John Prutch presented the trophies.

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The Golden Ball trophy for MVP of the tournament was presented to City captain, Stephen Carroll!

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And the tournament trophy to Detroit City FC.

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NISA’s All-Tournament Team identified these twelve players:

Yazeed Matthews – Detroit City FC
Alec Redington – Chattanooga FC
Christian Theirjung – Cal United Strikers
Darwin Lom – Chattanooga FC
Omar Nuno – Cal United Strikers
Max Todd – Detroit City FC
Tatenda Mkuruva – Michigan Stars
Cristian Gordillo – Los Angeles Force
Shawn Claud Lawson – Detroit City FC
Seo In Kim – Oakland Roots
Hugo Gomez – Los Angeles Force
Matt Fondy – Oakland Roots

Not your traditional eleven-man line-up.  Were I to choose my starting eleven from the tournament, it would look like this.

Keeper: Hugo Gomez – Los Angeles Force
Defender: Tendai Jirira – Detroit City FC
Defender: Stephen Carroll – Detroit City FC
Defender: Nick Spielman – Chattanooga FC
Midfielder: Christian Theirjung – Cal United Strikers
Midfielder: Cristian Gordillo Moreno – Los Angeles Force
Midfielder: Bakie Goodman – Detroit City FC
Midfielder: Daniel Vicente – New Amsterdam FC
Forward: Shawn Claud Lawson – Detroit City FC
Forward:  Matt Fondy – Oakland Roots
Forward:  Yazeed Matthews – Detroit City FC
Honorable Mention: Omar Nuno: Cal United Strikers

There were so many good players in the tournament, selecting eleven was difficult.  And it was hard not to list all Detroit City FC players because of my bias.

Watching every match of this tournament, and seeing the caliber of play and teams, along with the commitment to community that all but one team brings, NISA is going to be an awesome league for the supporters and the communities they come from, especially once COVID is gone, and the supporter atmosphere returns.

 

September 30, 2020
2020 NISA Fall Tournament Semi-Finals
Keyworth Stadium, Hamtramck, MI
Detroit City FC 1, Los Angeles Force 0

DCFC Max Todd (Connor Rutz) 29′

On February 28, 2020, Detroit City FC played its first professional match in Los Angeles against the Force.  A few weeks later, the NISA Spring Season was suspended, then cancelled due to COVID.  Detroit won the match, 2-0.

Only four players on the Force from that February match were on the team’s roster – James Alewine, Gabriel Silva, Jimmy Villalobos, and Armando Quezada.  Only Villalobos had seen minutes on the pitch.  This made the February match irrelevant to compare to this LA Force squad.  Like City, LA lost their first match of the tournament, and like City, they won the next two to place them in the semi-finals. 

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Detroit entered the match with a line-up that almost mirrored the starting eleven from the must-win match against the Oakland Roots, with two exceptions.  Instead of Cyrus Saydee and Ibrahim Conte, Coach James inserted Connor Rutz and Sebastian Capozucchi.

STARTING XI

Detroit City FC
Jean Antoine – Keeper
Steve Carroll – Defender
Tendai Jirira – Defender
Kevin Venegas – Defender
Jimmy Filerman – Midfielder
Bakie Goodman – Midfielder
Connor Rutz – Midfielder
Michael Kafari – Midfielder
Sebastian Capozucchi – Midfielder
Max Todd – Forward
Yazeed Matthews – Forward

 

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For Los Angeles, they started the same eleven that started the previous match against the Cosmos.

STARTING XI

Los Angeles Force
Hugo Gomez – Keeper
Erick Villatoro – Defender
Gregory Salazar – Defender
Abraham Torres – Defender
Spencer Moeller – Defender
Josue Espana – Midfielder
Jimmy Villalobos – Midfielder
Cyro Reis de Oliveira – Midfielder
Paolo Cardozo – Midfielder
Danny Trejo – Forward
Christian Gordillo Moreno – Forward

 

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In the 6th minute, Max Todd drew a penalty by being taken down in the box.  However Hugo Gomez made the save for his second PK save in as many games.

In the 32nd minute, Detroit City earned a corner kick.  The ball floated into the box, where Sebastian Capozucchi got a foot on it, directing it to Connor Rutz.  Rutz out-maneuvered a Force defender, then passed the ball in to Max Todd who re-directed it past Hugo Gomez.

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City went into halftime with the one goal lead.  Shortly after the second half began, Danny Trejo was subbed out for Christopher Ribert.  In the 58th minute, City made a double swap, bringing in Shawn Claud Lawson and Ryan Peterson for Yazeed Matthews and Max Todd.  Cyrus Saydee entered the match for Connor Rutz in the 63rd minute.  In the 83rd minute, LA made a final substitution bringing in Jonatan Valle for Josue Espana, and City’s final sub was Evans Frimpong for Bakie Goodman in stoppage time.

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Los Angeles didn’t back down, but neither did City’s defense, and in the end, Jean Antoine’s first clean sheet as City’s keeper took Detroit into the finals.

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It was odd seeing our goal on the Guest’s side of the scoreboard.  LA was the top seed, but will heading home.

A repeat of the second match of Group A will be the NISA 2020 Fall Tournament Final.  The best part is Detroit has already won.  The winner of the tournament final would host the 2021 Spring Tournament Champion to determine NISA’s 2020-21 Season Champion.  With the Oakland Roots moving on to another league, win or lose, Keyworth will be hosting the NISA 2020-21 Season Championship match.

Obviously, it’s better to go in as winners not as runner-ups to a team that moved elsewhere.

The full tournament can be found .

September 30, 2020
2020 NISA Fall Tournament Semi-Finals
Keyworth Stadium, Hamtramck, MI
Oakland Roots 3, Chattanooga FC 2

OAK  Johnny Rodriguez 6′
OAK  Angel Heredia 19′
CFC  Ian McGrath 46′
OAK  Matthew Fondy 48′
CFC  Ryan Marcano 77′

The first semi-final match of the day featured Group A #1 Seed Oakland Roots vs Group B #2 Seed Chattanooga FC.  The winner would go on to the finals.  The loser would go home.

The match began in a chilly September light rain that ended by half time.

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Oakland started the match with a starting eleven that lined up against Detroit City FC with three exceptions: Niall Irwin, Yohannes Harish, and Johnny Rodriguez started for Robert Hines, Diego Casillas, Jack McInerney.

STARTING XI

Oakland Roots
Christian Herrera – Keeper
Nana Attakora – Defender
Tarn Weir – Defender
David Abidor – Defender
Angel Heredia – Midfielder
Peter Pearson – Midfielder
Niall Irwin – Midfielder
Ariel Mbumba – Midfielder
Yohannes Harish – Midfielder
Matthew Fondy – Forward
Johnny Rodriguez – Forward

 

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Chattanooga FC made three changes to the line up that entered the Cal United match.  Clayton Adams, Ryan Marcano, and Brian Bement made way for Ian McGrath, Jose Ferraz, and Juan Hernandez.

STARTING XI

Chattanooga FC
Alec Redington – Keeper
Nick Spielman – Defender
Shaun Russell – Defender
David Koloko – Defender
Juan Hernandez – Midfielder
Kyle Carr – Midfielder
Sean Hoffstatter – Midfielder
Cameron Woodfin – Midfielder
Ian McGrath – Midfielder
Jose Ferraz – Forward
Darwin Lom – Forward

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Oakland drew first blood in the 5th minute.  From the center circle, Ariel Mbumba sent a ball long and toward the near side which landed for Matt Fondy.  Running it to the top corner of the box, Fondy sent the ball into the path of Johnny Rodriguez in front of the goal, who slotted it past Alec Redington to give the Roots a 1-0 lead.

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Fourteen minutes later, Oakland struck again, as Angel Heredia sent a scorching drive from just outside of the box past Redington, doubling their lead.

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Chattanooga was able to fend off the remaining twenty-six minutes of the half so the team could regroup during the break.  Chattanooga subbed in Erik Panzer for David Koloko to begin the second half.

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Just a minute into the second half, Chattanooga pressed and earned a throw-in inside Roots territory.  Sean Hoffstatter threw it deep in the box, finding Ian McGrath’s head which vaulted the ball beyond the reach of the tall Roots keeper and into the back of the net. 

Game on.

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But Oakland regained its two-goal lead just two minutes later.  The ball came in on goal and at the top of the box Alec Redington went to clear it.  However an on-rushing Matt Fondy blocked it, ricocheting Redington’s clear into the back of the net.

In the 55th minute, Jack McInerney subbed in for Matt Fondy.  An injury sustained by Alec Redington caused Matt Mozynski to replace the Chattanooga keeper in the 60th minute.  In the 72nd minute, both teams made substitutions.  David Navarro came in for Nana Attakora.  Chattanooga replaced Darwin Lom and Jose Ferraz with Ryan Marcano and Brian Bement.  The Chattanooga switch paid dividends when five minutes later, Ryan Marcano scored one of the prettiest team goals of the tournament.  Another throw-in deep in the Oakland end of the pitch was headed out by a Roots defender.  The ball fell outside of the box to Erik Panzer, who sent the ball in and to his right. Juan Hernandez back-heeled it to Brian Bement who sent it into the air toward the goal.  As it dropped, Ryan Marcano, whose back was to goal, bicycle kicked it past Christian Herrera into the back of the goal.  With 13 minutes plus a significant amount of added time to play, Chattanooga pressed for the equalizer.   

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Christopher Marshall subbed in for Cameron Woodfin in the 87th minute.  But in the end, Chattanooga fell short.  Oakland advanced to the tournament final.

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The complete tournament can be found .

September 28, 2020
2020 NISA Fall Tournament Group Stage, Game Twelve
Keyworth Stadium, Hamtramck, MI
New York Cosmos 1, Los Angeles Force 2

LA  Christian Gordillo Moreno (Jimmie Villalobos) 15′
LA  Danny Trejo 40′
NY  Shavon John-Brown (Darwin Espinal) 90+’

Yellow Cards:
Mattia Cella (NY) 44′
Danny Szetela (NY) 53′
Erick Villatoro (LA) 62′ 75′ (red card ejection)
Gregory Salazar (LA) 70′   

For Los Angeles, a win would put them through to the semi-finals.  For New York, a victory by four goals or more would put them in the semi-finals.  A draw would eliminate both teams. 

It had rained through the Chattanooga FC vs Cal United Strikers match, and between matches the traditional post-rain rainbow appeared behind the Supporters Section at Keyworth.  And the rain returned to participate in this final Group B match.

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Los Angeles alters its starting line-up from its 3-2 victory over Cal United by inserting Erick Villatoro and Abraham Torres in place of Franky Martinez and Quinton Carey.

 

STARTING XI

Los Angeles Force
Hugo Gomez – Keeper
Erick Villatoro – Defender
Gregory Salazar – Defender
Abraham Torres – Defender
Spencer Moeller – Defender
Josue Espana – Midfielder
Jimmy Villalobos – Midfielder
Cyro Reis de Oliveira – Midfielder
Paolo Cardozo – Midfielder
Danny Trejo – Forward
Christian Gordillo Moreno – Forward

 

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For the Cosmos, Kevin Tenjo and Geo Alves step in for Justin Corke and Bljedi Bardic from the eleven who started in the Chattanooga scoreless draw.

STARTING XI

New York Cosmos
Kevin Tenjo – Keeper
Pedro Galvao – Defender
Matt Lewis – Defender
Ansi Agolli – Defender
Konrad Plewa – Defender
Geo Alves – Midfielder
Danny Szetela – Midfielder
Mattia Cella – Midfielder
Bledi Bardic – Forward
Shavon John-Brown – Forward
Issac Acuna – Forward

 

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Los Angeles owned the first half.  Their first goal at the 15-minute mark was Cristian Gordillo Moreno’s fourth-straight goal for the Force (recording a hat trick in their 3-2 victory over Cal United), firing it past Kevin Tenjo after receiving a pass from Jimmy Villalobos that split a seam through the Cosmos defenders. William Raygoza subbed in for Cyro Reis de Oliveria in the 27th minute.  Five minutes before the end of the half, Danny Trejo scored, picking up the wayward pass from Pedro Galvao to Konrad Plewa and blasting it into the Cosmos net.

Both teams made player changes as the second half began.  Aly Hassan and Salvatore Barone replaced Ansi Agolli and Bljedi Bardic for the Cosmos.  Christopher Ribet and Jesus Gonzalez subbed in for Danny Trejo and Jimmie Villalobos.  The Cosmos brought in Darwin Espinal and John Denis in the 56th and 78th minute for Geo Alves and Danny Szetela respectively.  Quinton Carey entered the match for Los Angeles, with Gregory Salazar withdrawn in the 74th minute.  A minute later, Erick Villatoro received his second yellow card of the match, giving the Cosmos a man advantage for the remaining fifteen minutes.  Villatoro’s first yellow card came in the 62nd minute when he took down Salvatore Barone (more like fell down and into Barone who went down like a domino) giving the Cosmos a penalty kick which Hugo Gomez saved. 

 

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Finally, in stoppage time, the Cosmos scored their first goal of the entire tournament.

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With this win, Los Angeles finishes at the top of Group B.  They will match up against Detroit City FC in the semi-finals.  Oakland Roots topped the standings in Group A and will face Chattanooga FC in the other semi-final match.

The full tournament is .

September 28, 2020
2020 NISA Fall Tournament
Group Stage, Game Eleven
Keyworth Stadium, Hamtramck, MI
Chattanooga FC 1, Cal United Strikers 1

CFC Brian Bement (Darwin Lom) 12′
CAL Omar Nuno (Evan Waldrep) 32′

Yellow Cards:
Cameron Woodfin (CFC) 79′
Kyle Carr (CFC) 85′

Like Group A, every team in Group B has a chance to advance today with positive results.  Chattanooga has 4 pts, Cal United and Los Angeles Force each have 3 points, and the New York Cosmos have a point.  

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Chattanooga made four changes to the starting eleven from their previous draw against the Cosmos.  Wilfred Williams, Juan Hernandez, Jose Feraz, and Ian McGrath made way for Clayton Adams, Sean Hoffstatter, Darwin Lom, and Ryan Marcano.

STARTING XI

Chattanooga FC
Alec Reddington – Keeper
Nick Spielman – Defender
Kyle Carr – Defender
Shaun Russell – Defender
Cameron Woodfin – Defender
David Koloko – Defender
Clayton Adams – Midfielder
Sean Hoffstatter – Midfielder
Ryan Marcano – Midfielder
Darwin Lom – Foward
Brian Bement – Forward

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Three line-up changes were made for Cal United from their 3-2 loss against the Los Angeles Force.  Gonzalo Salguero, Evan Waldrep, and Omar Nuno started in place of Ikaika Fuerte, Shane Kaemerle, and Duncan Capriotti.

STARTING XI

Cal United Strikers
Steven Barrera – Keeper
Gonzalo Salguero – Defender
Christopher Klute – Defender
Ayden Bowers – Defender
Kevin Garcia-Lopez – Defender
Abraham Villon – Midfielder
Michael Bryant – Midfielder
Evan Waldrep – Midfielder
Omar Nuno – Forward
Christian Thierjung – Forward
Shinya Kadono – Forward

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It was a wet start to the game, as autumn rain fell on Keyworth.  In the 12th minute, Darwin Lom cut in from his run with the ball along the far side, and put a pass behind the Strikers’ defenders that Brian Bement ran onto and fired past Steven Barrera to give Chattanooga the early lead.  After that, the play opened up with chances on both sides of the dampening pitch.

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In the 32nd minute, Omar Nuno scored this, his second goal of the tournament, redirecting Evan Waldrep’s shot from just outside the box.

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Both teams having found the back of the net, the rain didn’t stop the intensity of the match.

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Chattanooga opened the second half subbing Juan Hernandez in for Clayton Adams.  In the 71st minute, Cal United introduced Kyle O’Brien into the match for Abraham Villon.  Chattanooga countered in the 73rd minute when goal scorer Brian Bement made way for Ian McGrath.  Christopher Marshall replaced Darwin Lom in the 83rd minute for Chattanooga and Cal United followed in the 85th minute with Tony Lopez swapping in for Evan Waldrep.  No one could break the plane of the goal so the match ended in a 1-1 draw.

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Chattanooga had 5 points in the group stage, and Cal United had 4.  With Chattanooga’s place secure, only a draw or a Cosmos victory over Los Angeles by less than 4 goals would advance Cal United into the semi-finals.

The complete tournament’s page is .

With the rain letting up and the sun peaking out in time to set between the matches, the traditional rainbow appeared behind the Supporters Section of Keyworth Stadium.

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