NPSL: FC Motown loses home opener 3-2, vs West Chester United
May 23, 2022
USL2: FC Motown STA drops home opener, 2-0 vs Manhattan SC
May 26, 2022
Year two of Motown's USL2 program opened up at the home of Cedar Stars Rush on Sunday night. The match was played at the soccer complex of Fairleigh Dickinson University, Teaneck, NJ. Motown has partnered with local youth powerhouse STA, and aims to provide a more professional experience and pathway for local college players coming back into town for the summer.
Motown and the Cedar Stars split the difference last year in their inaugural seasons of USL2 play, both teams winning one game each. Motown lost game one at home 2-0, then went away to Cedar Stars and returned the favor with a 2-0 win. Four players in Motown colors that played in 2021 appeared again last night. De Almeida, DeVizio, Linhares and Weis showed the new direction of this young squad. FC Motown is captained by Rutgers fullback Tommy DeVizio. Cedar Stars also lined up with a revamped roster, both squads full of exciting talent.
The game started brightly with contrasting styles of play. Cedar Stars played two up top, playing early and quickly into their two dangermen on the forward line. Motown was a little more patient trying to possess and probe in the build-up. It was Cedar Stars who scored first, as they were first to a loose ball and quickly transitioned through the Motown midfield. Montclair State University star forward Amer Lukovic broke a tackle and found himself in on goal, before shooting past Weis for the opening score of the match. Motown themselves applied some pressure locked in by the front line. This allowed midfielder Grant Barrientos to jump a pass which he quickly distributed out to Josiah Crawford, who struck the post with a right footed curler. The rebound was collected by Miccah Garnette, who created himself a yard and buried one in the bottom corner to tie the game at 1-1.
The ref blew for half time and as if by design a storm rolled in delaying the game, sending both teams to wait it out in the locker rooms.
When both teams came back out, the temp was cooler and the surface slick with the rain. Both teams tried to make changes to influence the game, which was still relatively even, until Motown saw red. Motown had a player sent off for a second yellow, which changed the game's flow. Cedar Stars then had numerical advantages in many areas and tried to take the lead. Motown dug in and created some chances for themselves. Georgetown forward Kyle Linhares had some joy on the right side, creating some scoring opportunities, but Motown could not convert.
Cedar Stars then went down to even numbers when they had a player sent off as well, but neither team could break the deadlock in the final minutes, settling for a 1-1 season opener.
Come join us for an action packed evening as FC Motown STA host Manhattan SC this Wednesday May 25th, at Drew University's Ranger Stadium for a 7:30pm kick off. Children under 16 are free, $10 for all others. Tickets are on sale at the gate but recommended to purchase in advance https://tickets.uslleaguetwo.com/users/62377705/events
