FC Motown cruise past Shockers 4-1 in NPSL Regional Semi-Final
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Wednesday night's NPSL Eastern Regional Semi-Finals were held at Montclair State University on a day where the sun and humidity seemed to be a tough opponent for everyone. Facing off in the match were the one-seed FC Motown Celtics and the four-seed New York Shockers. A spot in the Regional Final was on the line and both teams were eager to make sure they were the victor.
Motown were without their star forward in Joe Fala, for the game. The team's captain, Danny Cordiero, was on the bench to start the game, but he would make his impact later. FC Motown started with the ball and the first 10 minutes of the game were very balanced for both sides. It felt like they were trying to feel each other out as they battled the ninety-degree weather. Both sides had a corner kick in the first ten but were not able to make anything out of it. Babacar Diene had a great opportunity to put Motown ahead in the first twenty minutes but could not convert on a nice save by the opposing goalkeeper. Danny Cordiero would sub in for Samuel Nii Ashitey, who went down with an injury.
It was 8pm at night and the weather was still 95 degrees and there's no doubt it was taking a toll on the players. Another corner try in the 26’ was unsuccessful once again for Motown. Ryan Peterson played some outstanding defense when Motown needed him most, helping to stop a few of the Shockers fast breaks. Both sides were turning the ball over regularly and Motown missed two more shots on goal, making them 0-3 in the first thirty minutes. Due to the heat, a hydration break stopped the clock in the 30’.
After the hydration break, Jean Voltaire picked up a yellow card that gave the Shockers a great opportunity to score. They were also unsuccessful. Motown broke the scoring open in the 39’, on a goal by Jean Voltaire, who headed in a ball that the Shockers failed to clear. Voltaire quickly made up for the yellow with the beautiful goal that put Motown up 1-0. His first of the season came at an opportune time. One Shockers player took a big hit and Motown was lucky to not get a red card because of it. He was taken off by the trainer and that left the Shockers playing 11v10 for the time being.
Franco Catania would strike a shot in the box that went in the top right corner, past the outstretched arms of the opposing team's goalie. This is his third straight game with a goal for Motown as he put his squad up 2-0 in 47’. That is how the first half would end. The first 30 minutes seemed very even for both sides until Motown broke away in the final 15.
The Shockers started with the ball to begin the second half and they had also made two subs to their starters. It was going to be an uphill battle for them to come back and win. Catania had a chance to score his second goal of the game early in the second half, but could not convert. The pace of this half was much faster than the first, and it seemed to benefit Motown’s style of play. The opponents offense woke up in the second half and Dave Greczek made a very nice save to keep the Shockers off the board. Ryan Peterson was subbed out for Coby Handy Jean.
A yellow card on the Shockers gave Motown a free kick in the 64’. Cordiero always finds a way to make an impact, this time assisting Franco Catania on his second goal of the night. Motown was now up 3-0 in the 72’, and it was looking like the Shockers season was likely coming to an end. Just three minutes later, Damien Searchwell came off the bench and saved a ball from going out and set up Coby Handy Jean with the easy goal. A 4-0 lead was going to be the dagger this late in the match. Joshua Schaffer was subbed in for Dave Greczek, and Shaffer made a nice save in his first few minutes in goal. The Shockers would not go down scoreless, however, scoring a goal late in the final minutes of the match. Motown won the match easily and they are now in the Eastern Regional Final for the second straight year. Their opponent will be a club from North Carolina, Appalachian FC.
Motown also punched their ticket to the US Open Cup in 2023 with the win on Wednesday night at MSU. The Eastern Regional Final will be this Saturday at 7:30pm, this time back at Drew University. The squad needs as much support as possible, so please come out and support FC Motown in this huge match! Kids eighteen and under are free and ten dollars for all adults. We hope to see you there cheering on Motown!