NPSL National Championship Previews: Marcus Hackett- Right Back #13
August 4, 2022
Morristown, NJ --- FC Motown traveled to Count Basie Park, the home of FC Monmouth on Saturday evening to kick off the 2023 NPSL season. This season is the NPSL’s 20th season.
Motown are the defending National Champions after beating Crossfire Redmond in an epic final.
Motown freshened up their squad with some new faces as they are accustomed to doing. Into the first line up of the season came Nevin’s, Lema and Opoku with Hazel, Cueceoglu & Daoud making up the new names on the bench.
The game started with both teams figuring each other out. Monmouth goalkeeper Mroz got down low on 2 occasions to keep Motown off the scoresheet.
Motown struck first when Fala chested a pass to Holland in the 37th minute, he then played a 1-2 with Catania, when Holland got the return pass he took one touch and belted it into the top corner from approximately 24 yards out. A screamer of a goal for the highlight reel for sure.
8 minutes later and just before half time Motown struck again. This time the goal came from a defender. Perez (formerly of William Paterson University) intercepted a pass and broke through into the Monmouth box, the ball bounced off a Monmouth player as he tried to stop the attack but the ball broke kindly and Perez composed himself to slot past the Monmouth GK into the net. 2-0 Motown at the half.
Goal 3 came after some important moments in the game. Motown goalkeeper Greczek made a key point blank save from a promising Monmouth attack which kept the score at 2-0.
Motown went about closing out the game making some subs and bringing on fresh legs, Muniz forced the GK Mroz into a good save when he cut in and unleashed a curling effort. Then midfielder Ashitey received the ball on the top of the box after a clearance and hit a sweet strike that beat the keeper but crashed off the crossbar, down and out.
In the 75 minute Motown added their 3rd and final goal, Daoud got a touch on a bouncing ball and laid the ball into the path of the on rushing Fala, who settled the ball and placed a right footed shot across the keeper and it nestled perfectly in the bottom corner.
Motown kept that all important clean sheet (0 goals conceded) using 2 goalkeepers Greczek & Schaffer. This coupled with 3 goals on the road made for an important 3 points to kick off the season.
Motown remains on the road again next week May 20th as the travel to Jackson Lions at Donovan Catholic High School, kick off is 7pm.
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