UPSL: Chicago Nation holds on to knock out Detroit City FC II in Round of 32
- Dan Stickradt
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
NATIONAL SOCCER NEWS: www.nationalsoccernetwork.com
DETROIT – Both Chicago Nation and Detroit City FC II had similar resumes and similar offensive and defensive numbers up and down the board.
But only one team has Zakhar Shkidchenko.
The Ukrainian native who spent time playing at four different colleges and universities in recent years, scored two first-half goals Sunday afternoon and his Chicago Nation side held on down the stretch to defeat host Detroit City FC II 2-1 in a UPSL Round of 32 match at the University of Detroit’s Mercy’s Titan Field.
The win helped Chicago Nation up its win streak to eight games after back-to-back losses in late April and early May and the Nation defense helped snap Detroit City FC II’s eight-game win streak in the process.
Chicago Nation (12-2-0) has now outscored its opposition 47-9 and its stingy defense more than stood tall for 90 minutes, especially in the second half when Detroit City FC II was rejuvenated with more energy and held a 4-3 shots advantage.
But it was the craftiness and work rate of the dangerous Shkidchenko that led to a 2-0 lead in the first half.
Taking a short pass from Mounir Amani, Shkidchenko cut back to his left foot and ripped a low shot from the top of the 18 and inside the right post for the 1-0 advantage in the 23rd minute.
He was not done, as Shkidchenko broke free down the right side before getting into the box and again using his lethal left foot to send home what proved to be the game-winner in the 38th minute.
Detroit City FC II only had three shots in the first half and only one was on frame. The Le Rouge did have four cornerkicks in each half but struggled to do much with their set pieces and that is another item that spelled their doom.
Detroit City FC II did trim the deficit down to 2-1 when Lucas Yessayan took a pass from Chase Paulis and had just enough space around the six-yard box to send it home in the 63rd minute.
The hosts also had a goal called back after a player sent the ball into the box but was ruled that he was out-of-bounds and over the end line in the 69th minute and Yessayan’s header goal from the doorstep was quickly nullified.
It was only the second loss of the season for Detroit City FC II, which ends with a 10-2-0 record and 42-8 scoring edge to go along with seven shutouts and a 0.67 goals-against-average.
Chicago Nation is now in the Round of 16 and will face the New York Shockers July 19-20 at a site to be determined.
Chicago Nation held a 12-7 overall shots advantage in the game, including 6-3 with shots on goal.
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