Bay Cities FC lost its first home match as a member of the National Independent Soccer Association (NISA) on Saturday night by a score of 2-0.
It marked the third consecutive NISA match in which Bay Cities was unable to score. Meanwhile, Phoenix-based Valley United is quickly establishing itself as a contender in its first professional season, with two wins and one draw in their first three league matches.
Stamina was an issue for both clubs, coming off of tough U.S. Open Cup matches against USL Championship sides on Wednesday evening. Bay Cities defeated Monterey Bay 2-1 and Valley United held host Phoenix Rising FC scoreless for 115 minutes in a 1-0 loss.
But Valley United FC only need 45 seconds to take control of Saturday night’s match. Ricardo Velazco’s through ball found Jeffrey Oblitey Otoo streaking down the left sideline. The Ghanaian midfielder avoided a sliding tackle from goalkeeper Ian McGrane and deposited the ball into the unguarded net.
Oblitey Otoo nearly added another just before halftime, when he grabbed a loose ball and let go of a shot from beyond the arc that hit the post. McGrane was able to smother a subsequent rebound attempt from Ricardo Gordillo-Velazquez.
Bay Cities’ best first half chance came in the 12th minute, when they won a free kick just beyond the penalty arc, but Ivan Valencia’s shot sailed over the crossbar.
Valley United went back on the attack early in the second half. Oblitey Otoo nearly scored a brace in the 57th minute, when he avoided a sliding tackle by David Kinnear and took a shot from close range that McGrane redirected to safety.
A long ball out of the back by Nicholas Gaitan led to Valley United’s second goal in the 59th minute. Mustafa Troncoso chipped the ball over the onrushing McGrane, who could only watch helplessly as the ball slowly made its way into the open net.
Bay Cities intensified their scoring efforts in the final half-hour of the match with direct passing and quicker transitions. They nearly scored in the 71st minute, when substitute Marco Silveira made a run down the right side. His cross bounced into the path of Ivan Valencia whose shot was on target, but was deflected over the end line by Valley United defender Robin Lafarge and goalkeeper Javier Olmedo.
Kinnear lofted a shot from 35 yards out in the 75th minute that nearly caught Olmedo unaware. He caught the ball just in front of the goal line and had to toss it away so he wouldn’t end up carrying it into the net.
Valley United nearly scored a third on a counterattack in the 80th minute. Alexander Tejera had a shot from close range, but McGrane blocked it and Bay Cities grabbed the rebound.
Bay Cities’ Josiah Romero received both yellow and red cards in the 82nd minute after an altercation with Daniel Herrera and was ejected, leaving Bay Cities to play with 10 men for the remainder of the match.
Olmedo had trouble again in the 85th minute, when he tried to push a cross from Marco Silveira over the crossbar and the ball bounced in the goalmouth before Olmedo was able to smother it.
