MEN’S SOCCER: Flint City Bucks post encore shutout to complete unbeaten exhibition schedule with 3-0 shutout of Inter Detroit FC
BY DAN STICKRADT
SENIOR EDITOR
dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
Twitter: @LocalSportsFans
FLINT — After going unbeaten in August and September during its exhibition schedule, the Flint City Bucks came back on stage Saturday for an encore performance.
The Bucks controlled play at Flint Atwood Stadium and walked away with a resounding 3-0 shutout of Inter Detroit FC.
Different from the previous wins this year, the Bucks finally got to host fans in the historic stadium for the first time since winning the U.S.L.-League 2 North American title in August of 2019.
Fans saw a similar result.
After giving up a close call in the 10th minute off a header, Flint City regrouped and dominated for the rest of the game. The Bucks outshot Inter Detroit 24-2, including 12-0 with shots on frame, and even held a 7-2 edge on cornerkicks in the victory.
“We’ve been good — surprisingly because we are never able to train with this group,” said Bucks head coach Andy Wagstaff. “Our guys are spread out everywhere in the week and we haven’t played in a month. But we’ve become quite predictable in who we are — in a good way. Not predicable for the other team. We our predictable in our performance each game where we dominate play.”
Michael Sly (Grand Blanc/Michigan Wolves MLS Academy) picked up the clean sheet without having to make a save, as the Bucks’ defense put together its most stifling effort of 2020. Every time Inter Detroit FC got the ball inside the box or offensive third of the field, the Bucks’ defense was quick to clear the ball.
James DeCosemo cleared away a dangerous header in the box in the 79th minute to keep Inter Detroit FC at bay.
“Michael is a young player who is very talented. We didn’t really see him have to make anything spectacular, but he’s the type of player we have our eye on,” said Wagstaff. “Even though its a huge step up to the USL-League 2 level, he’s definitely a player that you would love to have on your squad. He’s someone who could help us in the future.”
Flint City (7-0-0) never trailed in any game this season in over 600 minutes of soccer. The Bucks picked up five clean sheets over seven games, allowed only two goals overall and never more than one in a game, and did not yield a single goal over the last four contests.
Sly picked up his second straight shutout for the Bucks, who outscored the opposition 29-2 overall during the exhibition summer/fall season.
“I thought the first half today we were very, very good,” added Wagstaff. “I thought we had a lot of opportunities. I thought we dominated in the first half and put together some really good possession and created some really good chances. Their keeper made some good saves and we couldn’t capitalize on a lot of them. In the second half we scored again and I think we just wore them down. I don’t think they did much against us in the second half except for one time. I thought we were solid overall in the second half — for the whole game really. Our defense was outstanding again, just as they have been all season.”
Anthony Bowie gave the Bucks the 1-0 lead. Taking a long pass from Marty Mabin, Bowie’s bending cross from the right corner of the box sailed into traffic just one yard in front of the goal before deflecting off an Inter Detroit player’s heel and spinning over the goal line in the 36th minute.
Amadou Cisse scored the second goal of the match off a pass from Tyler Channel. Connor Rutz began the play with a service to the onrushing Channel, who quickly sent the ball to a charging Cisse — and Cisse left no doubt on his chance in the 44th minute.
Maybin scored the third goal on a nice effort in the box in the 78th minute. Collecting a long pass from Elliot Bentley, Maybin beat two defenders along the end line and then blasted a shot from almost an impossible angle past Inter Detroit FC goalkeeper Oscar Jimenez that caught the inside webbing by the far goal post.
The Bucks kept attacking for the remaining of the game but could not score on another chance. Flint City never trailed in a match all season.
“The thing I liked (this season) was our ability to keep creating chances and never letting up,” said Wagstaff. “We saw that again today.”
DOMINATiNG EFFORTS:
The statistics for the Bucks’ perfect 7-0-0 exhibition season in 2020 include:
Week 1: Flint City Bucks 8, Midwest United FC 0
Week 2: Flint City Bucks 2, Carpathia FC 1
Week 3: Flint City Bucks 2, Inter Detroit FC 1
Week 4: Flint City Bucks 7, Livonia FC 0
Week 5: Flint City Bucks 3, Detroit United FC 0
Week 6: Flint City Bucks 4, Rebels FC 0
Week 7: Flint City Bucks 3, Inter Detroit FC 0
Goals For: 29
Goals Against: 2
Shutouts: 5
Team Goals-Against-Average: 0.29
Record: 7-0-0
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