The number two seed Atlantic City FC’s 2021 season came to an end Friday night in the NPSL Keystone Conference Semifinals 3-2 to the third seed FC Motown in a physical contest at Silver Eagle Stadium in Egg Harbor Township, NJ. FC Motown are the defending Keystone Conference champions.
The Aces’ got off to a good start early in the first half. Niklas Laenger scored on a free-kick with a header to the right side of the net for a 1-0 lead in the sixth minute. Roberto Alarcon Saez assisted in Laenger’s goal.
Atlantic City FC’s attackers were keeping FC Motown defense on their toes. They had a couple of chances to add to their lead but came away empty-handed. Then, FC Motown began to build momentum.
In the 22nd minute, Ryan Peterson of FC Motown sailed the ball in the direction of Marcus Hackett. Hackett’s header was deflected off the hands of Atlantic City FC goalkeeper Lucas Daunhauer before going into the net that tied the game 1-1.
After that goal, FC Motown were once again on the move. In the 27th minute, off a corner kick by Freddy De Olivera, Roy Boateng snuck the ball into the lower right corner of the net to put FC Motown up 2-1. Atlantic City FC were struggling to move the ball past FC Motown’s defense.
In the 33rd minute, Atlantic City FC’s Niklas Laenger turned the ball over to FC Motown’s Freddy De Olivera. Then Olivera crossed the ball to Ryan Peterson before Peterson scored from the right side of the net for a 3-1 lead. FC Motown led 3-1 at halftime.
In the second half, Atlantic City FC were pressuring FC Motown’s defense. They had several chances to score but again would come away without a goal.
After several chances to get another goal, they would cut FC Motown’s lead 3-2 in the 93rd minute after Kalvin Semedo crossed the ball to Patrick Okonkwo. Then Okonkwo went upstairs over FC Motown’s goalkeeper Josh Schaffer’s head for the goal.
Atlantic City FC had one more chance on a throw-in but could not tie the game before the final whistle blew as the Atlantic City FC goes down to FC Motown 3-2. This is the second consecutive year that Atlantic City FC were eliminated in the semifinals.
Atlantic City FC closes out the 2021 season with an undefeated record of 8-0-2. The eight wins was the most in team history. They also made history by scoring the most points in team history (26 points), Top 7 National Ranking, most goals scored in a season (31 goals), and least goals given up (8 goals).
In other Keystone Conference action, the number one seed West Chester United SC went down to the fourth seed FC Monmouth 3-1 on a hat trick by former Ace Walter Calderon, setting up the Keystone Conference Finals matchup between FC Motown and FC Monmouth on Sunday.
With Atlantic City FC’s NPSL season over, their NISA Independent Cup team will take the field at Blandair Regional Park in Columba, MD, Sunday at 7 pm versus Steel Pulse FC.
