CHICAGO (October 14, 2024) – No. 1 seed Los Angeles Force (LAF) will host No. 2 seed Irvine Zeta FC (IZFC) for the 2024 National Independent Soccer Association championship match Saturday, Oct. 19. The match is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. PT at Veterans Stadium in Long Beach, Calif.
IZFC topped visitors and No. 3 seed Michigan Stars FC (MSFC) 3-0 in the semi-final on Saturday night. The hosts took the lead in the 8th minute when Jonathan Estrada put a one-time shot past MSFC’s Tatenda Mkurva, the stalwart keeper who would get sent off with a straight red – interfering on a goal chance outside of the box – in the 35th.
Things kept going IZFC’s way in the second half. Guatemalan MF Joseph Ciochetto made it 2-0 in the 61st with a golazo from 25 yards out into the upper left corner. Four minutes later, Brazilian George Almeida made it 3-0 with a nifty right foot set up and shot off the post.
In its first professional season, IZFC gave NISA-founding club LAF a run for the money taking a win and two ties over the six-match series. The last meeting between the clubs was a 0-2 decision to LAF on Sept. 15.
The match will stream on NISA+ at watch.NISASoccer.com.