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Bucks Face National Champs tonight

By Flint City Bucks, 07/29/22, 3:00PM EDT

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Watch party hosted by Churchill’s in downtown Flint

Bucks face national champs tonight 

Watch party hosted by Churchill’s in downtown Flint 

Check and check! Two victories in the USL League Two postseason are in the books for your Flint City Bucks. But the challenges still lying ahead might be the biggest yet.

Here’s how we got here:

  • 3-1 win Friday night over Valley Division champions South Bend Lions

  • 2-1 win Sunday over Heartland Division champions Chicago FC United

Up next: 8p Tonight @ Des Moines Menace

Reigning national champions Des Moines Menace — also this year’s Deep North Division champions and No. 1 playoff seed in the Central Conference — will host the Bucks in the conference final at 8 p.m. ET tonight. Des Moines is undefeated in 14 matches this season and has not lost in the league since June 30, 2021, against Chicago FC United.

Churchill’s Food and Spirits in downtown Flint will show the game live tonight at 8 p.m. ET.  The game will be available to stream free of charge on the Menace YouTube page.

The Menace will be hosting their 11th consecutive playoff match.

Tonight’s winner will play in the national semifinal Sunday in Des Moines, facing the Western Conference champion: Ballard FC (WA) or Ventura County Fusion (CA).

Bad blood and a flair for the dramatics

The marquee matchup will feature the two most recent league winners, with each team defeating the other on the way to their respective national titles.

Old rivals, the clubs have met 11 times over a quarter-century together in the league. The Bucks hold the all-time series edge at 7-4 (including a 6-3 postseason record).

In 2019, the Bucks faced another undefeated Menace side in the first round of the playoffs. Des Moines had allowed only four goals over 14 matches. The Bucks, who entered 6-3-3, came from behind three times to tie the game 3-3 and advance on spot kicks.

It took two stoppage-time equalizers: After a chaotic buildup, Ayuk Tambe sent the match to extra time at 2-2 with his improbable strike. The Menace would reclaim the lead, though, in the final period. Faced with oppressive heat and several injuries, Bucks coach Demir Muftari had just one wildcard late: backup goalkeeper Gustavo Vasconcelos.

With less than 30 seconds left in the Bucks season, Justin Ingram stole a pass deep in the Bucks’ end, sprinted forward, and launched a hail-mary pass ball to the right sideline and into the path of the converted forward Vasconcelos. From 25 yards out, he reached to touch the ball just one magical time: It sailed over the keeper and into the goal.

Last year in Des Moines, the Menace got their revenge in round two. A dogfight with Flint City proved to be the toughest match on the winning side’s march to the title. The final score was 1-0 after Sivert Haugli's wonder strike on a volley in the 52nd minute.

Who to watch in this year’s Menace squad

Des Moines features one player on USL2’s top prospects list: Italian outside back Gianluca Fiorini (No. 38). He had an assist in Sunday’s playoff match. Last fall, he had three goals and eight assists as a sophomore at Davis & Elkins College (NCAA D-II).

Central midfielder turned striker Eliot Goldthorp scored his eighth goal of the season Sunday, following a two-goal showing Friday against Kaw Valley FC. He spent the fall 2021 season at Old Dominion University, earning Conference USA All-Rookie honors.

Irish forward Brandon Bermingham’s seventh goal also came Sunday against Kings Hammer FC. He tallied too against Kaw Valley, then down to nine men. He was Southern States Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year at William Carey University (NAIA).

With his Sunday mark, captain Ryley Kraft now has five goals and five assists. Kraft was previously a member of Richmond Kickers in USL League One.


To keep up with the Flint City Bucks, please visit the team website at www.flintcitybucks.com. Additionally, follow the team on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

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