Three of four scorers in Saturday’s 4-1 friendly finale over Detroit Union FC at Ketterings historic Atwood Stadium were also members of the Bucks’ 2019 national championship team.

David Achaerandio, who blasted in a goal in the 64th minute, was the latest luminary from the 2019 Flint side to score in his return. Members of the USL 2 title-winning side Yuri Farkas (22’) and Ayuk Tambe (48’) also had goals for the Bucks, who finished the five-game exhibition series undefeated.

Amadou Cisse scored on a penalty kick (59’) and added an assist for Flint as the Guinean raised his goal total to a team leading 13 in all competitions this season. 

Costa Wells (10’) accounted for Detroit Union FC’s lone goal.

Achaerandio, like his fellow alums, had the Midas touch in his homecoming, taking a pass from Tambe and navigating across the right side of the field before scoring the Bucks’ fourth goal midway in the second half.

Tambe, who converted from the penalty spot in Flint’s 1-0 championship final victory over Reading United AC before 7,198 spectators at a rollicking Atwood Stadium, scored twice in his first game back against Rebels FC July 25.  (Tambe missed the 2021 USL regular season and playoffs due to a ruptured Achilles) Farkas also netted a brace in his return against Inter Detroit Aug. 14.

A double-goal output eluded the Madrid native, who conceded he passed up some sumptuous scoring chances.

“I was looking to the far post,” said Achaerandio, who earned his master’s in Business Administration from Point Loma Nazarene University and has been busy working and training in San Diego since last playing in Flint in 2019.  “There were a few plays where I didn't take a chance to shoot. That's why I didn't score a second.”

The former U19 Getefe (Spain) product has been playing with United Premier Soccer League outfits Rebels SC in San Diego and Atletico Olympians in Phoenix. The latter has been rebranded as Valley United and has been accepted to join the National Independent Soccer Association next year.

Achaerandio took a few minutes to become reacquainted with the environment but everything fell into place. The Spaniard started in a left midfield role as coach Andy Wagstaff went with an attack-minded 3-5-3 setup.  Detroit Union FC is two games (1-0-1) into its UPSL fall campaign, and it showed from the onset. 

The visitors played with fluidity and cohesion during the first 10 minutes, leading to the match’s opening goal when Dylan Dorley looped a ball from the Union’s defensive half to find Workman who beat the offsides trap and drove in on net. The former Michigan Stars player perfectly slotted the ball past Flint goalkeeper Jacob Nunner from eight yards out.  The Detroit Union goal marked the first time the Bucks found themselves behind during the five-game friendly series. 

The opposition had some insider knowledge since Detroit Union FC player-coach Kevin Tapchom had featured with the Bucks in a couple of matches this summer. Wagstaff deviated from his usual 4-2-3-1 formation, opting to load up with attackers in the midfield.

“I tried to make it a little bit different from what it’s normally been. At least, (Tapchom) didn't have exactly the script that he thought he was going to have,” Wagstaff said. “Although we looked OK, there were too many gaps and the balance of the team wasn’t great in the first half.”

“We had too many attacking players on the field — a lot of good players — but too many attacking pieces to give us the right balance. I wasn't shocked to go a goal down, because Detroit looked pretty good and they pressed us very hard”

The Bucks coach recalibrated and his team leveled 12 minutes later. 

Leading scorer Amadou Cisse, who started in a right midfield attacking role, uncorked a blast from outside the 18-yard box, which was blocked. Farkas promptly latched onto the rebound, hammering a left-footed shot into the low, right corner of the net from 20 yards out. 

The unassisted goal was the sixth for the Brazilian, who has scored in all four friendlies he’s appeared in.

Flint broke the 1-1 deadlock three minutes into the second half with Cisse squaring a perfect pass from the right side to Tambe, who deposited the ball past Union goalkeeper Colin Coppola for his fourth goal in the friendly series.

Cisse cemented his legacy as one of the Bucks’ premier marksmen, converting from the spot in the 59th minute after the referee ruled a Union player handled the ball in the penalty area. Union’s James Lee received a yellow card for arguing the call.

Achaerandio made it a three-goal cushion, launching a left-footed drive into the far-right corner from 15 yards in the 64th minute. Flint outshot the visitors 17-8 as Nunner and Coppola each recorded a save.

Nunner, who played in all five friendly matches, finished with a 1.19 goals-against average in the series.

Stingy is not a term the Bucks coach would associate with the unwavering commitment shown by the players who took part in the latest exhibition series.

“Every one of the lads who has been coming to play for us, their attitude has been unbelievable,” Wagstaff said. “They all want to go onto the next level. They all take tremendous pride in wearing the Flint City Bucks jersey. It’s a testament to this program, really.

“The history of the success that this program has had and having 17 year olds like Dom (Gasso) and Ali (Qurbanali) playing with the first team is awesome. It's a great thing to see .”

Goals

Flint — Yuri Farkas 22’, Ayuk Tambe (Amadou Cisse) 48’, Amadou Cisse (PK) 59’, David Achaerandio 64’ (Ayuk Tambe)

Detroit Union — Costa Wells (Dylan Dorley) 10’

Yellow cards

Detroit Union — James Lee 58’

Lineups

Flint — Jacob Nunner, GK; Elliott Bentley, Masomba Jatta, Foster Appiah, David Achaerandio, Ben Khoulani, Ali Qurbanali, Amadou Cisse, Ayuk Tambe, Yuri Farkas, Jose Aguilar

Detroit Union — Colin Coppola, GK; Michael Wetungu, James Lee, Kevin Tapchom, Jaston Workman, Costa Wells, Brandon Weiland, Matt Lentine, Damian Wrwyroki, Dylan Dorley, Elton Gjura

Weather

Sunny, 59 degrees

2021 Atwood Friendly Series Recap

7/25: FCB over Rebels FC, 9-2
8/14: FCB over Inter Detroit FC, 3-2
8/21: FCB over Detroit United FC, 6-1
9/11: FCB over Rebels FC, 4-0
9/25: FCB over Detroit Union FC, 4-1