LAS VEGAS (January 17, 2022) – Amateur side FC Golden State Force kicked off 2022 with new hardware after downing a short-handed Las Vegas Legends FC in the inaugural NISA Nation Southwest Region season finale here on Saturday. The back-and-forth match ended 3-4 and saw X lead changes. The match closed NISA Nation’s second full regional season behind the Northeast that finished last month.

“We have so many high fives to give out after that match,” says NISA Nation Managing Director Jonathan Rednour. “Our first goes to FC Golden State Force for lifting the trophy, but we all win with the performance Las Vegas Legends gave over 90-plus minutes. Importantly, we want to acknowledge all four Southwest Region clubs for their pioneering spirit and their desire to grow on the pitch, on the touchline, and in the front office as inaugural members of NISA Nation.”

Sixty-fifth minute substitution Samuel Goñi scored the match winner in the 89th. The scoring started with a 28th minute penalty kick by Diego Barrera after a red card was issued to Legends’ Daryan Coronel. In the 56th, Julio Vargas leveled the scoring for Las Vegas, but in the next minute, Golden State took the lead back on a Ayuk Eluke Tambe finish. Golden State extended its lead in the 80th with a goal from Edgardo Artero. Back-to-back Las Vegas tallies by Estiban Olandez in the 85th and Ezequiel Coronelin the 87th brought high drama to the final moments and setting up Goñi’s match winner.

Introduced last September, NISA Nation is a full-year league providing amateur independent clubs a groundbreaking path to professional status. Along with Golden State and Las Vegas, the other Southwest Region clubs included Chula Vista FC (Chula Vista, Calif.) and Valley United FC U-23 (Scottsdale, Ariz.). Notably, Golden State is affiliated with NISA pro club LA Force, and Valley United FC’s senior squad will begin pro play in NISA this spring. The four clubs played six matches in a double round-robin format.