Kosakoff Brace Sends Ballard FC to USL League Two Final After Gritty Win Over Flint

Ballard FC battled from behind to earn a 2–1 comeback win over the Flint City Bucks in front of a sold-out Interbay Stadium on Saturday evening.

With the victory, Ballard advances to the USL League Two National Final, where they will face Vermont Green FC in Burlington, VT on August 2nd. The final marks a highly anticipated matchup between the league’s two most-followed clubs, both founded in 2022.

The match opened with immediate intensity. In the 16th minute, Christian Engmann was shown a yellow card for a late challenge that caught a Flint attacker just above the top of the 18-yard box. Engmann was left hobbling after that challenge and needed to be evaluated by the athletic training staff. In the 22nd minute, Engmann officially exited the match and was replaced by Davis Mungomba. Mungomba had been a starter for Ballard FC for most of the season until an injury of his own, but he came up big on Sunday night.

Halftime arrived with the scoreline locked at 0–0. Flint broke through first in the 50th minute. A looping ball from deep in midfield found a runner near the end line, who redirected the play back across the face of the goal. Donovan Phillip met the ball at the top of the six-yard box and tapped it home, just beating Stockton Short to the ball. That goal was Phillip’s fifth of the USL 2 playoffs as he has been on a tear for the Bucks.

Ballard answered quickly. In the 58th minute, Omar Grey sent in a cross that found Richie Aman at the back post, who then lifted a chipped cross across the six yard box. Charlie Kosakoff timed his run perfectly, crashing the center of the six and burying a header to equalize the match at 1–1. The home crowd roared to life as Ballard was right back in the match.

Just a minute later, Ballard made two defensive substitutions. Rafi Otero exited the match for Beto Apolinar. Simultaneously, Harrison Bertos came on for his Ballard FC USL 2 debut, replacing Isaac Ketcham.

Momentum stayed with Ballard, and in the 75th minute, Kosakoff struck again. Apolinar received the ball near the top of the box and, with a defender pulling at his jersey, slipped a quick pass to Kosakoff deeper in the area. Kosakoff turned and finished with precision, netting his second of the night and giving Ballard a 2–1 lead. The beer garden behind the goal erupted in celebration as fans leapt to their feet, sending hands and drinks airborne.

Ballard made another pair of substitutions in the 78th minute. Omar Grey came off for Khai Brisco, and Sean Sent exited with Zach Ramsey entering in his place.

Tensions remained high into the final minutes as Flint City looked to redeem what they’d conceived. In the slew of aggressive plays, Davis Mongomba received a yellow card for a hard challenge in the 82nd minute. Flint’s frustration continued to build as the clock ticked deep into stoppage time. At the final second of the eight minutes, a Flint player was shown a yellow card after blasting the ball into the Ballard bench, frustrated by the result of the match.

Charlie Kosakoff was named Player of the Match for his match-winning brace. Richie Aman also played a standout role, assisting the equalizing goal and anchoring Ballard’s attack with composure and precision under pressure.

With this semifinal victory, Ballard FC now sets its sights on the 2025 USL League Two Final at the University of Vermont’s Virtue Field. The clash with Vermont Green FC will be what many USL 2 fans were hoping for given the massive followings for both clubs. Two teams founded in the same year, and backed by passionate communities are now surging toward the pinnacle of USL 2.

The National Final will be at 4pm PT/7pm ET and will be streamed on SportsEngine Play.

MATCH DETAILS 

FULLTIME: Ballard FC 2 – 1 Flint City Bucks

Goals: Kosakoff (58’, 75′) 

Assists: Aman (58′), Apolinar (75′)

Starting XI: Short, Ketcham, Engmann, Zemenfes, Grey, Philibbosian, Sent, Otero, Aman, Dale, Kosakoff 

Substitutes: Mungomba, Apolinar, Bertos, Ramsey, Brisco, N. Engmann, Dutra, Venkat, Lanphier

Player of the Match: Charlie Kosakoff

WHAT’S NEXT? 

Ballard FC are headed east as they will travel to Vermont for the National Final against the Vermont Green on Saturday, August 2nd with kickoff at 4pm PT.

Written by Emily Battistoni

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