MIDWEST PREMIER LEAGUE: Goshen City FC takes over Great Lakes West lead with impressive win over Holland Rovers
- Dan Stickradt
- Jul 12
- 3 min read
NATIONAL SOCCER NEWS: www.nationalsoccernetwork.com
HOLLAND, Mich. – Impressive.
Most impressive.
Goshen City FC ventured into hostile territory Saturday afternoon but dominated from end-to-end in recording a 3-1 victory over the host Holland Rovers in a Midwest Premier League-Great Lakes West Division showdown between first-place teams.
In a tight race where both Goshen City and Holland Rovers were tied atop the table with 17 points apiece and both Midwest United FC U23 and Lansing Common sat just behind in a third-place tie with 16 points, the four teams have let the division title go down to the final week-and-a-half with Goshen City FC gaining the crucial three points Saturday afternoon thanks to a dominating effort.
Goshen City FC (6-1-2, 20 points) outshot Holland 17-5 overall in the match, including 6-3 with shots on goal and didn’t allow the host Rovers to place a single shot on frame during the entire second half.
Goshen City never trailed in the match and put on one fine clinic with its possession game, moving the ball from side-to-side and defensively not allowing the Rovers to find any consistent rhythm or offensive flow.
Goshen never trailed as well, taking a 1-0 lead in just the seventh minute to set the tone and rarely allowing Holland to threaten.
Behind consistent pressure, Goshen City FC scored on just its second shot of the game and first shot on target. Creating some space and beating his defender along the left side and just outside the box, Kingsley Kana slotted a low pass through traffic along the top of the box and an onrushing Maxime Bregeon one-timed a shot into the back of the net from 18 yards out for the 1-0 advantage just under seven minutes into the match.
Likewise, the Holland Rovers – which had its three-game win streak snapped – also scored on just its second shot and first on goal when Zach Risely sent a long pass out of the Rovers backfield and Daniel Arellano made a run and from the left corner of the box one-time a chip shot with the outside of his right foot that sailed over goalkeeper Lennart Wider in the 31st minute.
That was one of the few moments of hope that the Holland Rovers (5-2-2, 17 points) would enjoy on this day.
Goshen City FC responded less than three minutes later in the 34th minute with the go-ahead and eventual game-winning goal. Right outside marking back Stephan Bandi got forward into the attack, broke down the right side before bending a cross into the box and teammate Tebello Intene conducted a diving header near the 6-yard box and sent it home and his side up for good 2-1.
Visiting Goshen City FC – now on a four-game win streak – was not done.
Holding an 8-2 shots edge in the second half, including 3-0 with shots on frame, Goshen was able to open up a two-goal lead in the 68th.
Adrian Gonzales-Martinez found some space and sent a chip into the left side of the box from 30 yards out and this time Tebello Intene was able to redirect the ball with the header into the back of the net.
Wider finished with two first-half saves to get the win in goal while his defense limited the Holland Rovers into quality chances for 90-plus minutes.
Goshen City FC is now the first team to 20 points in the MWPL-Great Lakes West Division and closes out the regular season with a home game against Midwest United FC U23 on July 19 at 7 p.m. GCFC has now outscored the opposition 20-10 with one shutout and lowered its goals-against-average down to 1.13. The side also averages 2.23 goals-per-game, has a .667 win percentage and 2.23 points-per-match.
The Holland Rovers fall back into the cluster of teams with their 17 points but remain one of four teams mathematically in the hunt along with Goshen City (20), Midwest United FC U23 (16) and Lansing Common FC (16). The Rovers have a 13-9 scoring edge this season with two shutouts while averaging 1.45 goals-per-game offensively and posting a 1.00 goals-against-average. The side has a .556 win percentage and 1.89 points-per-match heading down the stretch.
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