There's a certain type of game in soccer where neither team will think they didn't do enough to win, but didn't deserve to draw either. That is exactly what tonight's match with Milwaukee was for the Mighty Oak. Serge Gamwanya's late free kick goal seemed to do it for AFC in the 85th, but Milwaukee found their leveler in stoppage time and forced Ann Arbor to settle for a share of the points.
What Happened:
The first half was almost exclusively the two teams feeling each other out. In the NPSL opener, there was much of the same. The difference is that AFC, with multiple squad players in the line-up, could not blow the game open like they did in Milwaukee. Jordan Montoya gave the game its first shot on goal with a distance effort that Milwaukee's keeper, Agustin Rey, handled without much concern, albeit a slight bobble. There was also the lovely cross from Sergin Cihan that found Montoya's head, but went just wide, and the Kyle Breitmeyer free kick that was on goal but saved by Rey. Milwaukee couldn't seem to breakthrough, but their one near breakthrough was snuffed out by Stanley (formerly 'Joseph') Okumu.
The second half saw generally more of the same, but some added action that implied we were getting closer to a goal. Mike Novotny was called into action in the 59th with a point-blank header needed a quick save. But, just a minute later, Ann Arbor had their own opportunity with a great run on the wing by Spencer Turnbull who knocked a cross too long, but Alec Lasinski was there to head the best chance of the scrum down to AZ Liadi, who shot it wide. Okumu also would make a fantastic run up the middle of the pitch, send the ball wide while getting tackled to Cihan, who set up Lasinski, whose shot won a corner, however nothing could come from that. The deadball pieces always looked dangerous, and it was Serge Gamwanya in the 85th with a picture-perfect free kick goal to put AFC Ann Arbor ahead. Things were looking nice for the Mighty Oak, but the resulting Milwaukee pressure as they pushed number forward was just too much. In the four added minutes of stoppage time, a ball in the box was kicked on by Isaac Pereyra to Alex Stojanovski, who'd just checked in, and with Novotny having checked Pereyra making the run at the back post, Stojanovski was left an essentially open net and the opportunity to salvage a point for his side.
How Did This Happen:
Looking at the starting eleven for this evening's match, it seems to me that there was obvious focus on tonight, but also on the match Sunday. With this being the third match in an eight-day span, and the fourth in ten days coming in just another day-and-a-half, it's not feasible to have the same line-up playing all four of these games. Jack Cawley saw time in the match but did not start, Marc Ybarra was in the squad but did not enter the match, and while regulars like Breitmeyer and Okumu, among others, were involved, this also gave the opportunity to players like Kenny Vasquez and Serkan Cihan to see a full 90 minutes for AFC. As I've mentioned before, squad depth has been a strength for this side, and even though a win was not the result of tonight's match, the strength in their depth is always nice to see.
I am at the point of the season where I am out of superlatives of describe Stanley Okumu. Yet again, he put in an outstanding shift as he cleared away through balls with authority, headed away crosses and free kicks into the box, and even made an outstanding run up the pitch to set up one of Ann Arbor's best shots of the night. Credit must go to Moco Watson who was quietly solid, but Okumu has been the Mighty Oak's most consistent player this season and that continued on. Gamwanya will take the headlines with his beautiful goal, but Stanley does so much for this back-line and he has to be my personal man of the match.
I have to spend a bit of this talking about this Milwaukee team, who were able to take the fight to the Mighty Oak. Their attacking in the final five or so minutes of the match was outstanding and a perfect example of how to desperately attack in the proper way. Fans will be disappointed with the result, and Ann Arbor certainly had chances to put away that they couldn't, but Milwaukee played to their strengths and were able to limit the clear-cut chances for AFC, especially when compared to the first meeting of these two sides. Much credit belongs in the defensive category to Samuel Biek, as the German was in charge of marking Breitmeyer and did a solid job in limiting his opportunities.
The attack for Ann Arbor was strong even with the rotation with Lasinski, Montoya, and Breitmeyer starting, Shaikly and Caio occasionally making forward runs in a CAM position, and eventually Liadi and Chris Odhiambo coming on for Lasinski and Montoya. The positioning of the attacks seemed to work rather well for AFC and through balls either on the wings or between defenders were pretty readily available and the build-up play was as good as ever. The one lacking point was clinical finishing as the Mighty Oak just left too many chances wide. Sometimes you make the right pass or run, get the positioning exactly right, but just need that little bit of luck to direct a shot or two on target, and unfortunately AFC didn't have that this evening.
What's Next:
AFC head to Keyworth Stadium for their second meeting of the season with Detroit City FC. DCFC also drew this evening away to FC Columbus as they were the ones to salvage a point late from a late goal. A quick standings check before delving into the meaning of that game:
1. AFC Ann Arbor: 17 points - 7 matches
2. Grand Rapids FC: 13 points - 6 matches
3. Detroit City FC: 10 points - 5 matches
4. Milwaukee Torrent: 10 points - 9 matches
5. Kalamazoo FC: 8 points - 6 matches
6. FC Columbus: 5 points - 5 matches
7. FC Indiana: 0 points - 8 matches
As we stand, I'm feeling pretty comfortable in calling this divisional race a three-horse race, with the top two finishers making it to the NPSL playoffs. As it stands, AFC control their own destiny in winning the division as GRFC and DCFC still finish a point behind even winning their games in hand. That changes with a loss in Hamtramck, and a draw opens the door for Grand Rapids (who will be kicking off a half-hour after the AFC/DCFC does in Kalamazoo on Sunday) to claim first-place out from under them. You cannot change the past. Ann Arbor will have to accept the bitter pill of a late Milwaukee equalizer. But you cannot allow the past to affect the future. That's what must be avoided now.
Follow me on Twitter @RMABTweets for more AFC coverage, including live-Tweeting of the matches, as well as Liverpool FC and Michigan basketball coverage!
What Happened:
The first half was almost exclusively the two teams feeling each other out. In the NPSL opener, there was much of the same. The difference is that AFC, with multiple squad players in the line-up, could not blow the game open like they did in Milwaukee. Jordan Montoya gave the game its first shot on goal with a distance effort that Milwaukee's keeper, Agustin Rey, handled without much concern, albeit a slight bobble. There was also the lovely cross from Sergin Cihan that found Montoya's head, but went just wide, and the Kyle Breitmeyer free kick that was on goal but saved by Rey. Milwaukee couldn't seem to breakthrough, but their one near breakthrough was snuffed out by Stanley (formerly 'Joseph') Okumu.
The second half saw generally more of the same, but some added action that implied we were getting closer to a goal. Mike Novotny was called into action in the 59th with a point-blank header needed a quick save. But, just a minute later, Ann Arbor had their own opportunity with a great run on the wing by Spencer Turnbull who knocked a cross too long, but Alec Lasinski was there to head the best chance of the scrum down to AZ Liadi, who shot it wide. Okumu also would make a fantastic run up the middle of the pitch, send the ball wide while getting tackled to Cihan, who set up Lasinski, whose shot won a corner, however nothing could come from that. The deadball pieces always looked dangerous, and it was Serge Gamwanya in the 85th with a picture-perfect free kick goal to put AFC Ann Arbor ahead. Things were looking nice for the Mighty Oak, but the resulting Milwaukee pressure as they pushed number forward was just too much. In the four added minutes of stoppage time, a ball in the box was kicked on by Isaac Pereyra to Alex Stojanovski, who'd just checked in, and with Novotny having checked Pereyra making the run at the back post, Stojanovski was left an essentially open net and the opportunity to salvage a point for his side.
How Did This Happen:
Looking at the starting eleven for this evening's match, it seems to me that there was obvious focus on tonight, but also on the match Sunday. With this being the third match in an eight-day span, and the fourth in ten days coming in just another day-and-a-half, it's not feasible to have the same line-up playing all four of these games. Jack Cawley saw time in the match but did not start, Marc Ybarra was in the squad but did not enter the match, and while regulars like Breitmeyer and Okumu, among others, were involved, this also gave the opportunity to players like Kenny Vasquez and Serkan Cihan to see a full 90 minutes for AFC. As I've mentioned before, squad depth has been a strength for this side, and even though a win was not the result of tonight's match, the strength in their depth is always nice to see.
I am at the point of the season where I am out of superlatives of describe Stanley Okumu. Yet again, he put in an outstanding shift as he cleared away through balls with authority, headed away crosses and free kicks into the box, and even made an outstanding run up the pitch to set up one of Ann Arbor's best shots of the night. Credit must go to Moco Watson who was quietly solid, but Okumu has been the Mighty Oak's most consistent player this season and that continued on. Gamwanya will take the headlines with his beautiful goal, but Stanley does so much for this back-line and he has to be my personal man of the match.
I have to spend a bit of this talking about this Milwaukee team, who were able to take the fight to the Mighty Oak. Their attacking in the final five or so minutes of the match was outstanding and a perfect example of how to desperately attack in the proper way. Fans will be disappointed with the result, and Ann Arbor certainly had chances to put away that they couldn't, but Milwaukee played to their strengths and were able to limit the clear-cut chances for AFC, especially when compared to the first meeting of these two sides. Much credit belongs in the defensive category to Samuel Biek, as the German was in charge of marking Breitmeyer and did a solid job in limiting his opportunities.
The attack for Ann Arbor was strong even with the rotation with Lasinski, Montoya, and Breitmeyer starting, Shaikly and Caio occasionally making forward runs in a CAM position, and eventually Liadi and Chris Odhiambo coming on for Lasinski and Montoya. The positioning of the attacks seemed to work rather well for AFC and through balls either on the wings or between defenders were pretty readily available and the build-up play was as good as ever. The one lacking point was clinical finishing as the Mighty Oak just left too many chances wide. Sometimes you make the right pass or run, get the positioning exactly right, but just need that little bit of luck to direct a shot or two on target, and unfortunately AFC didn't have that this evening.
What's Next:
AFC head to Keyworth Stadium for their second meeting of the season with Detroit City FC. DCFC also drew this evening away to FC Columbus as they were the ones to salvage a point late from a late goal. A quick standings check before delving into the meaning of that game:
1. AFC Ann Arbor: 17 points - 7 matches
2. Grand Rapids FC: 13 points - 6 matches
3. Detroit City FC: 10 points - 5 matches
4. Milwaukee Torrent: 10 points - 9 matches
5. Kalamazoo FC: 8 points - 6 matches
6. FC Columbus: 5 points - 5 matches
7. FC Indiana: 0 points - 8 matches
As we stand, I'm feeling pretty comfortable in calling this divisional race a three-horse race, with the top two finishers making it to the NPSL playoffs. As it stands, AFC control their own destiny in winning the division as GRFC and DCFC still finish a point behind even winning their games in hand. That changes with a loss in Hamtramck, and a draw opens the door for Grand Rapids (who will be kicking off a half-hour after the AFC/DCFC does in Kalamazoo on Sunday) to claim first-place out from under them. You cannot change the past. Ann Arbor will have to accept the bitter pill of a late Milwaukee equalizer. But you cannot allow the past to affect the future. That's what must be avoided now.
Follow me on Twitter @RMABTweets for more AFC coverage, including live-Tweeting of the matches, as well as Liverpool FC and Michigan basketball coverage!
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