Matchweek Fourteen saw the hunt for second place come to an end when Lansing Common clinched the spot with a perfect weekend. Though the Robins earned six points from the two games they played last weekend, the pressure was on as the teams from West Michigan made their last-ditch efforts.
Lansing Common’s 93rd-minute winner against Michigan Stars U23s started the weekend off in dramatic fashion. With one point separating second and third place, both Lansing Common and West Michigan Bearings needed victories to keep their hopes for a cup berth alive. After West Michigan dispatched BiH on Saturday, the Robins were awarded three points due to an LK St. Clair forfeit on Sunday to secure second place and a 2022 NISA Independent Cup invitation.
Five teams will be in action this weekend as the 2021 season comes to a close. With three games in the span of two days, every club that takes the pitch will be looking to end their summer with a victory.
Here is your Matchweek Fifteen preview for the Midwest Premier League’s East Division.
Last week’s results
Lansing Common FC def. Michigan Stars FC U23 (1-0)
Lansing Common kicked off Matchweek Fourteen with a dramatic 1-0 finish at Eastern Stadium on Friday Night. After a 45-minute rain delay, it took the Robins a full 90 minutes plus stoppage time to net the game’s only goal. Midfielder Marco Bernardini’s cross into the penalty area found the foot of forward Shady Omar who blasted the ball into the top-left corner of the goal in the third minute of added time. The win gave Lansing another three points toward their effort to lock up second place in the East Division.
West Michigan Bearings def. BiH Grand Rapids (3-1)
Saturday’s action began with the second installment of the Grand Rapids Derby when the West Michigan Bearings earned a 3-1 victory in Kentwood. Ian Adams and Bobby McCaw got on the scoresheet to help the Bearings build a 3-0 lead. BiH scored a consolation goal, but the Bearings took the full three points to split the season series between the Grand Rapids sides.
BiH Grand Rapids def. Inter Detroit (2-1)
BiH handed Inter Detroit their second-consecutive defeat in the final match of the season for the club from Auburn Hills. BiH won the first meeting between these two clubs 3-1, but this time around it took a 90th-minute goal to secure the full three points for the home side.
Lansing Common FC def. LK St. Clair (3-0 forfeit)
The final game of Matchweek Fourteen was decided before a ball was kicked when LK St. Clair forfeited their game against Lansing Common due to an insufficient number of registered players. However, LK was able to secure enough players to participate in a friendly against a Lansing team that saw a lot of squad rotation. The ensuing game was all LK as rising Holt High School senior Guershom Sylvain scored four goals to lead St. Clair to a 4-1 victory. Sylvain found himself on the pitch after LK reached out to Lansing-area players in an effort to field a full 11-man squad. Ben Meschke scored the only goal for the Robins, who locked up second place and an invitation to the 2022 NISA Independent Cup due to Detroit City FC’s U23s being ineligible as an affiliate program.
This week’s fixtures
West Michigan Bearings vs. Michigan Stars FC U23 (July 31, 2021, 1:00 p.m.)
The final Matchweek of the 2021 season will begin on Saturday afternoon on the west side of the state when Michigan Stars FC’s U23s take on the West Michigan Bearings. The Bearings are on a three-game winning streak and coming off a 3-1 victory in last weekend’s Grand Rapids Derby. The Stars are coming off a 1-0 loss in Lansing and lost their first matchup against the Bearings 6-2. The Bearings will be looking for a home win to finish their inaugural season on a high note.
Lansing Common FC vs. Livonia City FC (July 31, 2021, 6:00 p.m.)
The Robins of Lansing Common will conclude their 2021 season when they host Livonia City in Saturday’s nightcap. Lansing has already secured second place in the East Division and will be looking for a good performance in front of their home crowd. Livonia will be coming off a pair of tough losses to FC Buffalo and DCFC’s first team in this year’s NISA Independent Cup. Both teams will be looking to end their season with a victory and an eye towards better things to come next year.
BiH Grand Rapids vs. Michigan Stars FC U23 (August 1, 2021, 1:00 p.m.)
BiH and Michigan Stars feature in the final game of the East Division when BiH hosts the Stars in Kentwood. BiH won last week’s match against Inter Detroit 2-1, while the Stars have not earned a full three points since the end of May. The two teams drew 1-1 in their first matchup two weeks ago and will be looking to end their respective seasons with a good result.
Standings
- Detroit City FC U23 (13-0-1, 39 points in 14 GP)
- Lansing Common FC (9-1-3, 28 points in 13 GP)
- West Michigan Bearings (7-3-3, 24 points in 13 GP)
- BiH Grand Rapids (6-2-5, 20 points in 13 GP)
- Michigan Stars FC U23 (4-4-4, 16 points in 12 GP)
- Livonia City FC (2-3-8, 9 points in 13 GP)
- Inter Detroit (1-5-8, 8 points in 14 GP)
- LK St. Clair (1-2-11, 5 points in 14 GP)
