Matchweek Ten was full of electricity, both on and off the pitch, as some games were postponed due to inclement weather while others were played with thunderstorms nearby.
Detroit City played the most games and increased their division lead with three victories. The only match that did not involve Le Rouge was played on a stormy night in Lansing where Lansing Common FC hung on late against BiH Grand Rapids to hand the Kentwood-based side their first loss of the season.
Matchweek Eleven has only three games, but it includes an exciting Fourth of July matchup between the division-leading DCFC U23s and Lansing Common FC. This season’s first meeting between these two teams will have a big impact on the East Division table heading into the final month of play.
Here is your Matchweek Eleven preview for the Midwest Premier League’s East Division.
Last week’s results
Detroit City FC U23 def. LK St. Clair (3-1)
The division leaders once again used a second-half showcase to put away an opponent, scoring two in the final 45 minutes and dispatching LK St. Clair 3-1. Le Rouge went into the halftime break up 1-0 after Brady Walker scored off a corner kick in the 36th minute. LK St. Clair made the game interesting 10 minutes into the second half when they cut into DCFC’s two-goal lead to make it 2-1.
Forward Zion Beaton put the game away for Le Rouge in the 88th minute to give the Hamtramck side a 3-1 victory. The win kicked off another perfect weekend for DCFC and increased their division lead to nine points.
Detroit City FC U23 def. Inter Detroit (4-0)
After tossing aside LK St. Clair, DCFC dominated Inter Detroit 4-0 and completed the season sweep, outscoring the Auburn Hills side 8-1 on aggregate. Kellen Landefeld opened the scoring in the 17th minute and Le Rouge nearly doubled their lead before the halftime break.
Bosh Tanyi’s free-kick strike in the 52nd minute gave Detroit a 2-0 advantage. Tanyi, Michigan’s 2020 Mr. Soccer award winner, would bag a brace in the 73rd minute to give DCFC the 4-0 victory and secure a perfect weekend for Le Rouge. The loss officially eliminated Inter Detroit from division title contention.
Lansing Common FC def. BiH Grand Rapids (3-2)
After inclement weather forced kick-off to be delayed for 90 minutes, Lansing edged out previously-unbeaten BiH Grand Rapids 3-2. BiH’s Chris Mendez opened the scoring in the 13th minute, but Lansing would respond with a corner-kick goal off an Aidan O’Connor header in the 15th minute. The teams would go into the halftime break tied at 1-1.
Kyle Scott and Julian Birge would score for the Robins in the second half to give the home side a 3-1 lead with just over 10 minutes to play. Lansing Common goalkeeper Andrew Nicholsen’s penalty save in the 80th minute would prove to be vital as BiH would bag a goal in stoppage time, but it would not be enough as the Robins held on for the 3-2 victory and handed BiH their first loss of the season.
LK St. Clair v. West Michigan Bearings [Rescheduled: July 10, 2021, 11:00 a.m.]
Inter Detroit v. Michigan Stars FC U23 [Rescheduled: July 13, 2021, 7:00 p.m.]
Detroit City FC U23 def. Michigan Stars FC U23 (2-1)
Detroit City continued their winning ways when they survived a late comeback effort from the Michigan Stars and escaped with a 2-1 victory on a rainy afternoon in Hamtramck. Forward Keith Larson scored first for Le Rouge in the 33rd minute under threatening skies that would eventually force the game to be delayed due to inclement weather.
After a short weather delay and an abbreviated halftime break, DCFC would continue to create chances in the second half. Zion Beaton gave Detroit a 2-0 lead in the 77th minute, but Michigan Stars would answer back 5 minutes later, cutting the lead to 2-1. After the goal, a skirmish ensued and two red cards were issued, including one to DCFC’s starting goalkeeper Hunter Morse. Le Rouge would ultimately hold on to the 2-1 lead and finish their home stand with a third straight victory.
This week’s fixtures
Lansing Common FC v. Detroit City FC U23 (July 4, 2021, 2:00 p.m.)
Lansing Common will host East Division leaders Detroit City FC for a Fourth of July matchup in the capital city. Lansing Common, after handing BiH Grand Rapids their first loss of the season, will look to end Detroit’s unbeaten streak when Le Rouge comes to Lansing. DCFC will be coming off another impressive performance, a 2-1 victory over Michigan Stars U23 that completed a season sweep. The result of this match could have championship implications, so expect to see early afternoon fireworks at Eastern Stadium.
*Note: Lansing Common defeated Detroit City FC U23s 3-0 on Sunday, with goals from Noah Canlas, Julian Birge, and Aidan O’Connor. Goalkeeper Zac Kelly kept the clean sheet at Lansing Common moved into second place in the MWPL.
Livonia City FC v. Inter Detroit (July 7, 2021, 7:00 p.m.)
After their division title hopes were erased last week, Livonia City hosts Inter Detroit in a midweek matchup that will conclude a short Matchweek Eleven. Livonia will begin the month of July on a three game losing streak while Inter has not won a game since May 15 and has also been eliminated from title contention.. Pride will be on the line when both teams attempt to make the most out of their remaining games.
West Michigan Bearings v. Lansing Common FC (July 7, 2021, 7:00 p.m.)
Matchweek Eleven will conclude with another matchup that could have a serious impact on the East Division table when the West Michigan Bearings host Lansing Common FC in a midweek nightcap. These two clubs have been trending in different directions after they met on May 22.. The Bearings’ 3-2 victory over the Robins was the last time they recorded a win, while Lansing Common went unbeaten in the month of June. Both teams will be looking for a crucial three points when they try to keep pace with division-leading DCFC, who have yet to drop points this season.
Standings
- Detroit City FC U23 (9-0-0, 27 points in 9 GP)
- Lansing Common (5-1-1, +9 GD, 16 points in 7 GP)
- Michigan Stars FC U23 (4-2-2, 14 points in 8 GP)
- BiH Grand Rapids (4-1-1, +12 GD, 13 points in 6 GP)
- West Michigan Bearings (3-2-3, 11 points in 8 GP)
- Inter Detroit (1-4-4, 7 points in 9 GP)
- Livonia City FC (1-3-7, 6 points in 11 GP)
- LK St. Clair (0-1-8, 1 point in 9 GP)
Standings (points per game)
- Detroit City FC U23 (3.00)
- Lansing Common FC (2.29)
- BiH Grand Rapids (2.17)
- Michigan Stars FC U23 (1.75)
- West Michigan Bearings (1.38)
- Inter Detroit (0.78)
- Livonia City FC (0.55)
- LK St. Clair (0.11)
