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Match Recap: Miracle Comeback Falls Just Short

30 Jun 2018
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Written by Robert Kerr, Staff Writer

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Oakland County Football Club (3-3-0) fell to the Muskegon Risers (3-1-2) by a score of three goals to two.
The Muskegon Risers overtook OCFC in the UPSL Midwest – East Division standings, after capturing the full three points on Friday night. The visitors jumped out to a three goal lead, and were then able to hold off a late siege by the home squad.
Oakland County FC came into the game having had an extra week off, but weren’t sharp during critical stages of the game. Personnel changes and high heat took a toll on the O’s on-field chemistry, especially in the first half. Goalkeeper Cary Wilson was tested early and often in the first half. The stopper was called upon to make a number of one-on-one saves and was able to keep OCFC in the game. Muskegon made their breakthrough in the 16th minute, when Risers’ forward Nate Hoover was able to place the ball into the bottom left corner of Cary Wilson’s net.
The hydration break at the 30 minute mark allowed Oakland to recollect themselves and grow into the game. Forward AJ Williams latched onto a number of long balls, but was unable to find the back of the net. The forward also knocked down a cross brilliantly to the feet of teammate Cam Panley, but the midfielder was unable to fire off a shot. Muskegon were on the ropes in the final few moments of the first half, as OCFC created chances, but the score remained 0-1 going into halftime.

The opening moments of the second half became the turning point of the match. Two goals from the visitors, in the first three minutes of the second half, were decisive. Muskegon’s Justice Sikkema was able to net twice in quick succession, to put the Risers ahead by three. OCFC came alive and rallied well after falling three goals behind. Leading scorer Robbie Cort was able to get the purple gang on the board in the 50th minute. Cort rose above a group of defenders to knock the ball into the top right corner. Mario Morana’s long throw-in’s were a real weapon: first setting up Cort’s goal, and later setting up Julian Birge’s headed goal in the 83rd minute.
As the sun went down in Clawson, fresh legs were added to the field. A formation change, and the additions of Kevin Lencioni, Vincent Vultaggio, and debutant John Waller led to OCFC dominating the later portion of the game. Oakland County had a number of equalizer chances, but good goalkeeping, fortune, and at least one shot off the crossbar, kept the scoreline at 3-2 as the final whistle blew.

Oakland’s 18:

Starters: Cary Wilson, Cam Roberts, Travis Harrington, Julian Birge,  AJ Santavy, Cam Panley, Belal Khoulani, Hakeem Sadler, Robbie Cort, Mario Morana, AJ Williams
Substitutes: Dylan Brown, Ian Walker, Kevin Lencioni, John Waller, Ahmed Zaky, Vince Vultaggio

Watch Match Highlights:

Scoring Summary & Notes:

  • Nate Hoover – Muskegon 23:30
  • Justice Sikkema – Muskegon 46:15
  • Justice Sikkema – Muskegon 48:45
  • Robbie Cort – OCFC 50:09
  • Julian Birge – OCFC 82:55
Oakland – Shots: 18, SOG: 5, Corners: 3
Muskegon – Shots: 13, SOG: 5, Corners: 5
Attendance: 547
Man of the Match

What’s On Tap

Oakland County FC return to action quickly, as they travel to play Ann Arbor FC Sunday afternoon at 1:00 PM at Concordia University.

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