Michigan Stars FC took control of the match early and survived a late scare in their 2-1 win over visiting Bay Cities FC on Wednesday night.
Bay Cities knew they faced significant challenges in the second match of a three-match East Division road trip. The Stars have a significant height advantage in the frontline and backline that enables them to win balls in the air and set up set pieces. Bay Cities was also traveling with a limited roster, with only 4 field players available on the substitutes’ bench.
Michigan started creating chances early, including a left-footed strike from an unmarked Leon Maric that forced Bay Cities goalkeeper Alan Cruz Gomez to make a diving stop in the 7th minute. In the 20th minute, Steven Juncaj’s header from a short distance went straight into Cruz Gomez’s hands.
Michigan threatened again in the 26th minute, when a long throw-in was flicked across the goalmouth and two Stars strikers converged on the ball; the resulting header glanced off the crossbar and out of play. Bay Cities defender Malik Shaheed was shaken up on the play, but remained in the match.
Caio Mazzo Nogueira got Michigan on board in the 32nd minute, after a long throw-in was partially cleared by a Bay Cities defender. The Brazilian-born forward hustled into the open space to win the ball and blasted a one-timer that tucked inside the far post as he was sliding onto the turf.
Bay Cities had one shot on goal in the first half, when defender Danny Turgeon took a shot from the left side that was easily handled by Stars goalkeeper Tatenda Mkuruva.
The Stars picked up where they left off 20 seconds into the second half, when Darren Rios got open along the left side, but was unable to get enough on the shot to trouble Cruz Gomez.
A head-to-head collision between Josiah Romero and Vasil Zhongo in the 47th minute resulted in a pushing and shoving match and yellow cards for both players. Zhongo appeared to be shaken up, and Grant Michaels replaced him 6 minutes later.
The home side appeared to put the match out of reach by converting a penalty kick in the 52nd minute, after Rios was taken down from behind by Shaheed. Rios’s spot kick went straight down the middle, while Cruz Gomez dove to his left.
But Bay Cities brought in 3 of their 4 available substitutes in the 65th minute and pushed forward to try and get back into the match.
Romero found an opening in the 67th minute with only one Stars defender between him and the goal, but was unable to get a shot on net. Ivan Valencia’s header in the 73rd minute was on target, but straight at Mkuruva.
Bay Cities’ efforts paid off in the 5th minute of stoppage time. Turgeon sent a long ball into the penalty area and Romero headed the ball into the open space. Valencia ran onto the ball and fired a low, hard shot from the top of the penalty area that eluded Mkuruva’s reach.
In the waning seconds before the final whistle, Marco Silveira had one more chance to lob a ball into the box, but Valencia was unable to connect with it to score the tying goal.
The win enabled the Stars to move from third place to first in NISA’s East Division. Michigan is one of two undefeated clubs in NISA play, with 3 wins and 2 draws in their first 5 matches.
Bay Cities wraps up their eastern swing at Chattanooga FC on Saturday night.
