04/21/2021
LIVONIA CITY, INTER DETROIT DRAW IN MIDWEST PREMIER LEAGUE DEBUT
By Erik Zimmerman
Michigan Soccer Central
The first-ever Midwest Premier League match took place on Saturday, April 17 between Livonia City F.C. and Inter Detroit. It was a hard fought and entertaining game that ended in a 1-1 draw at the Evolution Sportsplex in Auburn Hills, Michigan.
Livonia City looked sharp from the opening whistle and had the majority of the chances for the first 15 minutes of the game. Starting around the 16th minute, Inter Detroit had a few chances in succession and was also able to apply some defensive pressure when Livonia City possessed in their own end of the field.
For the remainder of the half, possession and offensive chances went back and forth on a fairly even basis, but neither team was able to score the league’s first-ever goal. Overall, the first half was fairly even, especially after Livonia City’s strong start.
The second half was highly entertaining with plenty of end-to-end action. Both teams looked to get the ball up the field quickly after winning possession and rarely spent much time passing the ball backwards except when players were being pressured.
Livonia City started the second half brightly, generating a corner kick and a subsequent scoring chance within the first minute. Just a few minutes later, however, Inter Detroit’s Irvin Castro scored the first goal in league history after a nice ball was put into the box.
Livonia City sent more players forward and turned up their defensive pressure after conceding the goal. Inter Detroit often did well passing and dribbling through the pressure, but Livonia City did force some turnovers that led to scoring chances or corner kicks. Aside from one short break due to an injury, there was an extended period of high energy, end-to-end action as Inter Detroit looked to add an insurance goal and Livonia City pressed for the equalizer.
About halfway through the second half, Livonia City sent a long cross into the box and Mohamad Miri had an excellent header to tie the game. After an Inter Detroit corner kick, Livonia City had several corner kicks and shots in rapid succession. As the final fifteen minutes ran down, neither team was settling for a draw, and both were pressing for the three points. The ball quickly went end to end as each team tried to turn any defensive recovery into a quick counter attack.
As only seconds remained in stoppage time, Inter Detroit had a promising counterattack. A Livonia City defender made a stern tackle in his own box to win possession and seal the draw. There were some appeals for a penalty but it looked like a clean, potentially game-saving play, and the referee agreed.
In the end, a draw was a fair result. Both teams looked well-prepared, energetic, and unlikely to give up easy scoring chances in their future matches. Both offenses created a significant volume of half-chances and potential chances, but there were not many high percentage scoring opportunities given up, and time and time again, the defenders and goalies for both teams made clutch tackles, clearances, or saves.
Both teams’ next league matches will be against the West Michigan Bearings. Livonia City hosts them on Sunday, April 25, and Inter Detroit hosts them on Sunday, May 2.
