Toledo Villa FC Falls 4-1 to Grand Rapids FC

By Justin Guy/Toledo Villa FC

Toledo Villa FC hosted Grand Rapids FC at Lyden Field on Friday, June 8th for their second
meeting of the 2019 season. Villa was not only looking to get their first win of the season
against the top team in the conference, but a bit of revenge as well after dropping three points at
Grand Rapids earlier in the season.

The visitors came out more aggressive than their first match up with Villa, getting their first shot
on Villa goalkeeper Eric Cotton within the first minute of the game. The pace of the game was
much quicker than their first match as the teams needed little time to figure one another out.
Grand Rapids was able to get good throw-in opportunities deep into Villa territory early in the
game. On their second attempt at a long throw into the box, Grand Rapids forward TJ Ifaturoti
was able to head the ball into the corner of the open goal to put GRFC up 1-0 in the 11th minute.

Both teams created numerous scoring opportunities throughout the rest of the first half but were
unable to come up with any goals; until the 33 rd minute when Grand Rapids FC was called for a
penalty inside their own goal box. Villa forward Josh Dickinson stepped up for the penalty kick
and slotted it into the corner to tie the game up at one goal apiece. Caleb Gibbons of Toledo
Villa FC would pick up a yellow card only two minutes later in the 35 th minute for a late
challenge on Matthew Whelan of Grand Rapids FC. The score would remain tied as the teams
headed into halftime.

It didn’t take long for Grand Rapids to get the lead back after halftime and again it came off a
long throw-in. Eric Conerty of Grand Rapids FC was able to get a shot off and scored from 18
yards out in the 51 st minute of the game. Conerty then put his team up by two when he scored his
second goal of the game after he received the ball around 20 yards from goal, set himself up with
one touch, and put a right-footed shot in the lower left corner of the goal to make the score 3-1 in
favor of GRFC.

The game seemed as though it would end with the score 3-1, but Grand Rapids were able to get
one more goal in the 89 th minute when Maximilian Mikkola brought down a cross inside of the
goal box. Under pressure from Villa defense, Mikkola was still able to get a shot off and past the
Villa keeper to make the final score 4-1.

Toledo Villa FC will play next on Sunday, June 8th at 7:00 pm in Pontiac, MI versus Michigan
Stars FC.

Photo Credit: Jenna Bachmeyer