FC Columbus Falls to Toledo Villa FC 3-0
By FC Columbus
Looking to get back on track after losing their last five matches, FC Columbus travelled north to Toledo, Ohio for the first time in club history to face Toledo Villa FC. Having dispatched their opponent earlier in the year 3-1, on the back of a brace by forward Damani Camara, the visiting side hoped to gain their first victory in the month of May. Despite an early spell of possession, the defensive errors that have plagued FCCLB all season remained and proved to be their downfall again as the team fell for the sixth straight time in the month of June, this time in a 3-0 loss to Toledo.
FC Columbus started strong earlier in the match, but that confidence quickly shifted as the home side took possession of the ball and control of the game. Early in the 21st minute of the match, Toledo Villa found the opening goal as a cross in from the left wing found an unmarked Amandy Ayima in the six yard box for an early lead.
Things would not get better for the visiting side as Camara was unable to find the scoring form that brought the side back from an earlier 1-0 at the beginning of the year. Two early misses by the forward summed up the struggles that Columbus has had for the past month in front of goal.
Toledo Villa FC doubled their lead late in the first half, as missed tackle allowed Ayima free on goal again in the 38th minute. With time and space, the forward finished with ease into the bottom right corner to put the home side ahead 2-0.
Columbus responded well to the second goal with their first full chance of the match. Finding space along the right side, FCCLB’s Mamadou Ba sent a curling effort on goal in the 42nd minute. But, as it has been for the past month, the shot unlucky found the bar and was cleared out of play by the Toledo defense.
In the 58th minute of the match, Toledo Villa FC all but secured its first victory in club history, as another defensive error sent the home side ahead 3-0. Following a foul on the right wing, Toledo sent a ball into the box that was poorly cleared by FCCLB to the back post where an unmarked Caleb Gibbons was waiting to turn the ball into the back of the net.
FC Columbus continued to push towards the end of the match looking for their first goal in quite some time. However, it just wasn’t the visiting sides night as Camara would hit the bar on consecutive free kicks in the waning moments of the match.
Win the loss, FC Columbus moves to 2-3-8 on the year and 2-1-7 in the Great Lakes Conference. Columbus returns to action on Sunday, June 30th against FC Indiana in Lafayette, IN. The match begins at 3:00 pm.
Photo Credit: Justin Anderson / FC Columbus
