RECAP: LANSING UNITED 1, KALAMAZOO FC 4

Kalamazoo FC traveled to East Lansing for both teams’ final match of the 2017 season on Sunday night. Lansing United entered the match in fourth place in the Great Lakes Conference, with Kalamazoo FC in sixth.

The first goal came quickly.  Kalamazoo’s Ade Adeniyi back-heeled a ball into the edge of the box that found Ali Sodal charging in from the wing. Ali sent a ball across the mouth of the goal which was tapped in by a sliding Jay McIntosh.  Kalamazoo FC was up 1-0 in the sixth minute.

Kalamazoo had several other chances throughout the half, at one point missing from mere feet.  Kalamazoo controlled possession for almost the entire first half, applying tremendous pressure on the wings and sending in a number of crosses.

In extra time of the first half, Tommy Clark lobbed a ball into Jay McIntosh just inside the box, who sent an absolute rocket into the bottom left corner to bring the score to 2-0 at the half.

The goals didn’t stop there for McIntosh.  In the 55th minute, Ali Sodal was taken down in the box, earning KZFC a penalty kick.  Ade Adeniyi, Kalamazoo’s top goal scorer, collected the ball to place the spot kick, but recognizing that McIntosh was on a hat-trick, handed him the ball for the change.  McIntosh rifled it dead center past a diving Lansing keeper, logged the hat-trick and put Kalamazoo FC up 3-0.  With his goal against Milwaukee Saturday, it was McIntosh’s fourth goal of the weekend and eighth conference goal of the season.

Seven minutes later, Lansing got a spot kick of their own when Jordan Veillette was called for a trip in the box.  Lansing’s Tumi Moshobane expertly converted it into the top right corner, leaving keeper Wes Mink no chance.

In the 70th minute, KZFC secured the points when Dumisani Mantange dribbled in from the wing, cut into the middle of the box and fired a shot into the far right side of the net.  It was Dumi’s second goal of the weekend.

The win for Kalamazoo means they finish the season 5-6-3 in the Conference.  They are currently in fifth place, though a win by two goals or more for FC Indiana in their final game could see them reclaim their fifth place spot.  Lansing will finish fourth regardless of other outcomes.

Said Lansing’s coach, Nate Miller, after the game, “Unfortunately, both games against Kalamazoo this year seemed like our team’s energy was low.  To be frank, I think we were just terrible in every way.”

On the other side of the field, Kalamazoo’s Coach Shabazz said, “This was a great way to end the season.  Our season started rough, but we found our rhythm midway through the season. We’ve picked up seven points in our last three games and finished strong.  I was very proud of the effort of the entire team tonight.”

Man of the Match went to Kalamazoo’s Jay McIntosh, who scored a hat-trick.  He had four goals and and assist over the weekend, scoring and assisting on Saturday versus Milwaukee.