Troy United returned home to The Hawk on Saturday afternoon to face off against Thundercats FC. Troy United came into this game on a four-game winning streak, while their opponents were coming into this game after winning in Lansing the night before. Playing 180 minutes of soccer in 24 hours was going to be a test for Thundercats, and Troy United was hoping to take advantage of that.
Troy started the game on the front foot, with their first significant opportunity coming only three minutes into the game. Nathan Boos crossed the ball to Waleed Cherif, who had a great shot on net, but the shot went straight into the goalkeeper’s hands.
After that shot, the opportunities dried up for both sides as it became a defensive exhibition.
Thundercats had a great counter-attacking opportunity in the 15th minute, but the ball ended up being shot wide of the post.
Troy United forced a turnover right around the midfield line in the 25th minute, leading to an outstanding opportunity for Mateo Phillips, who took the ball down the field but shot the ball just past the post.
Andrew Swancutt made multiple crucial saves for Troy United to keep the game, but the most important save came in the 38th minute. Thundercats crossed the ball into the box for a header, but Swancutt came out and punched the ball away. Thundercats had another shot on goal after receiving possession, but Swancutt also saved that.
Both teams went into the locker rooms looking to game plan for the first goal, as the score was still 0-0.
Coming out of the locker room, the skies above The Hawk got darker and darker. Rain was coming, and both teams knew that getting a goal could be crucial since games usually get sloppy when it starts raining.
In the 53rd minute, Troy intercepted the ball at midfield, which was immediately crossed upfield to halftime substitute Jacob Lee. After getting control of the ball, Lee fired it from 25 yards out. The Thundercats keeper saved the ball, but instead of grabbing it, the ball bounced off his hands as Clayton Lafayette stormed to the ball and slid it into the open net.
Troy United led 1-0 with just over 30 minutes remaining in the game.
The game returned to the defensive exhibition it was in the first half. With just under 20 minutes remaining in the game, the rain began to fall in Farmington Hills, and it only got worse.
As players were slipping all over the field, Thundercats got a great counter-attacking opportunity that ended up with Troy United fouling them in the box. The referee gave the penalty, and Thundercats had an opportunity to equalize with 12 minutes remaining.
Thundercats converted, and the game was tied at 1-1.
In the 87th minute, Troy United turned the ball over right outside their box, leading to Thundercats getting a shot on target from 10 yards out, and it was put in the back of the net.
Troy United tried to find an equalizer in the three minutes of stoppage time, but they couldn’t get a good opportunity on net.
The final score read Thundercats SC 2, Troy United 1.
Troy United heads on the road for their next match against top-of-the-table Inter Detroit. The game will be at 7 pm on July 6.
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