Troy United traveled to the west side of the state this Memorial Day Weekend to face off against fellow MWPL newcomer United West but came up just short of coming away with points, losing 2-1.
Troy United came out of the locker room firing, trying to get the first goal within the first five minutes. Troy had the first scoring opportunity of the game in the 2nd minute after a foul led to a Troy free kick from thirty yards out. Clayton Lafayette came close to putting the ball in the back of the net, but the United West goalkeeper made an amazing save.
Troy kept the pressure on, but in the 8th minute, a turnover by Troy in the United West box led to a West player going coast to coast and slipping the ball past Thad Petty giving United West a 1-0 lead.
The two teams traded free kicks in the 10th and 13th minutes, respectively, but nothing came from either attempt except good saves from both the goalkeepers.
Waleed Cherif had the next great opportunity for Troy in the 22nd minute, as he got a good header in the box, but the ball was collected by the United West keeper.
Both teams were awarded a water break in the 27th minute as the players battled through the heat, and it gave an opportunity for both teams to strategize coming out of the break. Troy United used this to their advantage, as they had another good goalscoring opportunity in the 29th minute. Troy had a good cross into the box, but it went straight into the United West goalkeeper's hands.
Waleed Cherif had another great opportunity for Troy, as he shot the ball just over the crossbar on a free kick opportunity from 30 yards out in the 36th minute. This would be Troy’s last opportunity of the half, but United West kept the pressure on until the halftime whistle blew. As the teams went into the locker room, United West's lead was still at 1-0.
The second half began similarly to how the first half ended, as United West kept the pressure on Troy goalkeeper Thad Petty, but Petty kept making good save after good save.
Jacob Lee had Troy’s first attempt of the second half in the 56th minute, but he pushed the ball just wide of the post.
Nate Boos had another good attempt for Troy in the 73rd minute, but the shot went high and wide. Troy United was keeping up the pressure, but they just couldn’t crack through that final line of defense of United West.
Troy turned the ball over near the halfway line in the 77th minute. United West had a breakaway opportunity which led to the ball ending up in the back of the net. United West had a 2-0 lead with 13 minutes remaining.
Seven minutes later, Jacob Lee received a pass off a United West turnover, and from 13 yards out, he put the ball in the back of the net, and the lead was cut to 2-1.
Once the game was restarted, Troy kept the pressure on to try and get an equalizer to steal a point on the road. Their last chance came in the 94th minute when Troy had a free kick from 20 yards out. The shot curved around the wall but went right into the goalkeeper's hands. The full-time whistle blew, and United West came away with a 2-1 victory.
Troy United looks to bounce back from this loss at home next week against Detroit Union FC. The game is on Saturday, June 3, at 2 P.M. at Troy United’s home for the season, The Hawk in Farmington Hills.
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