PDL Game Report
Wednesday, July 2, 2014
WATERLOO, Ont. -- A last-second goal during a defensive lapse saw K-W United FC and the Michigan Bucks finished in a 1-1 draw on Wednesday evening at Wilfred Laurier University Stadium. The draw left both teams trailing the Chicago Fire U-23 by two points for first place in the PDL's Great Lakes Division with four games remaining in the season.
K-W went ahead 1-0 with just under 20 minutes left on a goal by Wesley Cain, but in the final seconds of stoppage time, Michigan's Brad Vanino sent a shot past keeper Darrin MacLeod to tie the game.
"Tonight we were very close in taking all three points, but made two critical errors," United coach Stuart Neely said. "First, we missed a gaping opening goal with less than five minutes to play. Then, with three minutes of added time that took forever, we failed to clear a ball and instead tried to play out. The end result was a cracking shot into the back of the net."
Michigan came out strongly, as they fired 12 shots at MacLeod's net. However, despite the back-and-forth affair, the first half remained deadlocked.
It seemed as though a late goal might settle the contest when the teams remained tied going into the final 15 minutes. However, United's Cain would break the scoreless affair as he beat Michigan goalkeeper Adam Grinwis to put K-W up 1-0 in the 79th minute.
K-W couldn't hang on, however, as it couldn't clear the defensive zone, which allowed Vanino to score in the final seconds of stoppage time.
"We can't keep making major mental errors," Neely said. "That's the difference between quality sides and the rest. Tonight we were punished for that."
However, Neely was impressed by K-W's ability to adapt to Michigan's style of play.
"We have to give credit to the Bucks - they are a great team and have power, speed, quality of the ball and great movement. [But] we adjusted to that and had the tactics almost right."
K-W United FC remains tied with the Bucks for second position in the Great Lakes Division behind the Chicago Fire. United is on the road on Friday afternoon, where they will face the Pittsburgh Riverhounds U-23 in their final meeting of the season. In the last two meetings between these teams, K-W prevailed 2-1 and 3-1.
"We now move onto our next challenge and focus on Pittsburgh," Neely said.