DeKalb County United 0, Bavarians SC 3
BAV: Perez (20th, 90th), Russel (75th)
This report is provided by Ben Holda. Thanks Ben!
DeKalb County United traveled north of the border on Saturday night to take on the defending United Premier Soccer League Spring-Season Champions Bavarians Soccer Club.
On the evening of the home team’s 90th anniversary celebration, the Greens visited with hopes of spoiling the party and coming back to Northern Illinois with 3 points, and a first-place position in the UPSL Midwest-Central conference. The United faithful traveled strong, outnumbering the home crowd in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
The game opened rough for United when Bavarian’s striker Simar Perez placed a precision shot put just barely past United keeper Patrik Smith. The first half from that point onward was choppy, with United players making challenges trying reclaim even ground, resulting in a couple skirmishes in the end of the first half. Though the first half ended in a defensive duel resulting in only one goal.
Both teams came flying out with offensive style in the second half with pressure and quick attacks coming on the flanks. The DKCU defensive dam broke in the 75th minute when Michael Russel doubled the lead for the home team, a scrappy goal from a scramble in the box.
The final nail was put in the DKCU coffin in the 90’ by Bavarians with a one timer put in the back of the net by Simar Perez securing his second goal on the night and the win for his club.
Head Coach Mike Gecan made note after the game that “It’s still early in the season, it’s still a very young team. We’re definitely working, and seeing a lot of individual improvement, and we’re getting some guys back. [The team is] making steps in the right direction; it just needs to click”.
Though the individual performance can work under the right circumstances, it quickly falls apart as soon as you’re playing a team that gels together, which the 90-year-old Bavarians had in spades on the evening.
DeKalb County United look to move past the road loss when they host Union Dubuque on Friday, May 17th, at the NIU Soccer Complex in DeKalb.
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