Written By: Kebba Sanyang

 

As the Bobcats set out in another home game, they were unable to secure three points against the defending champs Michigan Stars. The Bobcats came into the game having made one change from last week's lineup with Akinoye coming into the starting 11.

Maryland started the match off strong in the first minute with Jimmy Filerman's deflected cross going just wide of goal. Filerman would have another opportunity in the 9th minute as he would take on a defender on the wing and fire a left footed shot wide of the goal.

The game would be relatively quiet for both sides with no real opportunities for both sides until towards the end of the first half when Darwin Espinal receives the ball from Forka and releases a curled shot over the crossbar. Mansour would have an oppurtunity with the last kick of the first half with a long shot that would go wide of goal.

Maryland would make one change at halftime with Bustamante coming on for Akinoye.

Malik Thom would come on for Caleb Pritchett in the 63rd and would create a chance almost immediately with a cross for Bustamante but his shot would go just wide of the far post. Espinal would have an opportunity from a free kick minutes later that prompted a save from the keeper and would go out for a corner kick. 

Maryland would have another opportunity in the 76th with Bustamante firing a shot over the crossbar and Espinal hitting the post from a long range shot just minutes later. He would have another shot on goal and it would require a save from the keeper to keep the game 0-0. 

However, just a few minutes later Michigan would break the deadlock with Popovic getting on the end of a deflected low cross making it 1-0. 

Bobcats would make a substitution in the 85th minute to try and change the tide of the game with Solomon coming on for Wivell. 

Michigan would get an opportunity to make it 2-0 after a challenge in the box by Mansour awards the visitors with a penalty and Mkuruva would convert from the spot to make it 2-0. Maryland would have one last opportunity from Espinal but it wasn't enough as the game finished with Michigan taking the 2-0 win. 

 

Although MBFC wasn't able to take a win from the match, they put up a good fight against the defending champions and should have a lot to look forward to in these upcoming games.

The Bobcats will look to bounce back in their next game on May 27th, 2023 against Chattanooga FC at Finley Stadium. 

 

Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30pm EST. Fans can watch the game live on Eleven Sports.

 

 

Maryland Bobcats FC: Sutton (GK); Filerman (91'), Mansour, Forka, Villatoro; Gonzalez, Akinkoye (45'), Possian; Espinal, Pritchett, Wivell (85')

 

Substitutions: Thompson (GK), Conteh, Bustamante (46'), Thom (63'), Likulia, Richard, Brown, Madad (91'), Solomon (85')

 

Bookings: Mansour (87')

 

Michigan Stars FC: Mkuruva (GK), Shmelev, Campbell, Campbell, Chalbaud, Ahmed-Shaibu (71'); Hogbin, Baranovskyi, Browne (81'), Umeda, Olson; Maric

 

Substitutions: Lawerencwe, Alewine (81'), Figbe (71'), Popovic

 

Bookings:Ahmed-Shaibu (64')

 

Goals: Popovic (82'), Mkuruva (89')