M Soccer beats MSU again in 2nd half comeback in the B1G Tournament
Michigan took back the Big Bear Trophy just 11 days ago with a 2-0 win over putrid 3-win MSU.
Michigan then went on the road last Sunday to close out the regular season and got a 4-2 win at #17 Maryland, the 2018 national champion.
Michigan secured home field in the B1G Tournament for the 3rd year in a row and received the 3 seed. Their Quarterfinal opponent? 6 Michigan State.
Michigan and MSU had met 4 times in the B1G Tournament prior to 2019 with both sides winning 2 tourney meetings apiece. But ALL of those meetings were on neutral fields.
A winter advisory warning in Ann Arbor and the game being played on short notice made the attendance low tonight with just 979 in attendance: but the Michigan Ultras once again got in sparty's head.
ICYMI, the Michigan Ultras are the student section for Michigan Men's Soccer. They're seated practically on the field, just arms length away from the players. Last game the trash talking clearly got into several Spartan heads as they lost their composure and had animated meltdowns much to the delight of the legions of Ultras that filled the East stands.
There weren't as many Ultras tonight as there were for the Big Bear game but the ones who were there did their job.
MSU scored their first goal in nearly a MONTH(!) in the 21st minute on a botched play when a Michigan defender went down and an MSU man was free which caused a panic inside the box. MSU definitely came out in this one a lot faster and had more energy compared to the regular season meeting.
Remember the Michigan Ultras? At the end of the first half, an MSU player fired the ball into the Michigan Ultras section as the clock hit zero out of frustration. Presumably because--once again--the Ultras got in their heads. Said-player had received a yellow card prior to this shenanigan so I'm sure that contributed to that choice.
Just 15 minutes into the second half and the Wolverines found the equalizer. Derick Broche found himself in the right place at the right time as a simple ball towards the box slipped behind the MSU defense and Broche scored easily to make it 1-1.
The game-winner came on a CRAZY goal. A free kick that originally looked like an MSU own goal but replay showed that it didn't touch anyone. Jack Hallahan's free kick sailed over everyone and into the MSU net to give Michigan the 2-1 lead with 20 minutes left in the game.
MSU tried to answer and even got some pretty good scoring chances. A near handball in the box by Michigan defender Abdou Samake could've given MSU a penalty kick but it was thankfully not called.
3 Michigan held on for the 2-1 win over 6 Michigan State, putting sparty out of their misery as they finish 3-12-3 on the season.The Wolverines have beaten MSU twice in 2019 and are unbeaten in their last 3 against the Spartans, the longest Michigan unbeaten streak in the history of this rivalry that dates back to 2000. In addition to that, Michigan is 4-2-1 in their last 7 against MSU.
Michigan is now 10-4-4 and is headed to the B1G Tournament Semifinals for the 3rd consecutive season.
3 Michigan will face 2 Penn State on Friday at 4pm at College Park, MD in the B1G Tournament Semifinals.
November 10th, 2019 at 8:13 PM ^
Both Michigan goals. Watch the meltdown multiple spartys have on the second goal. Either they're angry because they thought it was an own goal or they're mad at themselves because nobody touched the ball.
GOALS: Derick Broche and Jack Hallahan found the back of the net in the second half to lift the Wolverines past Michigan State and into the Big Ten Tournament semifinals. #GoBlue pic.twitter.com/xScSC7uSDj
— Michigan Men's Soccer (@umichsoccer) November 11, 2019
November 11th, 2019 at 2:36 AM ^
On the first goal, #12 is primarily at fault because he takes a hopeful stab at stopping a ball that he’s in a poor position to deal with (he’s trying to completely stop his momentum AND stop a ball that’s passing behind him). This wrong-foots the two MSU defenders directly behind him who anticipate him getting more than a grazing deflection. This is mostly really bad luck for the Spartans and great luck for the Wolverines.
The reason the MSU center back threw a tantrum after the second goal was because the keeper let a ball bounce inside his own six yard box (!!!) and it bounced directly into the goal. Phenomenal placement of the free kick though by Hallahan: hitting the ball on a line for back post and having it bounce at the six is textbook. Such a ball places stress on the goalkeeper to cover all 24’ of the goal at once because if an attacker gets on the end of the cross, the shot is going near-post, but if no one touches it, the ball is going to the back-post. Really, the only chance the keeper had was to challenge and catch the cross before it bounced.
November 10th, 2019 at 8:38 PM ^
I see that putrid green is in multiple of their sports. Not exactly been good luck for them.
November 10th, 2019 at 8:45 PM ^
Good write up on a great win. ?
November 10th, 2019 at 9:45 PM ^
pic of the ultras
November 10th, 2019 at 10:09 PM ^
How do women have bare legs when it’s freezing cold? What is the science behind that?
November 10th, 2019 at 10:29 PM ^
>There weren't as many Ultras tonight as there were for the Big Bear game but the ones who were there did their job.
ok
>MSU scored their first goal in nearly a MONTH
lolno
November 10th, 2019 at 11:27 PM ^
Got chippy at the end. Staee player got a yellow card. Announcers said Michigan had great chance at an at-large bid in the NCAA tournament. Obviously want Michigan to win the Big Ten but would be great to see them make the tournament either way.