KENTWOOD, Mich. – Anthony Bowie is one of the veterans on Midwest United FC’s USL League Two side.
He also played the role of late-game hero Friday night.
Bowie – a former Mr. Soccer winner at the high school level for nearby Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central and a former standout for Western Michigan University – scored the game-winning goal late in the second half Friday at the Midwest United FC Soccer Complex in leading the hosts to a come-from-behind, 2-1 victory over in-state rival Oakland County FC in a key USL League Two-Great Lakes Division matchup.
Bowie, now 27 years old who graduated from WMU back in 2022, collected a pass from Miguel Menendez at the top of the box, took a quick touch forward, and uncorked a low banger through traffic that sailed into the back of the net in the 83rd minute.
Goalkeeper Taariq Ganga and the Midwest United FC defense made it stand as the side won its fourth straight game after a pair of season-opening losses and remained in the upper echelon of the eight-team Great Lakes Division with the win.
Point-wise, Midwest United FC now has 12 points and a .667 win percentage and a 4-2-0 overall record. Flint City Bucks (3-1-0, nine points, .750 win percentage), Union FC Macomb (3-2-1, 10 points, .500) and Northern Indiana (3-1-0, nine points, .750) are also in the top half of the league after one month of play.
On just their second shot of the game, Oakland County FC took a 1-0 lead in the 10th minute on an unusual goal. The initial shot was deflected down in the box andMidwest United’s clear attempt ricocheted off the face of MAtteo Correira (Cleveland State) and into the back of the net.
Despite holding an 8-4 shots edge in the first half, Oakland County wasn;t able to hold on to the lead.
Gabe Villagomez Western Michigan University) got on the end of a Nicholas Cassiday (University of Michigan) cornerkick, turned and fired a low shot into the back of the net in the 36th minute.
Both teams traded off chances at the end of the first half and during the second half with Bowie finally breaking open the statement with his late goal
Oakland County FC held a 13-11 overall shots edge in the game, although Midwest United FC posting a 8-6 edge with shots on goal. Oakland County also held a 7-3 advantage off cornerkicks but could not withstand the hosts second-half pressure.
Ganga recorded the win in goal for Midwest United on the strength of five saves.Midwest United now has a 13-6 scoring edge this season and stand 4-2-0 overall on the campaign.
Oakland County slipped to 2-3-0 overall for six points in the division and have been scored 10-9 this season. Robert Gjelaj made six saves in eight chances for the visitors.
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