Lansing Common FC dropped its season-opener on the road against BiH Grand Rapids in Kentwood Saturday night, losing 2-1. 

Ty Usiak scored Lansing’s lone goal, knocking in a header thanks to an impressive curling long-ball assist from Ramzi Shaheen. 

The match was Lansing Common’s first in the inaugural Grand River Ope!n Cup. The results in the competition will not affect Midwest Premier League standings. 

For the opening 35 minutes of the match, possession belonged mostly to Grand Rapids. Content to play out of their back line, BiH let their fullbacks and goalkeeper do most of the distributing. Grand Rapids had a pair of golden opportunities to open the scoring, with a bounce off the crossbar in the tenth minute and a goal disallowed in the 26th minute due to an offsides call.

From the 35th minute on, the Robins kicked it up a notch, playing with more intensity and retaining more possession. Lansing eventually found the back of the net with Usiak’s header in the 40th minute. 

Despite the early pressure from Grand Rapids, the Robins kept a clean sheet through the first half, taking a 1-0 lead into the locker room. 

Lansing Common continued to look strong coming out of the half, earning a couple of free kicks and corners within the first 10 minutes. However, the Robins could not convert those opportunities into goals, leaving the door open for a BiH comeback. 

Grand Rapids finally found an equalizer in the 52nd minute. BiH would take hold of the match’s momentum from that point forward, shifting the action to Lansing Common’s end. The home team scored the game winner in the 77th minute, cashing in on a cross. 

The Robins made a few last-ditch efforts in search of an equalizer, but ultimately came up short. 

Up next for the Robins

Lansing Common’s long-awaited home opener finally arrives this Saturday, May 21 at 6 p.m. The Robins welcome Midwest Premier League newcomers Tulip City United SC to open league play at Eastern Stadium. Tickets are just $5, available online and at the gate. For those who can’t make it to gameday, the match will be streamed live on YouTube.