LANSING, Mich. – Lansing Common FC defeated Ypsilanti Athletic FC 7-0 in a friendly match on Saturday, May 10.
“I just did a goal study that I presented to the guys. In 2020, 25% of goals are coming off of substitutions,” LCFC head coach Brent Sorg said. “Today, five of the seven goals came from substitutes, so that’s a stark reminder, know what your role is. Come in and do it and produce.”
In the first half, LCFC put up a pair of goals. Owen Resch got the Robins on the board 33 minutes in, and Ali Ahmad followed him five minutes later with the second goal after subbing in to give Lansing a 2-0 advantage at the halftime mark.
Resch and Ahmad are familiar faces in Lansing, returning from previous seasons with the club.
“I thought towards the end of the year he [Resch] was really good for us, so we expect to get to see that again this year,” Sorg said. “And then Ali, he can come into a game and impact it.”
At halftime, Sorg wanted to see the team win more second balls after winning nearly every first ball before the break. He also saw plenty of verticality by the squad but not enough quality on the balls that were being received, with too many rolling right to the Ypsilanti keeper.
“We know what our standard is here, and we did not meet that standard,” Sorg said of the first half.
The game’s pace began to speed up for Lansing and slow down for Ypsilanti in the second half. Resch put in his second goal of the match in the 67th minute to make it 3-0 for LCFC.
Michael Kostoglanis subbed into the game and was an immediate spark plug for the Robins. Kostoglanis scored for Lansing in the 78th minute off an assist from Xtreme Hauk, then knocked in another goal two minutes later to push LCFC to a 5-0 lead.
“When he got his moment and the bell rang, he responded. It was great,” Sorg said of Kostoglanis. “He took his chances and he did well in those moments, so I was proud of him.”
The energy stayed high for LCFC, which led to a goal from Elijah Maas just a minute later. Kostglanis, who sparked the offensive frenzy, completed a hat trick with his third goal coming in the 89th minute to extend the Robins to a 7-0 lead and seal the victory. Lansing goalkeeper Brooks Boersma kept a clean sheet in his first appearance with the club.
Lansing Common FC will host Tulip City United SC on Saturday, May 17 at 6 p.m. for their Midwest Premier League season opener at Eastern Stadium. Tickets are just $5 online or $7 at the gate. Smash Shack and The Taco Hub food trucks will be at the game in addition to Lansing Common’s regular concessions menu.
