Plymouth, Salem to meet in Friday’s MHSAA District final
Plymouth’s Eli Ring and Canton’s Ansh Patel battle for possession Tuesday night.
It’s always more compelling when neighbors get together to decide who wins a district soccer title, isn’t it?
That will be the case Friday at 6 p.m. at the Plymouth-Canton Educational Park’s East Turf Field (“The Big One”) when Plymouth and Salem face off for the MHSAA District 10 championship.
Judging by the two teams’ only meeting earlier this season — a 1-0 Rock victory — Friday’s final should be a nail-biter.
Second-half surge
Salem advanced in Tuesday’s first semifinal by breaking a 2-2 draw with seven second-half goals to derail Livonia Franklin, 9-2. State-ranked Salem will take a 15-3-2 record into Friday night’s showdown.
Hamza Afaneh led the Rocks’ potent attack with multiple goals, while Peter Demetter anchored the winners’ defense.
Plymouth (11-7-3) built a 2-0 first-half lead on goals from Anthony Ljubevski, who netted a penalty kick, and Braeden Caldwell (who headed in a corner by Kyle Benavidez).
Canton PK makes it close
Moments after Benavidez made a spectacular play, clearing a ball that was headed toward the net, Canton’s Owen Covino buried a penalty kick with just under two minutes to play to cut the Cobras’ deficit to 2-1.
The Wildcats hung on thanks to strong play from keeper Evan Gaylord and defenders Harry Jackson and Jack Johnson.
