Canton outlasts Northville, 1-0, in match dripping with drama

Desperately clinging to a 1-0 lead over KLAA West rival Northville, Canton’s boys soccer team’s collective heart sank a bit with just under seven minutes to play Tuesday night.

At first glance, the Mustangs executed what appeared to be a perfect corner kick with senior defenseman Ari Patel heading in a well-struck bender.

Northville’s joyful celebration last only a few seconds, however, as the on-field referee signaled no-goal due to a Mustang interfering with Canton keeper Jacob Allen a split-second before the ball settled in the mesh.

Canton held off multiple rushes by the Mustang — including a dangerous free kick from just inside mid-field by Northville keeper Connor Rayburn, who was booming. goals kicks upwards of 50-plus yards all night.

Amro to the rescue

The Cobras seized the lead for good late in the first half when Adam Amro pounced on a rebound off a Canton free kick and one-touched the ball into the left corner of the goal to ignite a jubilant celebration — understandable considering the Cobras hadn’t defeated the Mustangs in recent memory.

In a match saturated with mostly-legal physicality, Canton — behind the stellar goal-tending play of Jacob Allen — maintained its lead  the rest of the way, thanks largely to the overturned goal.

Allen was spectacular for Canton, making a pair of consecutive diving saves mid-way through the first half.

“Everyone played well, but Jacob was the man of the match,” said Canton Head Coach Mike Presley. “He was big for us early. We knew Northville was going to press. On a few occasions they caught our defenders off guard, but Jacob was ready for it.”

Battle between goalies

Presley acknowledged the Allen and senior captain Suhaib Shahid are battling for the first-string keeper title as they alternate early-season starts.

Presley was pleased with his team’s effort.

“Everyone had to come out and match Northville’s energy, and they did,” he elaborated.

Northville Head Coach Henry Kimes was ejected from the match after adamantly pleading his case that the call was unwarrented.

A win to cherish for Cobras

“Canton hasn’t defeated Northville in my time here, so that’s why our players were so excited,” Canton Head Coach Mike Presley explained. “It was a big win for our program.

Canton’s goal off a free kick wasn’t a fluke. It was the result, Presley asserted, of extra work put in by his team during training.

“We’ve been working on finishing, which is something we didn’t do a great job of last year,” Presley said.

The victory improved Canton’s record to 4-1 following its 3-0 showing at last weekend’s Balconi Invitational.