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 The Milwaukee Bavarians haven't won the National Premier Soccer League Midwest Division just yet. But if they do end up winning their first division title, they'll likely look back at Saturday night as a key result.
The host Bavarians admittedly were on the back foot throughout the second half against the Madison 56ers, but kept the score tied and pounced when presented with a chance to win it.
Incoming Marquette freshman Sebastian Jansson scored in the 88th minute as Milwaukee pulled out a 2-1 victory to strengthen its position atop the NPSL Midwest.
The Bavarians (5-0-2) lead the second-place Quad City Eagles (3-1-4) by four points and the 56ers (3-2-2) by six points with five matches remaining in the league season.
"Things are looking really good," said Milwaukee coach Andreas Davi, whose team already has played the Eagles twice and plays the 56ers on July 16 at Breese Stevens Field. "(A) 2-1 (win) was lucky for us, I have to admit.
"Today was a game where we couldn't play the soccer we have before, but they were fighting. They never gave up."
It certainly helped the Bavarians that they had Marquette goalkeeper David Check (Mequon Homestead) between the posts. Check saved a penalty kick by the 56ers' Tenzin Rampa (Madison West/UW-Milwaukee) in the opening 15 minutes, then made several key stops to keep the score tied at 1.
"He made a couple great saves," Madison coach Jim Launder said of Check.
After Check's stop on Rampa's penalty, which was drawn by North Carolina's Carlos McCrary, Jansson set the stage for the Bavarians to score the opener.
The Swede beat several defenders down the left flank and got to the end line, then crossed the ball back to Marquette's Amilcar Herrera (Milwaukee Riverside), who had a simple tap-in to put Milwaukee ahead.
Madison equalized through right back Aaron Nichols (UW) before halftime. The 56ers had a free kick that the Bavarians cleared, but Nichols tracked it down and delivered a goal that impressed both coaches.
"He kind half-turned one way and with the ball almost on a juggle, turned the other way and then he snapped it off into the upper corner," Launder said. "A big-time ball."
Davi added: "It was a really nice shot with his left foot, he bent it into the upper 90. There really was no chance for Check to save it."
After 45 minutes, Davi felt good about his team's performance, and his strategy of allowing the 56ers to possess the ball and pressuring them once they crossed midfield was looking good. But ...
"We came out at halftime and it was like it was a totally different team," Davi said.
Thankfully for the Bavarians, Check was up to the task. Launder singled out excellent stops on shots by Trevor Banks (Madison Memorial) and UW-Green Bay's Sam Krenzien (Wauwatosa West).
"The better chances to win this game (were for) the 56ers," Davi said. "But David Check had some really, really great saves in the second half."
And Jansson came up with one more big play.
With the 56ers pouring numbers forward looking for a winner – a victory would have pulled them even with the Bavarians in the standings – the ball popped out to Jansson on the outside left. He broke in on Madison goalkeeper Kyle Dillman (Madison La Follette) and coolly slotted a shot under the leaping keeper to win it.
"We couldn't deal with it because we had pushed so much forward. ... So that's two games where we've had a lot of the game and lost 2-1," Launder said, referring to a 2-1 loss to the Chicago Fire on May 28.
From the touchline
With an eye toward his team's match against the Chicago Fire PDL in the second round of the U.S. Open Cup on Tuesday, Launder didn't start Marquette forward Adam Lysak (Milton) and didn't play forward Jed Hohlbein (Middleton/UW) or midfielder Andrew Wiedabach (Mequon Homestead). "Maybe I was a little optimistic, but I thought we carried a lot of the game, so I'm not sure," Launder said. ... UW-Milwaukee midfielder Cody Banks (Madison Memorial), who has been dealing with a knee injury, is expected to be available for selection Tuesday, Launder said. However, UW goalkeeper Max Jentsch (Hartland Arrowhead) experienced more back problems and could be out for the season. Jentsch missed all of the spring season for the Badgers because of a herniated disc in his back. ... Defender Reed Cooper (Madison West) and UW forward Josh Thiermann (Stoughton) made their season debuts for the 56ers. ... Davi said the Bavarians' match at Minnesota Kings FC, postponed May 22 due to an unplayable field in St. Michael, Minn., likely will be rescheduled for July 22, 23 or 24.
MILWAUKEE BAVARIANS: David Check; Riley Monahan (Tim Stadler), Ryan Whitehead, Andrew Krenzien, Luke Davey (Kinkade Lo); Charlie Hoover, James Ashcroft; Sebastian Jansson (Bryan Samuel), Amilcar Herrera (Tim Lencina), Robbie Boyd (Niklas Boedts); Cyril Simmons (Chris Madsen).
MADISON 56ERS: Kyle Dillman; Carl Schneider, Reed Cooper (Colin Mani), Sean Ronnekleiv-Kelly, Aaron Nichols; Keith Dangarembwa (Ryan Buda), Keenan Newallo (Henry Aiyenero); Carlos McCrary (David Kommavang), Trevor Banks (Adam Lysak), Tenzin Rampa (Josh Thiermann); Sam Krenzien.
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