ST. CHARLES, Mo. - Lindenwood (10-0-1) continued their impressive unbeaten run with a 2-0 victory over Western Illinois (3-8-1) on Sunday afternoon at Hunter Stadium. The Lions dominated possession throughout the match to secure their third consecutive shutout victory.
While the specific goal scorers were not recorded in the official statistics, Lindenwood found the net twice during crucial moments to maintain their perfect home record. The Lions' offensive pressure eventually broke through Western Illinois' defensive resistance to secure the victory.
The first half saw Lindenwood establish control early, with Sebastia Cerda Tous recording the first shot attempt in the 4th minute. Western Illinois' Liam Gainey had the visitors' best opportunity in the 19th minute, but his attempt went wide. Benjamin Graham received a yellow card in the 21st minute for Western Illinois, setting the tone for what would become a physical contest. Jozef Palushaj and Matteo Landais both created dangerous chances for Lindenwood before the break.
The second half intensity increased as Josh Francombe received a yellow card in the 44th minute for Lindenwood. The Lions made tactical adjustments at halftime, bringing on fresh legs with six substitutions. Western Illinois struggled to maintain possession after losing Benjamin Graham to a red card in the 80th minute, effectively ending their hopes of a comeback. The match saw a total of nine yellow cards and one red card distributed between both teams.
Statistically, Lindenwood dominated the shot count, outshooting Western Illinois 12-8, with both teams recording three shots on target. The corner kicks were even at 4-4, while Lindenwood's goalkeeper made three crucial saves to preserve the clean sheet. The physical nature of the match was evident in the card count, with Lindenwood receiving six yellows to Western Illinois' three, plus the late red card.
Several players stood out individually throughout the match. Alander Soares was particularly active for Lindenwood, though he received a yellow card in the 82nd minute. Western Illinois' Nathan Bessinger created multiple attacking opportunities, including a dangerous shot in the 59th minute. Bruno Fornes controlled the midfield for Lindenwood before being substituted in the 77th minute.
Tactically, Lindenwood's approach focused on maintaining possession and building attacks through their midfield, while Western Illinois attempted to counter through quick transitions. The Lions' strategy proved more effective, particularly after gaining the man advantage late in the match. Both teams utilized their bench extensively, with Lindenwood making strategic substitutions to maintain their high-pressure system.
The victory extends Lindenwood's impressive unbeaten streak and solidifies their position as one of the top teams in the conference. For Western Illinois, the loss continues their challenging season, though they showed moments of promise despite playing a significant portion of the match with ten men.
Looking ahead, both teams face quick turnarounds with midweek matches. Lindenwood will host SIUE on October 9th at 8:00 PM, looking to extend their winning streak to four games. Western Illinois travels to face UIW on the same day for an early morning kickoff at 8:00 AM, seeking to bounce back from this defeat.