For those of you who come here regularly, you know that I’ve been talking about this particular stretch of games for Loudoun United and what they could or could not mean. I *think the first time I started talking about them was after the team beat Pittsburgh six weeks ago, the League was talking about these games this week, and after the first of those games last week, it seemed promising! This week upped the stakes, as Segra Field hosted a battle between the East’s third place team (Loudoun) and its first place one (Charleston). The 1-1 result was fair, but are there any lessons to learn from it?

No. Really? Not even a little thing?

Well maybe, but first: We can agree there’s a difference between a good game and a GOOD game, right? There was a game Loudoun played with Las Vegas last year, and it was a good game, but it was good in the sense that a Michael Bay movie can be good. It may make you feel something, but it will ultimately leave you hollow almost immediately after you’re done. This was a fun one, with lots of back and forth movement between both teams, good chances and great saves:

But it was one of those games where a draw felt just between both teams because they’d been working their tails off, and the gameflow illustrated it to a degree:

Champ dictates the action, gets the first knockdown, challenger surprises with one of his own, then punches traded for the balance. Can’t be mad at a game or a fight like that.

On a rediscovery of a Blessing. Due to injuries in the team, Moses Nyeman has been starting in central midfield over the last month and has availed himself well, particularly coming into the play and scoring the tying goal in the second half Saturday. Between last week’s game with Louisville’s and this week’s, his action map has shown a couple of wrinkles in terms of usage:

He’s been next to Tommy McCabe in these games, and he’s had some chances to get his passing wheels moving again, and is good finding a player downfield to get a counter or attack started earlier.

I don’t know if the Loudoun v1 of Moses Nyeman would have stepped up to try and fire that worm burner that found the back of the net Saturday, which was within weeks of the anniversary of his first goal as a pro. However, Loudoun v2 of Moses Nyeman could prove to be an integral part of this team as the weeks go on, and like his D.C. United Academy brethren Abdellatif Aboukoura, he’s getting the chance to play big minutes in big situations and handling himself well.

Random Stat of the Day: 3.33 (the goals added for goalkeepers from Hugo Fauroux, almost double the next highest Eastern Conference goalkeeper who he faced Saturday, Luis Zamudio).

Your Moment of Zen: Ah man…

So, where does this leave us? Loudoun host a suddenly floundering Detroit City side that has scored one goal on the road against USL Championship sides in their last three games, and are winless in their last six games across all competitions.

For Loudoun, this is a case where they’ve gone toe to toe with the big boys, and find themselves in third in the East, three points out of first, with the knowledge they can hang with the big boys that are above them in the standings. In a world of changing impressions, a June game with Detroit three months ago could be viewed by many as a ‘do well to get a point.’ Now it’s one that, based on the eyes and words that have been foisted on the club, they should win to both keep pace and distance themselves from those below them (with a four-game win streak, North Carolina FC is two points back of Loudoun).

As for what was seen on Saturday, I don’t think fans would mind seeing the two teams go against each other one more time, about five months from now, with the Eastern Conference title on the line.