TAMPA, Fla. - South Florida (5-0-5) continued their unbeaten run with a convincing 3-1 victory over Western Michigan (2-7-1) on Tuesday evening. The Bulls dominated possession and created numerous scoring opportunities throughout the match, with Jakob Auby, Brandon Nyagurungo, and Sahel Yessen finding the back of the net.
The scoring opened in the 30th minute when Jakob Auby struck from the right side of the box, assisted by both Marcellus McCoy and Fabio Bozesan. The Bulls doubled their advantage in the 37th minute through Brandon Nyagurungo's well-placed shot to the lower right corner. Western Michigan pulled one back in the 58th minute when Sahel Yessen capitalized on a rebound following a save from Bulls goalkeeper Jahiem Wickham.
The first half saw South Florida control the tempo, with Auby particularly active in attack, registering three shots including his goal. The Bulls' pressure resulted in five corner kicks before halftime, while Western Michigan struggled to maintain possession in dangerous areas. Wickham was called into action twice in the opening period, making crucial saves to maintain the Bulls' advantage.
Western Michigan showed more attacking intent after the break, with Sahel Yessen leading the charge. The Broncos earned seven corner kicks in the second half and tested Wickham multiple times. However, South Florida's defense, anchored by Nicolas Pietrantonio, held firm despite the increased pressure. The match saw significant rotation from both sides, with South Florida making ten substitutions and Western Michigan bringing on eight fresh players throughout the contest.
The final statistics reflected the competitive nature of the match, with Western Michigan recording 18 shot attempts to South Florida's 15. The Bulls proved more clinical, putting 8 shots on target compared to the Broncos' 5. Corner kicks favored Western Michigan 12-6, while the Bulls' goalkeeper Wickham finished with 4 saves to Alex Lindewirth's 5 for the Broncos.
Individual performances stood out on both sides. South Florida's Jakob Auby was particularly influential before being substituted, while Brandon Nyagurungo's goal highlighted his offensive threat. For Western Michigan, Sahel Yessen's goal and overall attacking presence kept the Bulls' defense alert throughout the second half. Both goalkeepers had strong showings, with Wickham and Lindewirth making several crucial interventions.
Tactically, South Florida's approach emphasized quick transitions and width, utilizing the speed of their wingers to create opportunities. Western Michigan adjusted well in the second half, pressing higher up the pitch and finding more success in building attacks through the middle, evidenced by their increased shot production and corner kicks.
The victory extends South Florida's unbeaten streak and maintains their strong start to the season, while Western Michigan showed resilience despite adding another loss to their record. The Bulls' ability to withstand pressure while maintaining their offensive threat demonstrated why they remain undefeated, while the Broncos' second-half performance suggested potential for improvement.
The match was marked by disciplinary issues, with South Florida receiving five yellow cards (Brandon Nyagurungo, Marcelo Mondragon, Jakob Auby, Yanis Lasri, and Mathis Haugen) while Western Michigan was shown one. South Florida will look to maintain their momentum when they host Stetson on October 7, while Western Michigan aims to bounce back in their conference matchup at Evansville on October 4.