DETROIT — Detroit City Football Club picks up its third victory in seven days, claiming a 2-0 win over Rhode Island FC on Saturday afternoon. An early red card in the sixth minute for Rhode Island saw Detroit City play most of this match up a man, and they capitalized on that as Darren Smith scored two goals within four minutes.
After a heavily rotated squad on Wednesday evening in the US Open Cup, head coach Danny Dichio again put out an almost brand new starting XI on Saturday. Carlos Herrera returned to the starting goalkeeper position. Devon Amoo-Mensah, Shane Wiedt, Stephen Carroll, and Michael Bryant were the defenders before him. A four-man midfield saw Jeciel Cedeño, Ryan Williams, Jay Chapman, and Rhys Williams get the start. And the two forwards starting for DCFC were Darren Smith and Connor Rutz.
The game barely got started before the first major event happened. In the sixth minute, off a Rhode Island free kick, the ball was sent too strongly into the box and went out of play. On that, Rhode Island defender Frank Nodarse committed a foul on Jeciel Cedeño, and the referee gave Nodarse a straight red card. Detroit City would play the final 84 minutes of this match up a man.
Detroit came close to taking an early lead in the 13th minute, as Jeciel Cedeño’s shot from outside the box hit the crossbar and bounced back into play. Rhode Island would clear the ball out on the rebound.
Detroit took the lead in the 17th minute, and after a corner kick, the ball was thrown into the mixer. Michael Bryant got it to Devon Amoo-Mensah at the front of the net. He would head it to the far post, where Darren Smith is waiting, and put it into the back of the net. For Smith, it’s his third straight game with a goal.
Throughout the first half, Rhode Island struggled to maintain possession down a man. Detroit City’s attacking pressure was difficult for Rhode Island to control with ten men.
Le Rouge doubled the lead three minutes later, as Darren Smith once again found the back of the net off a brilliant feed from Connor Rutz. Smith’s goal would mark his second straight league game with two goals.
Rhode Island came out stronger in the second half, as Detroit City was put into a position they hadn’t been in much of the first half. Even down a man, they forced Detroit to clear the ball from the defensive third.
Both sides’ fouls picked up in the second half, but after the red card in the sixth minute, they were few and far between. Rhode Island forward JJ Williams picked up the first yellow card of the second half in the 55th minute.
Detroit’s first change of the night came in the 63rd minute, when Alex Villanueva and Jordan Adebayo-Smith entered the match for Michael Bryant and Connor Rutz.
Alex Villanueva picked up Detroit’s first yellow card in the 70th minute off a late tackle.
Another double change for Detroit came in the 76th minute, as Ben Morris and Ates Diouf entered for Jeciel Cedeño and Darren Smith.
Rhys Williams came close to closing this match out of reach in the 87th minute with a third goal, but his shot from a tight angle danced along the goal line and rolled out of play.
One final change for Detroit came in the fourth minute of stoppage time, as Matt Sheldon entered for Rhys Williams.
Only two minutes into his action on the field, Matt Sheldon picked up a yellow card.
Detroit City claimed the victory after six minutes of stoppage time. It’s Le Rouge’s third straight win in all competitions. Detroit’s unbeaten streak at home continues, moving up to four games in a row. Goalkeeper Carlos Herrera picks up another clean sheet, marking his second on the season.
For more information about Detroit City FC, visit detcityfc.com and follow @DetroitCityFC on X and Facebook and @detroitcityfootballclub on Instagram.
Detroit City Starting XI – Carlos Herrera, Devon Amoo-Mensah, Shane Wiedt, Stephen Carroll, Michael Bryant (63’), Jeciel Cedeño (76’), Ryan Williams, Jay Chapman, Rhys Williams (90+4’), Darren Smith (76’), Connor Rutz (63’)
Detroit City Substitutes – Alex Villanueva (63’), Ben Morris (76’), Matt Sheldon (90+4’), Dominic Gasso, Ates Diouf (76’), Carlos Saldaña, Jordan Adebayo-Smith (63’)
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Primary Media Contact: Jarrett Maki (Sports Information Director, jarrett.maki@detcityfc.com)
