It took until nearly halftime, but Detroit City FC eventually broke through with two set piece headers in the span of two minutes, then added another goal in the second half to get past a familiar foe in the Michigan Stars by the score of 3-0 at historic Keyworth Stadium in Hamtramck, Mich.
For Detroit City FC, it was not only a win over a local rival, but it was the club’s first official US Open Cup victory. Le Rouge had advanced twice as an amateur side in the NPSL, but both were by penalty kick shootouts, which are officially recognized as draws.
The Stars of the National Independent Soccer Association (NISA) pressured Detroit’s midfield in the first few minutes, but once Le Rouge got their feet under them, the possession of the match was theirs to lose. As has been the case with many of the matchups these teams have played over the years, the game became physical rather quickly. The first yellow card was shown to Michigan’s Elias McCloud in the 9th minute for a late tackle on DCFC’s Brad Dunwell.
The turning point may have come in the 23rd minute. In the second of three successive corner kicks for Detroit (USL-C), Devon Amoo-Mensah, the former captain of the Stars from last season, fired a volley from near the penalty spot, only for Stars goalkeeper Tatenda Mkuruva to make a diving save. On the play following the third corner, Mkuruva may have been injured as he was gesturing to his eye. After a check from the training staff, play continued until the 26th minute when he dropped to the ground holding his head. He was unable to continue and was subbed out for backup goalkeeper Paul Lewis.
After this point, City was able to capitalize by bringing a flurry of chances into the attacking third, but wasn’t able to test the backup keeper until the 44th minute when Francis Atuahene forced a diving save out for a corner. On the ensuing play, Maxi Rodriguez delivered a ball from the left side into the box that found the head of Connor Rutz for the opening goal in the 45th minute.
Less than two minutes later, in what appeared to be a mirror image from the last goal, Rodriguez was able to serve another goal from the corner, this time from the right side. Matt Lewis was able to get over Jacob Campbell and head the ball into the back post to put DCFC up 2-0 just before halftime.
Detroit was able to tack on a third goal in the 63rd minute as Michael Bryant sent in a cross from the right to Rutz, who headed it in front of goal for Lewis to fire it home from the top of the box. They were almost able to add a fourth tally in the 69th minute as a corner kick found Lewis, who was able to send a deflected header toward net, but the Stars defense was able to clear it off the line.
DCFC goalkeeper Nate Steinwasher was barely called upon as Michigan did not have an attempt on goal, and he was able to earn a clean sheet.
With the 3-0 win, Detroit City FC breaks scored more than two goals in an Open Cup game for the first time. It was also the first win by an amateur team from Michigan since 2017 when the Michigan Bucks (now Flint City Bucks) defeated Indy Eleven.
DCFC will learn their opponent in Round 3 when the draw is announced at Noon on Friday.
Here’s another look at that @mattylew03 goal that rocked the @opencup!#DCTID | #USOC2022 pic.twitter.com/9G46qXzszQ
— Detroit City FC (@DetroitCityFC) April 6, 2022
