2026 US Open Cup Round 2: Detroit City FC earns first regulation win vs. Flint City Bucks in rivalry renewal

The Flint City Bucks and Detroit City FC are each other’s most common opponents in the US Open Cup, and they faced off for the fourth time on Wednesday night. This was the first time since Le Rouge elevated from the amateur ranks to become a professional side; and it opened the door for the Bucks to claim another victory against a pro team, something they have done a Modern Era record 11 times.

Instead, Detroit scored late in the first half and held on to advance with a win in regulation over the Bucks for the first time, defeating the Flint side 1-0 at Don Batchelor Stadium in Grand Blanc, Mich. with nearly 2,700 fans in attendance.

It was Detroit City’s first regulation win against the Bucks in their four meetings. The previous three meetings were all when both clubs were amateur sides with the Bucks winning 3-0 in 2015, and DCFC winning in a penalty kick shootout in 2016 and 2018.

An early yellow card was shown to Detroit City’s Kobe Hernandez-Foster for dragging down Bucks midfielder Matt Dreas in the third minute. This was a sign of Flint pushing the tempo early in the match. They came out pressing the USL Championship side, occasionally intercepting passes and creating chances while keeping Detroit in their own defensive end.

Detroit City found their footing about 15 minutes in, getting multiple crosses into the box from the left wing in the span of 30 seconds, but both chances were cleared. It was followed up with a long ball to Jeciel Cedeño, who sent a header wide left. Detroit continued to push for chances in the first half, but that led to getting caught on the back foot as Flint found an opening for a counterattack in the 33^rd minute. A DCFC corner was cleared and found Bucks midfielder Ollie Moller-Jensen, who ran from the top of his own box to 35 yards out from the opposite net, where he launched a shot to be collected by Detroit keeper Carlos Saldaña.

The consistent attempts by Detroit City FC to break through eventually did so. In the 40^th minute, Alex Dalou received a pass on the left wing from Tommy Silva and proceeded to replicate his goal from Round 1. He carried the ball from the wing to the top of the box and then fired a bouncing shot past Bucks keeper Isaiah Goldson for the 1-0 lead.

The Bucks had a quick chance to answer back before halftime as a bouncing ball failing to be cleared by Detroit City fell to the foot of Bucks defender Matthew Paiva, who found captain Wes Carnevale in the box. Carnevale took one touch and then fired a point-blank shot at the net. Saldaña stuck out his left foot to make the quick save and kept his team up at the break.

Neither team would let up in the second half. A corner in the 53^rd minute by Hernandez-Foster was sent toward the net, but it was Cedeño who blocked his own team’s attempt. A quick counter by the Bucks found the foot of Moller-Jensen, who looked to mimic Dalou’s goal but was blocked by Rhys Wiliams.

Arguably, Flint’s best opportunity of the night came in the 64^th minute but it wasn’t Saldaña who saved the day. Jordy Lopez, who had found himself on the scoresheet in the Round 1 win against Madison, sent in a cross from the right side to a waiting Moller-Jensen lining up from 12 yards out. He fired a shot destined for the net, but Rhys Williams was there to stick out his right foot, block the ball, and keep the lead for Le Rouge.

Both clubs came up with a couple more tries to get on the scoreboard, but it was to no avail. Ryan Williams looked to score from a free kick in the 68^th minute, just as he had done two years prior in Houston against the defending champion Dynamo, but his attempt was blocked by the Bucks’ wall. A few minutes later in the 74^th, on the other end, Jack Roman received a pass and took a shot from the top of the box that was sent wide right.

In the end, Detroit City FC found themselves the narrow victors and advanced in their third straight meeting with the Bucks, having also done so in 2016 and 2018. Up next for Detroit City? A fifth straight year matching up with a side from Major League Soccer. 

“I would love to have an MLS club at Keyworth,” said head coach Danny Dichio. “I haven’t had that yet… It would be my dream.” 

If the draw were to play out in DCFC’s favor, it would be the first time hosting MLS since Minnesota United in 2023, the year before Dichio took the reins. (UPDATE: Detroit City FC will host Chicago Fire FC in Round 3)