Detroit City FC and FC United of Manchester entertained 6,245 fans in the blazing heat at Keyworth Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The match, a celebration of community-based, supporter-built soccer, ended in a 3-3 draw.
Javi Bautista (Ashford), Jeff Adkins (Butler), and Alec Lasinski (Loyola Chicago) were the Detroit goal-scorers.
The first half saw a blistering back-and-forth pace and five goals scored. Bautista, in his return to the lineup, struck first in the 11th minute. Three minutes later, FC United’s Sam Madeley poked a bouncing ball past City goalkeeper Joe Smith to tie the game, 1-1.
In the 26th minute, Bautista rifled a shot on goal and Adkins was there to capitalize, giving Le Rouge the lead back.
Just before half, though, FCUM scored two goals in two minutes to take a 3-2 lead into the locker room. George Thomson’s first-time strike was of highlight reel quality. Dale Johnson calmly directed one into the bottom corner for The Reds’ third and final goal of the afternoon.
In the second half, supporters were treated to more of the same top-notch quality, albeit without the goals. Chances both ways and brilliant play all around delighted the 6,245 supporters in attendance.
City turned up the pressure late in search of an equalizing goal. Finally, in the 93rd minute, Lasinski leveled the score, 3-3.
Head coach Ben Pirmann was pleased after the match.
“Great result; a lot of entertainment I think the fans had a blast,” he said. “You can’t complain about anything today. Really good all the way around.”
Next up for Le Rouge is a pair of friendlies with FC Buffalo. Friday night’s match at Keyworth Stadium will kick off at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available here.
