Detroit City FC defeated Michigan Stars FC, 3-1, on Friday night in front of 4,391 at Keyworth Stadium to not only extend its win-streak to eight league matches, but also move into first place in the Great Lakes Division.
After giving up a 2-0 lead to tie the Stars in the first meeting between the two clubs this year, City came out with a vengeance on a rainy evening to make sure it securde all three points as the playoff race picks up.
Le Rouge’s Tyrone Mondi kicked off the scoring in the 7th minute to take an early 1-0 lead. Mondi collected a long pass from Luke Hauswirth and proceeded to chip the keeper. Roddy Green capitalized next for City in the 27th minute off a perfect assist from Cyrus Saydee. City took the 2-0 lead into the break.
In the 57th minute, Saydee added a goal of his own to put City up 3-0. Bakie Goodman fed the ball off an interception to the veteran, who took it all by himself and scored far post. The Stars’ Alex Ofiemu was able to get one back in the 90th minute, resulting in a 3-1 final.
Hauswirth earned Man of the Match for his first City point, controlling the midfield and playing a complete game.
The win advances City’s record to 8-2-1 (W-T-L) with 26 points in the league. They now sit ahead of AFC Ann Arbor (8-1-1, 25 points) and Lansing United (6-0-3, 18 points).
City came out firing to start the match. In the 7th minute, Mondi opened the scoring and netted his second goal of the year when he chipped Star’s goalie Anthony Mwembia off a nice assist from Hauswirth.
DCFC kept creating chances afterwards, keeping the ball out of harm’s way. City keeper Fernando Pina, making his second start after a clean sheet on Tuesday, didn’t get his first touch until the 15th minute.
Mondi had a golden opportunity for his second of the night in the 18th minute on a breakaway chance, but he lost his footing right before he could take a shot. City kept coming with chances from Lawson, Green and Goodman, who forced a diving stop from Mwembia in the 24th minute.
In the 27th minute, Green put City on top 2-0 off a cheeky assist from Saydee as he made his run into the box. The veteran did what he does best, and made sure Green’s job was easy as he coolly tapped it in.
Hauswirth, Goodman, Saydee and Troy Watson controlled the midfield the rest of the half. The defense was working hard, too, with Kervin Kenton making several good touches to move the ball up the sideline. Stephen Carroll and Zach Bock kept things calm and stable on the back line as well to keep City ahead, 2-0, at the half.
The second half opened with the Stars showing some urgency. They managed to take over possession and create some opportunities, but City snuffed them out. In the 48th minute, Stars defender Robie Cort received a yellow card for a blatant tackle on Mondi.
Saydee wasn’t satisfied being up only two in the 57th minute. A turnover and a lead pass from Goodman sent Saydee flying towards goal on his own. His patience led to a perfect strike to beat out the Stars backup goalie, Pearce Skinner, at the far post.
Second half help came from Tyler Moorman (‘61 for Mondi), Dave Edwardson (‘64 for Green), Elijah Rice (‘67 for Lawson), Jeff Adkins (‘72 for Saydee), Owain Hoskins (‘78 for Kenton) and Mauricio Castorino (‘84 for Goodman). Second half yellow cards went to Hoskins (‘79) and Watson (‘90).
Man of the Match Hauswirth had an impressive steal in the 62nd minute, which led to two shots of his own, but he was unable to add to the City lead. The game calmed down after the 70th minute, but took a hectic turn in extra time.
Adkins and Rice connected for what they believed to be a goal, but it was whistled offside. Then in the dying seconds, the Stars put their first goal on the board off a strike from Ofiemu.
But it didn’t matter in the end, and City took a 3-1 win to the final whistle.
Detroit now has a well-deserved break and a week of training before taking on Ann Arbor in a match with serious playoff implications next Friday at 7:30 p.m. at Keyworth Stadium. Get your tickets for the match here.
Detroit Starting XI: 0 Fernando Pina (GK), 5 Stephen Carroll, 9 Shawn Lawson, 10 Cyrus Saydee (Capt.), 11 Troy Watson, 12 Luke Hauswirth, 13 Bakie Goodman, 14 Zach Bock, 19 Roddy Green, 44 Kervin Kenton, 97 Tyrone Mondi
Stars Starting XI: 1 Anthony Mwembia (GK), 2 Allen Shaw, 3 Nyal Higgins, 4 Wilfred Williams, 5 Michael Wetunga, 7 Michael Pimlott, 8 Gael Kisombe Samuna, 10 Naeem Charles, 17 Michael Beckett, 18 Taylor Fletcher, 21 Andrew Dalou
