Detroit City FC played New York Cosmos B to a 1-1 draw in front of 6,297 City supporters at Keyworth Stadium on Saturday night.
The match pitted the top two teams in the NPSL Members Cup standings against one another, and they did not disappoint. Those who stuck through a weather delay that pushed back kickoff by 35 minutes were rewarded with an intense game between two evenly matched clubs battling for the league’s top spot.
It was another muggy late summer night, and it was clear that neither side was willing to risk a costly mistake in the early going.
Le Rouge played most of the first frame in their own half, choosing to pack tight and use their speed to get out on the counter attack. Between six corners and six free kicks in dangerous areas around the penalty area, Cosmos had no shortage of opportunities. Equal to the task, however, was goalkeeper Nate Steinwascher, who dazzled the crowd with several saves on his way to earning Man of the Match honors.
Steinwascher’s efforts kept things deadlocked going into halftime, and he certainly provided the highlights to that point. Through 45 minutes of play, there were 16 total fouls committed, and City had yet to register a shot.
Sure enough, that first shot came just two minutes into the second half, and it drew blood. Danny Deakin whipped in a corner that came bouncing through the Cosmos’ box, with none of the defenders able to get a touch on it. That’s when Stephen Carroll came rushing forward at the back post, heading home the chance to give City the 1-0 lead.
Detroit’s aggressive on-ball defense came back to bite them 10 minutes later, as Darwin Espinal connected perfectly on a free kick from inside the half-circle. The curling shot nestled into the top corner, out of the reach of a diving Steinwascher, who had no way of saving the wonder strike, 1-1.
And that’s where it would stay. DCFC did manage to turn the tide in the latter stages of the match, thanks to a red card issued to New York’s Isaac Acuña in the 71st minute. Despite the man advantage, though, Le Rouge couldn’t find the crucial breakthrough.
Saturday’s result sets up a return match with huge Members Cup implications. DCFC head to New York in three short weeks for a second meeting that very well could be the de facto title match.
The Boys in Rouge go again next Saturday, September 28, against Napa Valley 1839 FC (0-5-0). The visitors will come into Keyworth looking to avenge a 4-0 loss to City last month. Be here to help make sure they don’t. Tickets for the match are available online for only $12. Come and get yours now.
Detroit City FC Starting XI: #1 Nate Steinwascher, #2 Richard Bryan, #3 Ryan Peterson (#96 Marcello Borges, 57’), #5 Stephen Carroll, #10 Cyrus Saydee, #12 Tendai Jirira, #15 Jalen Crisler, #17 James Vaughan, #20 Yazeed Matthews, #22 Diego Casielles (#7 Roddy Green, 85’), #30 Danny Deakin
Goals: #5 Stephen Carroll – 47’; #20 Darwin Espinal – 56′
Yellow Cards: #5 Stephen Carroll – 40’; #17 James Vaughan – 54’
Red Cards: #71 Isaac Acuna – 71′
