Birmingham, AL — Detroit City Football Club concludes its four-match road trip with a third consecutive league draw, as this match finishes 1-1 against Birmingham Legion FC. Alex Villanueva opened the scoring in the 47th minute, but a Birmingham goal from a corner kick in the 81st minute equalized the match, resulting in each side earning a point.
Head Coach Danny Dichio made two changes to the starting XI that took the field in Hartford last Saturday night. Connor Rutz and Jay Chapman replaced Sebastián Guenzatti and Ryan Williams in the starting lineup. Neither Guenzatti nor Williams was in the squad on Sunday.
Both sides started slowly, with Birmingham holding a slight advantage in possession over the first fifteen minutes. However, neither side could create anything in the attacking third. Birmingham would get an opportunity off a turnover in the 21st minute, and Carlos Herrera would make an incredible save off a shot from up close inside the box.
Detroit City would grow into the match throughout the first half and have a few opportunities before the halftime whistle blew. Devon Amoo-Mensah would come close in the 43rd minute, as his shot to the far post would miss by just inches.
In the second half, Detroit shuffled the pieces as Jeciel Cedeño entered the match for Connor Rutz to start the half. Rutz made his 151st appearance for Le Rouge this afternoon, tying club legend Nate Steinwascher for the 2nd most all-time.
Detroit put on instant tempo to start the second half, and it paid off in the 47th minute, as a moment of brilliance from Alex Villanueva saw him dance into the box and take a shot from just inside the box. It would find the near corner of the net, giving Le Rouge the 1-0 advantage.
For Villanueva, it is his first goal of the season.
Birmingham came back almost immediately, as two minutes after the goal, they had a fast break opportunity that forced Carlos Herrera off his line to make another great save, diving in front of the ball and ensuring the attack went no further.
Detroit would make another change in the 65th minute, as Ates Diouf entered the match for Darren Smith.
Birmingham would pick up two separate yellow cards within two minutes, as Edwin Laszo picked up a yellow card for a late tackle in the 67th minute, and Enzo Martinez picked up another yellow card in the 69th minute.
Le Rouge would make a double substitution in the 74th minute, with Haruki Yamazaki entering for Ben Morris and Marcello Polisi entering the match for Dominic Gasso.
Jay Chapman would pick up a yellow card for a late tackle in the midfield in the 76th minute.
Off a corner kick in the 81st minute, Birmingham would get the ball into the mixer, and off a second chance, Phanuel Kavita would put it back into the net, leveling the match at 1-1.
In an attempt to find a winner, Detroit made one final change in the 87th minute as Matt Sheldon entered the match for Alex Villanueva.
Neither side could find a winner in the five minutes of stoppage time, as the points would be shared on this Sunday evening, as this match ended as a 1-1 draw. Detroit City sees its four-match road trip end in a third draw. The only non-draw on this trip came in a 4-0 loss to the Chicago Fire in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup,
Le Rouge returns to Keyworth Stadium this Saturday, May 24th, to take on Charleston Battery. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. Tickets for all Detroit City matches are available at www.detcityfc.com/tickets.
For more information about Detroit City FC, visit detcityfc.com and follow @DetroitCityFC on X and Facebook and @detroitcityfootballclub on Instagram.
Detroit City Starting XI – Carlos Herrera, Alex Villanueva (87’), Shane Wiedt, Devon Amoo-Mensah, Michael Bryant, Dominic Gasso (74’), Jay Chapman, Ben Morris (74’), Connor Rutz (46’), Rhys Williams, Darren Smith (65’)
Detroit City Substitutes – Jeciel Cedeño (46’), Matt Sheldon (87’), Haruki Yamazaki (74’), Ates Diouf (65’), Marcello Polisi (74’), Carlos Saldaña, Jordan Adebayo-Smith
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Primary Media Contact: Jarrett Maki (Sports Information Director, jarrett.maki@detcityfc.com)
