DETROIT — In Detroit City Football Club’s tenth international friendly in club history, the team fell to Liga MX side Santos Laguna 1-0. A goal off a deflection in the 42nd minute proved to be the difference in this one.
Given this was a friendly, head coach Danny Dichio made some adjustments to the usual starting XI. Tatenda Mkuruva got the start in the net for Le Rouge. Jonas Engler, Dominic Gasso, Michael Bryant, and Rhys Williams were the back line to start. Marcello Polisi, Jay Chapman, and Abdoulaye Diop were in the midfield. Haruki Yamazaki, Ates Diouf, and Sebastián Guenzatti made up the attacking three.
A defensive battle has broken out in the midfield for the first 30 minutes of this match, as both sides are trading possession, trying to build up an attack. Both sides played long balls into each other’s boxes, but neither side was able to create any goal-scoring opportunities.
The first substitution for Le Rouge came in the 32nd minute as Shane Wiedt entered the match for Michael Bryant.
Santos had a counter-attacking opportunity in the 40th minute, as they outmanned the Detroit backline. A cross across the six-yard box saw Santos have a certain goal, but Tatenda Mkuruva made an incredible diving save.
The visitors would take the lead two minutes later, as a shot would deflect off a diving Mkuruva and into the back of the net, giving Santos a lead right before the half.
Coming out of the half, Ates Diouf, Abdoulaye Diop, Jay Chapman, and Tatenda Mkuruva were subbed off for Jeciel Cedeño, Matt Sheldon, Jack Streberger, and Carlos Saldaña.
Sebastián Guenzatti took a shot from just inside the box in the 51st minute, and it curved to hit the far post. Up to this point, this was Detroit’s best opportunity of the evening.
A quadruple substitution for Le Rouge occurred in the 63rd minute, as Devon Amoo-Mensah, Alex Villanueva, Peyton Trask, and Keller Storlie entered the match for Rhys Williams, Shane Wiedt, Dominic Gasso, and Jonas Engler.
The final three changes of the night came in the 70th minute as Brad Dunwell, Lucas Yessayan, and Cade Priestap entered the match for Marcello Polisi, Sebastián Guenzatti, and Haruki Yamazaki.
Detroit would come close to an equalizer in the 89th minute as another shot from the top of the box would test the Santos keeper, but it wouldn’t find the back of the net.
With Detroit City falling 1-0 in this matchup, Detroit City falls to 2-0-3 against Liga MX sides, and 4-1-5 in all international friendlies.
Detroit heads out on the road this weekend for a USL Jägermeister Cup match at Hartford Athletic. Detroit City returns to Keyworth on July 12 to face Hartford Athletic at 7 pm. 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 –Tatenda Mkuruva, Jonas Engler, Dominic Gasso, Michael Bryant, Rhys Williams, Marcello Polisi, Jay Chapman, Haruki Yamazaki, Abdoulaye Diop, Ates Diouf, Sebastián Guenzatti
Detroit City Substitutes – Alex Villanueva, Shane Wiedt, Jeciel Cedeño, Connor Rutz, Matt Sheldon, Keller Storlie, Jack Streberger, Lucas Yessayan, Cade Priestap, Peyton Trask, Brad Dunwell, Carlos Saldaña
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Primary Media Contact: Jarrett Maki (Sports Information Director, jarrett.maki@detcityfc.com)
