March 24, 2024 – United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Detroit City FC News Release
Detroit City FC celebrates a goal against Loudoun United
(Detroit City FC)
DETROIT – On a chilly day at Keyworth Stadium, Maxi Rodriguez’s game-clinching goal in the 72nd minute helped Detroit City FC defeat Loudoun United FC 2-1 in Le Rouge’s 2024 Home Opener.
Danny Dichio wanted to make an excellent first impression in front of the Detroit faithful in his first match as Head Coach at Keyworth Stadium. Dichio’s starting XI would remain unchanged from the 2-1 win on the road to Switchbacks FC last weekend to start the season.
The game started chaotically for both sides. It only took two minutes for Le Rouge to have their first goal-scoring opportunity. Ali Coote took a shot from just inside the box, which Loudoun goalkeeper Hugo Fauroux deflected. The ball ended up with Ben Morris, who shot it just wide.
In the 14th minute, Loudoun’s front line applied pressure, causing Detroit to turn over the ball in their half. This gave Wesley Leggett an excellent opportunity to shoot on the net. He took advantage of this by sliding the ball past Steinwascher and into the bottom left corner, giving Loudoun a 1-0 lead.
Maxi Rodriguez tried to erase that deficit quickly with a great shot from the top of the box in the 18th minute, but it went just wide of the post.
A DCFC corner kick in the 23rd minute led to another great opportunity, as the kick ended up being headed by Michael Bryant, but that shot went just wide of the post.
A free kick from James Murphy in the 31st minute was shot right on target, but it was saved by Fauroux once again.
After four minutes of stoppage time, Detroit City went into the locker room down 1-0, but there was a lot to be optimistic about going into the second half. Le Rouge had 68% of the possession in the half and was finding ways to create chances; Detroit just couldn’t get the end result.
Going into the second half, it would be more of the same, as Detroit would control most of the possession and create more opportunities.
A turnover right around the midway line in the 54th minute led to Leggett getting a breakaway opportunity, but it was Steinwascher stepping up again and making a crucial save to keep the game at 1-0.
Two minutes later, Elvis Amoh received the ball off a turnover and crossed it to Abdoulaye Diop. Diop shot from 25 yards out, curling the ball past Fauroux, finally giving Detroit the equalizer they were searching for.
Dichio’s first change on the…