July 9, 2017: at Lansing United

July 9, 2017
NPSL Regular Season
East Lansing Soccer Complex, East Lansing, MI

Lansing United 1, Detroit City FC 2
LU James DeCosemo (Tumi Moshobane) 43′
DCFC Shawn Lawson (Bakie Goodman) 45′
DCFC Cyrus Saydee (Tyrone Mondi) 57′

Attendance: ?

A Sunday afternoon journey to East Lansing for the season’s final road match. Yeah. Here. Lansing United. Where we have played three times previously and only managed to take a single point. A win or a draw would clinch a playoff spot for us and eliminate Lansing United from playoff contention.

Wait a second. With a single point, we’d clinch a playoff spot. Something some thought impossible after the first three matches way back in May.

In the past, this match would be held at the DeMartin Stadium, home to Michigan State University’s soccer team. But today, the smaller confines of the East Lansing Soccer Complex would be our host. Perhaps the change in venue would shrug off the lack of success we’ve had in this town.

First blood was drawn by the home team in the waning moments of the first half. Tumi Moshobane floated a pass into the box to an open James DeCosemo in the 43rd minute.

Two minutes later the bandage was applied when Tyrone Mondi floated a ball into the box. Bakie Goodman, with back to the goal, received the ball, his first touch causing it to bounce high. Goodman turned and volleyed it across the face of the goal. Lansing keeper Jimmy Hague dove for it, but City’s Shawn Lawson slid in and tapped it in.

The half ended with the sides even.

It would have been easy for City to sit back and ride out the draw. But Cyrus Saydee was uncanny this afternoon, outmaneuvering most every opponent who challenged him.

In the 57th minute, Tyrone Mondi fed a ball through the Lansing defense. Jimmy Hague and Saydee ran toward it. Saydee touched it past the Lansing keeper, then deposited it into the open net.