April 20, 2019: Michigan State University

April 20, 2019
Pre-Season Friendly
The Corner Ballpark, Detroit, MI

Detroit City FC 1, Michigan State University 2
MSU Giuseppe Barone 15′
MSU Giuseppe Barone 19′
DCFC Tommy Buono (George Chomakov) 31′

Attendance: ?

Our first match of the year was a friendly in Chattanooga on April 6, 2019.  Yes, Chattanooga FC and the Chattahooligans are our best frenemies, and the trip was not only a tune-up for both teams, but to support CFC.  A few of their previous owners defected and teamed up with a Utah investor to bring a USL League 1 team into Chattanooga, known as the Red Wolves.  April 6th was the Red Wolves’ home opener.  The friendly with our southern brethren was to show support for Chattanooga FC.  I had made plans to make the drive, however a flu sidelined me earlier in the week.  I’m sure the warm weather would have helped, but I would need to have survived the 9+ hour drive, each-way.  Wisdom took over and I cancelled the hotel reservations.

Instead, I went to the watch party at our new Detroit City Fieldhouse and City Clubhouse.  Located at 3401 East Lafayette in Detroit, the Clubhouse is the bar/restaurant/gathering place elevated between two indoor soccer pitches at the Detroit City Fieldhouse.  The facility opened on October 27th, with an alumni game on the boarded field.

I’d highly recommend this as the go-to place when City are on the road, or for any reason at all.  Great atmosphere and food – minus the smoke.

Chattanooga FC won the friendly, 1-0, on a 52nd minute laser shot by Markus Smarzoch.

Two weeks later, Detroit City FC played a friendly against Michigan State University at The Corner Ballpark in Detroit.  It was chilly and, up until an hour before the match, rainy.

 

You know if you’re wearing Detroit Vipers’ merch, I’m taking a photo!

 

MSU keeper Hunter Morse prevents a goal.

Guiseppe Barone (10) scored in the 15th and 19th minutes to give MSU a 2-0 lead.

Tommy Buono cut the City deficit in half by scoring in the 31st minute.

   

After conceding the first two goals in the opening 20 minutes, City dominated the remainder of the first half and cut the deficit.  The game tightened in the second half.  Overall, it was a fun afternoon supporting Detroit City FC after the long nine months since last season’s final match.