July 5, 2019: Grand Rapids FC

July 5, 2019
NPSL Regular Season match
Keyworth Stadium, Hamtramck, MI

Detroit City FC 1, Grand Rapids FC 1
GRFC Eric Conerty 34′
DCFC Shawn Lawson (Max Todd) 88′

Attendance: 6,807

Today was hot and humid, with a storm in the forecast.

Standing down at this end for the first half, I was surprised at how quiet the Grand Army was.  In the previous match against Toledo Villa FC, I stood here and a single Toledo fan brought a drum and chanted solo.  He was louder than these guys.  Still, we’re able to make friends with supporters from other teams.

The first half came to a close with Grand Rapids leading 1-0.  Here’s two interesting points about this game.  First, the goal scored by Eric Conerty of Grand Rapids FC in the 34th minute broke City’s 9 game shut-out streak, which lasted a total of 844 minutes.  But here’s the real interesting fact.  Through the 14-game NPSL regular season AND the two playoff games, the 54 minutes between Conerty’s goal and Shawn Lawson’s goal in the 88th minute were the only minutes Detroit City FC was behind in a match.  Think about that for a moment.

14 Regular Season games = 1,260 minutes.
1 Semi-final match = 90 minutes.
1 Final match = 120 minutes.

Total minutes = 1,470.
Total minutes City had the lead or the score was tied = 1,416
Total minutes City was behind = 54 minutes.
Freakin’ amazing.

 

At the 61:31 minute mark, (at 8:51 PM) the game had to be halted due to a passing storm.  At Keyworth, storms may stop the play, but the songs continue and the rainbows appear.

At 10:10 PM, the match resumed.  Here’s Shawn Lawson’s 88th minute goal, which concluded the only time in the 2019 NPSL season that someone had a lead against us.