Detroit City FC (UWS) vs Midwest United FC

June 19, 2021
UWS 2021 Regular Season
Keyworth Stadium, Hamtramck, MI

Detroit City FC 2, Midwest United FC 3
MUFC:  Elle Otto (Stitch Currie) 22′
MUFC:  Elle Otto 54′
MUFC:  Elle Otto 55′
DCFC:  Christina Torres (Melanie Forbes) 71′
DCFC:  Kenna White (Rachel Philpotts) 74′

Attendance: 3,376

It was another multiple-match night for City, as the Women’s First Team hosted Midwest United FC at Keyworth, while the Men’s U-23 team traveled to Pontiac to play Inter Detroit.

City had played Midwest United twice in the abbreviated 2020 season.  The first was a friendly in Grand Rapids, which City lost 3-1.  The other was the UWS Stadium Showcase final which City lost by the same 3-1 margin.

The Northern Guard Supporter Prideraiser campaign continued, with the goals scored by City tonight going toward the pledged dollars.  Thus far, DCFC Men’s and Women’s First Teams have tallied four goals.  Tonight and the June 26th Men’s match against Chattanooga FC as the final two matches of the fundraiser.

In recognition of Juneteenth, Detroit City FC partnered with Head High Detroit, to commemorate the emancipation of African-American slaves with shirts the Women’s Team wore during the pre-match warm-ups.  The day before, Detroit City Football Club announced a partnership with the Metro Detroit Black Business Alliance, a business coalition across Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties, formed to address systemic and structural inequities that black businesses face. The partnership will see Detroit City FC collaborate on programming and initiatives to advance the Metro Detroit Black Business Alliance’s goals to help black businesses access capital, back-office support, and public policy advocacy. Metro Detroit Black Business Alliance members will also receive access to outings at Detroit City FC matches and participate in special events.

MIDWEST UNITED FC
Starting XI

Maia Perez – GK
Matea Diekema – D
Paige Eli – D
Bria Schrotenboer – D
Anna Bennett – M
Avery Lockwood – M
Grace Labadie – M
Maya Dean – M
Marti Corby – M
Stitch Currie – F
Elle Otto – F

DETROIT CITY FC
Starting XI

Gabby Shriver – GK
Alia Frederick – D
Ashley Zugay – D
Elisa Baeron – D
Grace Philpotts – D
Rachel Philpotts – M
Bri Rogers – M
Madison Duncan – M
Melanie Forbes – F
Mami Yamaguchi – F
Kenna White – F

The first half was a back-and-forth affair, with Midwest grabbing the lead in the 22nd minute.  Stitch Currie sent the ball up the field which Elle Otto ran onto.  Otto broke in alone and beat City keeper Gabby Shriver to break the deadlock.

City then created several chances, but Midwest keeper Maia Perez answered every question asked by City.

Ten minutes into the second half, Elle Otto dug City’s hole deeper.  In the 54th minute, Otto’s scuffed shot inside the box strayed past Shriver for her brace.  Otto completed her hat trick in the next minute as she managed to beat Shriver on another one-on-one.

Shriver came up big with two saves, as she dived and deflected a long shot away from goal in the 59th minute and parried away Hannah Crum’s slicing shot in the 65th minute.  These saves kept City in the match.

In the 71st minute, Melanie Forbes found Christina Torres behind the defense.  Torres fired it past Perez to put City on the board.

Three minutes later, Rachel Philpotts found Kenna White open and made no mistake in beating Perez.  Suddenly, City was down only a goal with sixteen minutes plus added time to equalize.

City went at Midwest, throwing everything at them that they could, including Gabby Shriver into the mix of a last second corner kick, but that third goal could not be found.

Player of the Match: Christina Torres.

The loss made City’s chances for a playoff spot slim.  But the performance of the team in the final twenty minutes generated enthusiasm and hope for a miracle over their final three matches: at Indiana Union, at Midwest United, and home to Lansing United.

The Men’s U-23 team defeated Inter Detroit by a score of 4-1 in Pontiac this evening.