June 4, 2022
USL Championship League Match
Highmark Stadium, Pittsburgh PA

NISA All Stars

This is our second match against Pittsburgh, the first ending in a 1-1 draw at Keyworth on March 26th.  Matt Lewis and Brad Dunwell are still out with injury, and on May 27th, Billy Forbes was called up to the Turks & Caicos National Team for the CONCACAF Nations League from June 3-14.

With 12 USL-Championship matches in the books, let’s take a moment and talk about “NISA All Stars.”

When the season began, three additions to City’s line up were Michael Bryant, Rhys Williams, and Devon Amoo-Mensah.  In 2021, they had played against us in NISA for Cal United Strikers, Stumptown AC, and Michigan Stars, respectively.  Adding them to the returning players from our NISA championships, some pundit dubbed City the “NISA All Stars.”  Probably meant as an insult, City supporters embraced it.

Just over a third of the season in the books, let’s see the impact of these three former NISA opponents have had on our amazing seven-win, three-draw, two-loss record.

Michael Bryant

Michael Bryant has played in 9 matches, in the starting line-up for 4 of them, and has logged 422 minutes.  Michael has scored 3 of our 21 goals.  He has been a solid utility player for City, working the wings, backline, midfield, and the occasional Northern Guard Supporter capo at the Women’s matches.  Prior to his three-year tenure at Cal United Strikers, the Portola Hills California native captained the NPSL’s Orange County FC from 2017-19.

Rhys Williams

Rhys Williams has played all twelve matches, starting eleven of them, and has accumulated 912 minutes.  Born in White Plains, New York, Rhys has tallied three assists for the rouge and gold and leads the team in tackles (44) and is second on the squad in scoring chances created with 17.  He played his college soccer at Columbia University, and during his last three years at Columbia he also played for the New York Red Bull U-23 team in the NPSL.  Prior to his season at Stumptown, Rhys played a season for New York Cosmos B (NPSL), Real Monarchs (USL), Lansing Ignite (USL League One), and South Georgia Tormenta (USL League One).

Devon Amoo-Mensah

Devon Amoo-Mensah was named to the NISA All-League First Team last season.  He has started and completed all twelve league matches as well as the three US Open Cup matches.  He’s currently the team leader in passes (647).  He also has an assist which came on Stephen Carroll’s goal in Atlanta.  The Naperville, Illinois native played his youth career in the Chicago Fire system.  After graduating from Lewis University, Devon played a season for Aimeboda/Linneryd, in the Swedish 2nd Division.  Returning to the States, Devon spent two years with the Michigan Stars before signing with City.

Yep.  We’re the NISA All Stars and have a 7-3-2 record and 24 points which is better than all but four teams in the USL Championship.

PITTSBURGH RIVERHOUNDS
Starting XI

Jahmali Waite – GK
Jelani Peters – D
Arturo Ordonez – D
Shane Wiedt – D
Nathan Dossantos – M
Kenardo Forbes – M
Daniel Griffin – M
Hugh Alexander Dixon – M
Russell Cicerone – F
Albert Dikwa – F
Luis Argudo – F

DETROIT CITY FC
Starting XI

Nate Steinwascher – GK
Karl Ouimette – D
Stephen Carroll – D/Captain
Devon Amoo-Mensah – D
Michael Bryant – D
Deklan Wynne – D
Maxi Rodriguez – M
Abdoulaye Diop – M
Francis Atuahene – F
Connor Rutz – F
Pato Botello Faz- F

The head referee was Luis Arroyo.  His assistants tonight were Noah Matos and James Duling.  We saw Arroyo officiate our victory in Hartford on April 23rd.

Pittsburgh had better control of this game than the match at Keyworth, In the 24th minute, Luis Argudo sent a through ball to Russell Cicerone who got in alone, but Nate got his body in front of Cicerone’s shot.  Six minutes later, with Pittsburgh passing the ball around outside the box, it ended on Argudo’s foot.  Argudo slotted the ball between City defenders into the box and Albert Dikwa slid in and tapped it past Nate for the goal.

Pittsburgh didn’t let up.  In the 33rd minute, Kenardo Forbes received the ball at the top of the box and blasted a shot that soared toward goal.  But Nate was well positioned and prevented it from hitting its target.  Then, as the half was winding down, Dixon on the right side of the box sent a ball through a City defender’s legs to Arguo who fired it high over the net.

In the second half, Pittsburgh kept knocking on the door, but Nate kept it barricaded.

Finally, City found the answer to Pittsburgh’s defense.  In the 70th minute, in the flow of play, Pato tapped the ball back to Michael Bryant who was on the right side of the field, just inside the center stripe.  Michael delivered a guided ball across the pitch and down the left side where Deklan Wynne corralled it.  With everyone running forward, Mackey Diop, who was a 66th minute substitution for Francis Atuahene (the only sub of the match) drew the attention of the three nearest defenders, Deklan sent the ball to the second line of attack, Maxi Rodriguez.  Maxi got his foot to it, and put it home to level the match.  It was Maxi’s 4th goal and Deklan’s 3rd assist on the season.

And just like the match in Keyworth, the teams would have to settle for the 1-1 draw.

STATS

Pittsburgh Riverhounds 1, Detroit City FC 1
PITT: Albert Dikwa (Luis Argudo) 30′
DCFC: Maxi Rodriguez (Deklan Wynne) 70′

ATTENDANCE:  4,273

Possession: PITT 54.5%, DCFC 45.5%
Offsides:  PITT 4, DCFC 1
Corners:  PITT 4, DCFC 4
Passes:  PITT 444, DCFC 375
Passing Accuracy: PITT 78.4%, DCFC 69.6%
Shots:  PITT 15, DCFC 10
Shots on Target: PITT 6, DCFC 2
Blocked Shots:  PITT 1, DCFC 1
Fouls: PITT 15, DCFC 11
Yellow Cards:  PITT 3 (Shane Wiedt, Daniel Griffin, Albert Dikwa), DCFC 0
Red Cards:  PITT 0, DCFC 0

KEEPER KIT RECORD (Both USL Championship and Open Cup)

Drawing like Harold’s purple crayon.

• Purple Kit:  3 draws
• Yellow Kit: 4 wins, 2 clean sheets
• Blue Kit: 5 wins, 1 draw, 3 loss, 2 clean sheets

IN OTHER USL CHAMPIONSHIP MATCHES TODAY:

Charleston Battery 3, Indy Eleven 4
Rio Grande Valley 0, Los Angeles Galaxy II 1
FC Tulsa 0, Miami FC 0
Memphis 901 FC 5, Atlanta United II 2
Orange County 1, New Mexico United 2
El Paso Locomotive 1, Hartford Athletic 1
Monterey Bay 0, Oakland Roots 2
Phoenix Rising FC 0, Birmingham Legion 1
Sacramento Republic 1, San Antonio FC 0