July 23, 2022
USL Championship League Match
Keyworth Stadium, Hamtramck MI

Spirited Affair Spoiled By Late Equalizer

This evening saw City face New Mexico United for the first time. The franchise was granted in June, 2018 and played their first match on March 9, 2019 with 12,896 fans in their home field, Isotopes Park. They advanced to the playoffs in their first two seasons, but were eliminated in the first round in 2019 and in the second round in 2020.

This was the first home match since the Women’s Team’s final game in Indy on July 9th, making it time for awards. Shannon McCarthy was presented with both the Black Arrow Award for Most Valuable Player presented by the team, and Le Rouge Legacy Award presented by the Northern Guard Supporters to honor and recognize the player who has exemplified a dedication to the supporters of Detroit City FC and community.

Zach led us, and we marched to Keyworth.

NEW MEXICO UNITED
Starting XI

Alex Tambakis – GK
Will Seymore – D
Alexis Souahy – D
Kalen Ryden – D
Harry Swartz – M
Sam Hamilton – M
Justin Portillo – M
Josh Suggs – M
Jerome Kiesewetter – F
Christopher Wehan- F
Neco Brett – F

DETROIT CITY FC
Starting XI

Front Row, Left to Right
Deklan Wynne – M
Pato Botello Faz – F
Abdoulaye Diop – M
Antoine Hoppenot – F
Rhys Williams – D

Back Row, Left to Right
Maxi Rodriguez – M
Michael Bryant – M
Matt Lewis – D
Karl Ouimet – D
Connor Rutz – F
Nate Steinwascher – GK, Captain

Malik Badawi was the head referee. His first professional match as a head ref was in the NASL on July 1, 2017 between Jacksonville Armada and FC Edmonton, where he handed out five yellow cards in the 1-nil Jacksonville victory. He has since officiated in MLS, USL Championship, US Open Cup and NWSL. Not shy about showing cards, he handed out 8 of them tonight. His assistants were Amilcar Sicaju and Noah Matos.

In the 23rd minute, City had New Mexico and the fans on edge with the ball in the box. Kalen Ryden was caught blocking the ball with his hand, giving City a penalty kick. Maxi stepped up to the spot and gave City the lead in the 25th minute., sending the sold-out stadium into a boisterous cheer.

The lead lasted five minutes when New Mexico was awarded a free kick from about thirty yards from goal. Christopher Wehan delivered the perfect shot, sailing it over the wall and into the upper corner of goal, beyond Nate’s reach. A third of the match played and we were equal at a goal each.

The first yellow shown by Badawi was on Michael Bryant in the 35th minute. On a goal kick, keeper Alex Tambakis tapped it to Kalen Ryden. Ryden took off with it, up the middle of the field. Crossing the center stripe, Michael stepped into him, sending the New Mexico defender airborne.

In the second half, Maxi saw the next yellow card in the 56th minute after tackling Jerome Keisewetter inside the City half. In disputing the call Maxi tossed the ball (accidentally, I’m sure) with a bit of enthusiasm, which Badawi could not ignore.

In the 62nd minute, Pato recovered a loose ball in the center circle and tapped it to Connor Rutz. Connor saw Deklan Wynne breaking down the left channel and delivered a beautiful ball in front of the run. Deklan, all alone, made no mistake, sailing it past the New Mexico keeper, and we were up 2-1.

With City carrying the momentum, a yellow was shown to Kalen Ryden for taking out Antoine Hoppenot after delivering a pass in towards goal in the 66th minute. A minute later, New Mexico made two changes, bringing in Raddy Machel Ovouka and Devon Sandoval in for Harry Swartz and Jerome Kiesewetter, hoping to shake things up.

In the 72nd minute, Pato took a seat and Francis Atuahene took to the pitch. Within a minute, Neco Brett was taken down a step outside the box, setting up a dangerous free kick. Apparently Antoine Hoppenot voiced an opinion Badawi did not appreciate and was shown a yellow card. Abdoulaye Diop saw the next yellow card when he took out Sam Hamilton in the 78th minute. During that pause, Brad Dunwell came in for Antoine Hoppenot.

As New Mexico was trying to advance the ball up field, it struck the hand of Sam Hamilton in the 80th minute. The ref blew the whistle, and Will Seymore said something to him in passing. Whatever it was, Badawi didn’t want to hear it and showed Seymore a yellow card. In the 82nd minute, the play along the sideline inside the New Mexico end resulted in the ball going into the stands. New Mexico, ready to take a throw in, the ball returned from the stands and onto the pitch, where Brad Dunwell tossed it toward the referee in the field instead of to the sideline, drawing the ire and a yellow card from the ref. Another time-wasting yellow card was shown to Francis Atuahene in the 85th minute, giving New Mexico a chance to sub in Daniel Bruce for Josh Suggs.

As the clock ran down inside stoppage time, Justin Portillo possessed the ball about fifteen yards in front of the New Mexico bench. He sailed in a ball to the box that found the head of Devon Sandoval. He guided it toward an open (and perhaps offside) Neco Brett who had Nate and the goal all to himself, tying the match.

After the final whistle, Badawi wasn’t done, adding Nate Steinwascher in the book with a yellow card for dissent.

A difficult match, for certain, but City would have next Saturday off and not suit up again until August 6th, allowing time to heal the wound.

Maxi Rodriguez was the player of the match.

Detroit City FC 2, New Mexico United 2
DCFC: Maxi Rodriguez (PK) 25′
NMU: Christopher Whehan 30′
DCFC: Deklan Wynne (Connor Rutz) 62′
NMU: Neco Brett (Devon Sandoval) 90+2′

ATTENDANCE: 7,470

Possession: DCFC 43.6%, NMU 56.4%
Offsides: DCFC 0, NMU 2
Corners: DCFC 4, NMU 3
Passes: DCFC 322, NMU 422
Passing Accuracy: DCFC 67.4%, NMU 77.5%
Shots: DCFC 15, NMU 10
Shots on Target: DCFC 3, NMU 6
Blocked Shots: DCFC 7, NMU 1
Fouls: DCFC 17, NMU 17
Yellow Cards: DCFC 7 (Michael Bryant, Maxi Rodriguez, Antoine Hoppenot, Abdoulaye Diop, Brad Dunwell, Francis Atuahene, Nate Steinwascher). NMU 2 (Kalen Ryden, Will Seymore)
Red Cards: DCFC 0, NMU 0