A Valiant Effort from Detroit City FC in the U.S. Open Cup Second Round
Detroit City FC battled valiantly against the USL side FC Cincinnati for 90 minutes to a 1-1 draw in the U.S. Open Cup…unfortunately, the cup match went an additional 30 minutes, and FC Cincy rallied to score three in extra time to defeat the NPSL club 4-1.
Play started early with Cincinnati holding a lot of pressure over the Hamtramck-based club culminating with Daniel Haber’s cross almost finding the head of Paddy Barrett in the 21st minute. As the ball bounced around in the box and almost squirted out, Barrett found the ball again and unleashed a shot that was deflected out for another corner.
Cincinnati threatened again in the 23rd when Emery Welshman took a shot toward’s Detroit’s net that was deflected, but landed in the box. Detroit’s keeper Nate Steinwascher beat the onrushing Cincinnati player to the ball and smothered it.
Detroit broke the deadlock in the 31st with a goal that not only wowed the stadium, but also electrified the internet. Haber’s pass was intercepted by Detroit’s Elliot Bentley deep in their half. Bentley then found Deakin, who paced down the field and found Bentley on the left side. Bentley played a one-time pass to Rafa Mentzingen, who played a short pass to a full springing Deakin. Then Deakin carried the ball into Cincinnati’s box before sending a low pass to Shawn Lawson, who was in the middle of the box. Lawson waited patiently as two Cincinnati defenders went by before slotting home a low shot into the right corner for the 1-0 lead.
The lead did not last long, however, as Cincinnati tied it up in the 34th. A long cross came into Cincy’s box from the right to Detroit’s back post. The 6’6” Forrest Lasso was waiting and flicked a header back across the mouth of the goal, and the Guyanese international Welshman jumped and headed home the equalizer to make it 1-1.
At half time, Cincinnati had outshot Detroit (8-2), taken less fouls (0-5), and taken more corners (7-2) than Le Rouge.
FCC picked up their first foul as soon as the official blew his whistle to start the second half as a defender mowed down the back of Lawson’s leg.
Cincinnati injected some life into their wings when they inserted former FC Buffalo winger Russell Cicerone in the 60th.
Detroit had a decent chance to put them up one in the 79th minute as Detroit received a foul about eight yards outside of the box, with Deakin and Omar Sinclair standing over the ball to take the free kick. Deakin quickly did and hooked it wide of the net.
Cincinnati got one last chance in regulation in the 90+2th minute as Cicerone fired a corner into the box, but it was dealt with by the Detroit defense.
Unfortunately for the NPSL side, dead legs kicked in as the players were exhausted, and it showed. Cincinnati scored in the 93rd when Welshman cut from the right side of the box, and found substitute Corben Bone, who steadied the ball and slammed it home to make it 2-1 in the 93rd. Six minutes later it was 3-1 as Cicerone made an angling run from the right wing and took a shot. The ball deflected off of the defense, and Welshman was there to half-volley it home.
Welshman would complete the hat trick in the 111th minute after being in the right place at the right time, and poking home a goal.
City head coach Ben Pirmann had nothing but admiration for his team.
“We played hard. We could have done a few things differently, but we played hard. Dead legs set in, and there isn’t much you can do there. But we took the best team in (the Eastern Conference of) the USL to extra time. Can’t really ask for much more.”
When asked about whether it might be seen as some silver lining as Detroit had played three games in eight days, Pirmann quickly shook his head.
“No. These guys want to win every game they come to play at. I want to win every came we line up and play.”
Detroit City FC is in action this weekend as they host 2. Bundesliga side FC St Pauli Saturday, May 19th at 6:00 pm. Gates open at 4:00 pm, and tickets are $20, but going quickly.
Contributor Fletcher Sharpe/NPSL.com
Photo Credit: Fletcher Sharpe/NPSL.com
