Detroit City Football Club achieved a 1-0 win over Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC in the USL Jägermeister Cup, courtesy of a last-minute goal by forward Darren Smith. The victory marks Detroit City’s first three points in the group stage.
Coach Danny Dichio made a single alteration to his lineup from their prior 3-0 win against Rhode Island FC, with Alex Villanueva replacing Shane Wiedt. The match saw minimal goal opportunities, as it was characterized by a defensive struggle. Pittsburgh managed the sole shot on target during the break.
Both teams exchanged yellow cards, with Ryan Williams receiving the first in the ninth minute. Attempts by Detroit came close, such as efforts by Alex Villanueva and Devon Amoo-Mensah, but found no success in reaching the net. Pittsburgh too accumulated yellows, with Aidan O’Toole and Sean Suber carded by the 33rd minute.
Goalkeeper Carlos Saldaña made a crucial save in the 37th minute from a close-range shot. The match’s second half maintained the same midfield struggles as the first.
Detroit made strategic substitutions with Ben Morris and Haruki Yamazaki entering the field. Morris nearly scored in the 74th minute, narrowly missing the crossbar. Smith came close in the 89th minute, as well.
Smith’s decisive score occurred in stoppage time following a pass from Morris. Detroit resisted Pittsburgh’s final attempts to score, securing Carlos Saldaña’s second clean sheet of the season. This victory places Detroit City second in their group based on goal differential, trailing Hartford Athletic.
Detroit City will play away for the next three weekends. They return to Keyworth Stadium against Charleston Battery on May 24th. Tickets are available on their official website. For updates, fans can visit detcityfc.com or follow their social media handles.
