Detroit City Wire

Detroit City FC was defeated 1-0 by Rhode Island FC on Wednesday night in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. The match was decided by a penalty in the 60th minute after a handball was called against Detroit City's Rhys Williams. Former Detroit City player Maxi Rodriguez converted the spot kick for Rhode Island.

Detroit City head coach Danny Dichio made some changes to his lineup following a weekend off. Carlos Saldaña started as goalkeeper, with Haruki Yamazaki, Shane Wiedt, Devon Amoo-Mensah, and Michael Bryant forming the defensive line. Kobe Hernandez-Foster made his debut for Detroit City, joining Jay Chapman, Ates Diouf, Abdoulaye Diop, and Rhys Williams in midfield. Darren Smith led the attack.

Early in the match, Detroit City had several opportunities to score. In the 11th minute, Haruki Yamazaki missed a shot from the top of the box after a deflection from a Rhode Island defender. Later, Ates Diouf's free kick went just over the bar in the 23rd minute. Darren Smith also forced an impressive save from Rhode Island’s goalkeeper with a shot from outside the penalty area in the 36th minute.

Rhode Island increased their intensity as the first half progressed. Yamazaki received a yellow card for a late tackle in the 28th minute.

After halftime, both teams remained even with only one shot on target each. In the second half’s early moments, Marc Ybarra of Rhode Island was shown a yellow card for a late tackle before Detroit City mounted another attack that resulted in shots by Diouf and Smith but no goals.

The turning point came when Williams was judged to have handled the ball inside his own penalty area. Despite protests from Detroit players and substitutions on both sides, Rodriguez scored what would be the game’s only goal.

Detroit City made several substitutions throughout the second half as they searched for an equalizer: Connor Rutz and Alex Villanueva replaced Darren Smith and Yamazaki; Jeciel Cedeño entered for Diop; Matt Sheldon and Jordan Adebayo Smith came on late for Wiedt and Williams.

Yellow cards continued to be issued during stoppage time for fouls and time-wasting involving both teams.

With this result, Rhode Island secured its third home win of the season while Detroit City suffered its third loss in four USL Championship matches but remains sixth place in Eastern Conference standings.

Detroit City will play next at Keyworth Stadium against Indy Eleven on Saturday, August 9th. Tickets are available at www.detcityfc.com/tickets. More information about Detroit City FC can be found at detcityfc.com or through their social media channels: @DetroitCityFC on X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook and @detroitcityfootballclub on Instagram.

"Detroit City controlled the opening minutes of this match, as Haruki Yamazaki nearly scored an opener just 11 minutes in. Williams played a ball into the box, which deflected off a Rhode Island defender before finding Yamazaki at the top of the box, but his shot missed the near post."

"The first major moment of the second half occurred in the 50th minute when Rhode Island’s Marc Ybarra received a yellow card for a late tackle. Following that, Detroit City launched an attack, resulting in Ates Diouf taking a shot from just outside the box, which forced the keeper to deflect the ball away. It then found the head of Smith, who headed it over the bar."

"A questionable shot by Rhode Island in the attacking box grazed the arm of Rhys Williams, and the referee saw it as a clear hit, leading to him pointing to the spot and awarding the penalty to Rhode Island for a handball. After minutes of arguing and substitutions, former Detroit City player Maxi Rodriguez converted the penalty in the 60th minute, giving Rhode Island the 1-0 lead."