Rutz scores dramatic late winner as DCFC beats Colorado in season opener

Elvis Amoh and Connor Rutz scored as Detroit City FC won its United Soccer League Championship season opener, a 2-1 victory over Colorado Springs Switchback FC on Saturday night.

DCFC got the opening goal 11 minutes in, a pretty play with Maxi Rodriguez dribbling down the left wing nearly to the touch line, than feeding a pass back to Amoh in alone on the keeper just outside the goal area. He easily slid the ball past the keeper for the 1-0 lead.

Colorado leveled the match in the 47th minute, with a beautiful three-pass play off an indirect free kick ending with Matt Mahoney sliding into a crossing pass from Maalique Foster to beat Nate Steinwascher.

Le Rouge got a huge break in the 60th minute when Colorado's Koa Santos picked up his second yellow card with a bad tackle, forcing his side to play with 10 men for the duration.

It took until the 89th minute for Le Rouge to take advantage, when two Colorado players got a foot on but failed to clear a crossing pass in the goal mouth and Rutz came stumbling in and pushed the ball across the line from a seated position for the winner.

Steinwascher made perhaps the biggest save of the evening in the 74th minute, a point-blank stop on a header off a corner kick depriving Mahoney his brace.

DCFC's second match of the season and home opener will be at 4 p.m. next Saturday, March 23, against Loudoun United FC.