Second-half comeback delivers Detroit City FC home-opening win

Abdoulaye Diop scored a signature screamer and Detroit City FC found another second-half winner to advance to 2-0-0 with a 2-1 win over Loudoun United in Saturday’s home opener at Keyworth Stadium.

Diop scored from outside range in the 56th minute — equalizing after giving up possession in the buildup to Loudoun’s goal earlier in the game — and midfielder Maxi Rodriguez took advantage of Loudoun’s failed clearance in the 71st minute to overcome a 1-0 halftime deficit as Elvis Amoh provided two assists for the home team.

“I know it’s a little bit cliche, but I’ve got big belief in this group and my job as a coach, along with the staff, is to help them with that belief. They’ve got some really good players on this group,” head coach Danny Dichio said.

“That’s no discredit to Loudoun, who I thought played really well today, but I just thought we had a little bit more quality. If we have guys believing in themselves, giving them that confidence, they can push on and get results here, especially at home.”

DCFC got a point-blank chance in the opening minute as Ali Coote worked his way past multiple defenders before blasting a shot on target from inside the area. The shot was saved but the rebound went right to Ben Morris, whose prime attempt was also saved in heroic fashion by a defender.

Ultimately, it was Loudoun who took the first-half lead. Diop passed to a teammate that was not there, leading to a Loudoun break the other way. Florian Valot, who intercepted the pass, got the ball to Wesley Leggett for a strike that beat a diving Nate Steinwascher for the 1-0 lead in the 14th minute. 

Still, DCFC ended the first half with a massive advantage in possession and ball movement, which continued into the second. Le Rouge finished with 57% possession, 11 shots — six on target — and 396 accurate passes. 

Diop made up for his mistake by scoring from about 25 yards out in the 56th minute after a pass from Amoh, who’s up to three goal contributions on the year. 

“Laye was kind of down at halftime. (I said), ‘Laye, it’s a clean slate. Forget about it.’ He was kind of looking at me and I said, ‘Laye, I’m telling you, it’s done. It’s finished.’ And he puts that one in from out the box,” Dichio said. “I’m so happy for Laye.”

Moments later, Loudoun’s keeper made a massive mistake by trying to clear the ball from his defensive third. His attempt deflected off a pressing Amoh and went right to Rodriguez, who scored one of the easiest goals of his career with a tap-in in the 71st.

“It’s all Elvis,” Rodriguez said. “We work on our press. I think the team kind of — we dictate where the team’s gonna be, and if we start pressing … Elvis does an unbelievable job to go around and continues his run to defend. A lot of the forwards, they don’t want to do that work, but Elvis starts that and creates an easy goal for me.”

Rhys Williams had a chance to seal the victory in the 79th minute when he two-touched a ball over the top before striking the ball with his left foot and sending it to the upper corner — saved. It was Williams again in the 81st minute hoping to add DCFC’s third when he was played through on the right side and attempted to chip one past the keeper unsuccessfully.

Amoh was dealt a yellow card in the ninth minute after he fouled a Loudoun defender high while going for a ball. Rodriguez was shown a yellow card in the 16th. DCFC received its third yellow when James Murphy was shown the card for dissent. 

DCFC takes its unbeaten record on the road for a showdown with Indy Eleven.

nbianchi@detroitnews.com

@nolanbianchi