Detroit City FC wins 4th straight to open year, but it comes at a cost

Hamtramck — Detroit City FC mustered a 1-0 win over North Carolina FC at Keyworth Stadium Saturday to make it four straight wins to open the season, but this victory came at a cost.

DCFC winger Rhys Williams was stretchered off in the second half after suffering a fractured cheekbone and striker Elvis Amoh was removed from the game with a non-contact injury that was presumed to be a groin by head coach Danny Dichio.

Dichio said he was “disappointed with today’s game” despite the fact it elevated Le Rouge to the top of the league standings (12 points).

“I thought it was not us at all,” Dichio said. “I have to give credit to the group, because they found a way to hang on. … The standards that we set for each other internally … we all agreed that wasn’t us today.”

DCFC carried a majority of possession (54%) but still at a lower clip than usual. Le Rouge registered just six shots total and one on target. The game itself was a hideous one. It featured 46 fouls and eight yellow cards in addition to the two major injuries. DCFC and North Carolina combined for two total shots on target.

“I just didn’t think we were in control of the ball like we should be. I think we rushed too many things. We gave too many fouls away, the referee didn’t allow any rhythm to the game,” Dichio said. “It was just an ugly, ugly game — a game that I didn’t enjoy watching. I don’t think the players enjoyed playing it.”

Detroit City took a lead in the 10th minute on a delightful individual effort by Williams, who is still looking for his first professional goal after the tally was registered as an own goal by North Carolina defender Nelson Blanco. 

Each of DCFC’s first three wins came by way of a 2-1 victory, meaning Saturday’s 1-0 victory was the first clean sheet of the year for DCFC keeper Nate Steinwascher. 

“He deserves it,” DCFC midfielder James Murphy said of his goalie. “He’s the reason for a couple of the results we’ve gotten early on. He’s a great shot stopper, a great communicator. We can rely on him to pass out of the back too, so, it’s a good feeling for the whole team when we know we’ve got that behind us. We’re grateful to have him here.”

Devon Amoo-Mensah remained in the game after a scary collision with North Carolina midfielder Rafael Mentzingen while going for a header, resulting in Mentzingen being shown a yellow card in the 25th. One minute later, DCFC midfielder Abdoulaye Diop was shown a yellow for a hard foul coming the other way. 

Steinwascher took a hard knock while going up to retrieve the ball off a corner kick. He remained in the game after being tended to by the training staff. 

Le Rouge added a quality chance near the end of half but couldn’t turn it into a goal. After winning a corner kick, James Murphy’s service sailed over the gathered group in the box and was met squarely by the foot of Brett Levis, who delivered a hard strike that went straight at North Carolina keeper Antonio Carrera. 

Amoh was played through by Diop on the counterattack, and while planting his foot to change direction, collapsed to the ground. He had to be helped off in the 57th minute and was replaced by Yazeed Matthews. Just three minutes later, Williams was run over in a stampede during a corner kick, and he had to be stretchered off the pitch and replaced by Ben Morris. 

North Carolina almost broke the clean sheet in the 75th minute, as Rodrigo Da Costa took a prime shot from just outside the box that beat Steinwascher but rang off the post to keep it a 1-0 game. The ball was played out of bounds by Detroit City, leading to a North Carolina corner, during which North Carolina defender Lamar Batista was issued a yellow card for fouling Murphy in the box.

Levis was handed a yellow card in the 77th minute and Amoo-Mensah got one in the 86th. 

The carnage resulted in 12 minutes of extra time in the second half, which DCFC had to weather as North Carolina held a majority of possession toward the end of the match.

nbianchi@detroitnews.com

@nolanbianchi