Detroit City FC off to 5-0 start, routs Oakland Roots

Detroit City FC reversed the trend of its previous dramatic late victories this season, jumping out to a 3-0 lead and holding on to beat Oakland Roots SC, 3-1, in a United Soccer League Championship match Saturday at Hamtramck.

It was the fifth victory in five league matches for Le Rouge this season.

Ben Morris got DCFC on the board in the eighth minute, intercepting a pass near midfield, dribbling in on goal and beating a defender 1-on-1, then the keeper for a 1-0 lead.

DCFC doubled the lead in the 27th minute, after Bryan Tamacas took down a rushing Alex Villanueva for a foul in the penalty area. Maxi Rodriguez scored on the PK to make it 2-0.

Abdoulaye Diop might have had the best scoring chance of the half that didn't result in a goal, one-timing a blast to just under the crossbar that Oakland keeper Paul Blanchette went high to redirect over the bar.

Victor Bezzera made it 3-0 in the 51st minute, taking a give-and-go pass from Ben Morris on a run down the right sideline and right-footing a shot from the right of the box to the lower-left corner.

Bezzera narrowly missed his second of the match in the 56th minute when a low shot along the turf skidded just wide of the far upright.

Oakland got its goal in the 57th, when Justin Rasmussen buried a pass across the goal mouth from Daniel Gomez to make it 3-1.

Oakland's chances of cutting the lead further were diminished when Gagi Margvelashvili was shown a red card for a blatant takedown on a DCFC player in the 60th minute, forcing his side to play the final half-hour with 10 men.

Le Rouge will go for its sixth straight win in league play on the road next week against Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.