DETROIT — Detroit City Football Club dominated the final group stage match of the USL Jägermeister Cup on Saturday evening, defeating USL League One side Westchester SC 3-0. A converted penalty by Ates Diouf gave DCFC the lead right before halftime, and second-half goals from Devon Amoo-Mensah and Matt Sheldon secured the victory for Detroit.
Head Coach Danny Dichio elected for one change to the starting XI that took the field last Friday night for a 0-0 draw against Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC. Rhys Williams replaced Alex Villanueva in the midfield, marking a return to the starting lineup for the first time since June 7th.
A mostly uneventful first half from an attacking standpoint would see the story of the half be the yellow cards. Between the two sides, six cards were shown throughout the first 45 minutes, with three cards shown on each side.
Rhys Williams was shown the first yellow card of the night in the 11th minute for a late tackle. Five minutes later, Westchester midfielder Noah Powder was shown the first yellow card of the night for the visitors.
Two separate late tackles five minutes apart would see both sides shown their second yellow cards of the night, as Westchester defender Juan Palma was shown the card in the 25th minute, and Ryan Williams was shown a yellow in the 29th minute.
An attacking opportunity for Detroit City was cut short in the second minute of first-half stoppage time, as they were fouled in the box, leading to a Detroit City penalty. Ates Diouf would step up and convert the penalty, giving Detroit City a 1-0 lead right before the half.
Even though the match was rapidly approaching the half-time break, yellow cards were still being handed out, as Shane Wiedt was shown a yellow in the fifth minute of stoppages, and Westchester’s Noah Powder was shown his second of the night in the seventh minute of stoppages. Detroit would play the second half with a man up.
Le Rouge would make two halftime changes coming out of the break, as Matt Sheldon and Sebastián Guenzatti entered the match for Shane Wiedt and Rhys Williams.
Diouf came close to his second of the night in the 53rd minute, as his shot from just outside the box forced the Westchester keeper to punch it over the bar.
The final yellow card for Westchester was shown to its goalkeeper, Andrew Hammersley, for time wasting in the 56th minute.
Third substitution of the night came in the 62nd minute, asJay Chapman departed for Abdoulaye Diop, who was making his 100th professional appearance for the club.
Detroit City would double its advantage in the 71st minute, as Devon Amoo-Mensah would head it into the top corner of the net off a brilliant corner kick.
Haruki Yamazaki was shown Detroit’s final yellow card in the 81st minute for a late tackle.
Diouf came close again in the 86th minute, as he went coast to coast to try and find a third for DCFC, but his shot went just wide of the far post.
Detroit’s final substitution came in the 88th minute, Ryan Williams made way for Bilal Obeid, who was making his debut for Detroit City.
An incredible pass from Sebastián Guenzatti found Matt Sheldon at the far post in the 89th minute, and he put it into the back of the net to give Detroit City a 3-0 lead.
Detroit City walked away with a dominating 3-0 victory, but due to the result in the Rhode Island FC-Hartford Athletic match, the Jägermeister Cup run has come to an end for Le Rouge.
Carlos Saldaña locked up his second straight clean sheet, marking his third of the season across all competitions and first in cup play.
Detroit City returns to action on Wednesday, August 6th, for a road battle against Rhode Island FC. Le Rouge will return to Keyworth Stadium on August 9th, facing off against Eastern Conference rival Indy Eleven. Tickets for all Detroit City matches are available at www.detcityfc.com/tickets.
For more information about Detroit City FC, visit detcityfc.com and follow @DetroitCityFC on X and Facebook and @detroitcityfootballclub on Instagram.
Detroit City Starting XI – Carlos Saldaña, Haruki Yamazaki, Shane Wiedt (46’), Devon Amoo-Mensah, Michael Bryant, Ryan Williams (88’), Jay Chapman (62’), Ates Diouf, Jeciel Cedeño, Rhys Williams (46’), Darren Smith
Detroit City Substitutes – Abdoulaye Diop (62’), Connor Rutz, Matt Sheldon (46’), Carlos Herrera, Sebastián Guenzatti (46’), Dominic Gasso, Bilal Obeid (88’), Jordan Adebayo-Smith
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Primary Media Contact: Jarrett Maki (Sports Information Director, jarrett.maki@detcityfc.com)
