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After a commanding win last weekend at Cass Tech, Detroit City FC prepares for their next matchup — this time on the road. Sunday, June 14, Le Rouge face the Minnesota United Reserves, with kickoff set for 1:00 p.m. at East Ridge High School. The first matchup between the two sides heavily favors DCFC. Minnesota is still looking for its first win of the season, currently holding a 0-1-2 record. While United sits at the bottom of the standings, DCFC reigns at the top.
 
With three wins under their belt and a league-high goal differential, of nine Le Rouge will look to build upon their recent success.
 
This past weekend, DCFC was in full control, taking down the Madison 56ers, 5-0. The star of the night was Will Mellors-Blair (Michigan), who put on a show with a pair of goals in the second half. The forward netted the brace past Madison goalkeeper Joe White for Le Rouge’s third and fourth tallies, earning him the M1 Imaging Man of the Match award. City goalkeeper Bret Mollon (Temple) earned the team’s first shutout of the year in front of 3,561 supporters, the biggest crowd Cass Tech has seen in 2015. Saturday, the team wore custom jerseys that were auctioned off to benefit Detroit PAL.
 
DCFC returns home Wednesday, June 17, when the boys meet the Columbus Crew College Program in a midweek friendly matchup. Get your tickets to see Le Rouge in action for the rest of the 2015 home schedule online here. 

 

Saturday evening at Cass Tech was all about winning. The team won; the supporters won; and youth soccer in Detroit won.

In front of 3,561 supporters, Detroit City FC cruised to a 5-0 victory over the Madison 56ers in a night dedicated to supporting Detroit PAL soccer programs. With this win, Le Rouge now leads the Midwest Region of the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) with a 3-1-1 record, leapfrogging Lansing United for the top spot.
 
For DCFC forward Will Mellors-Blair (Michigan), the matchup was one of his best. Just when it seemed like Madison had some momentum in the second half, Mellors-Blair fired back. In the 66th minute, with acres of space in front of him, the speedy forward broke away from the pack, needing to get past just one more defender before the goalkeeper. He slotted the ball beyond Madison goalkeeper Joe White for DCFC’s third goal of the night.

“It was me versus the last defender,” Mellors-Blair said. “And he tried to get his body in the way of the ball, but I managed to get around him and put it away for the goal.”

For the 56ers’ defense, they weren’t done with Mellors-Blair just yet.

Just seven minutes later, he was at it again, this time hurdling onto a through ball from David Edwardson (Heddon FC). Mellors-Blair sped onward and tucked away his second goal. He was substituted out of the game soon after, but his pair of goals, and his overall threatening presence in the attacking third, earned him the M1 Imaging Man of the Match award on Saturday.

At this point in the match, DCFC held a 4-0 lead over Madison, getting the first couple before the halftime break. In the 32nd minute Cyrus Saydee (Michigan State) collected a deep cross on the edge of the penalty area before dribbling forward. Saydee weaved in and out of the Madison defense and rocketed the ball inside the near post. His quick shot caught the goalkeeper off guard, and put Le Rouge on the board.

The second goal came eight minutes later, when James Murphy (Michigan) delivered a high cross from the left flank. Tyler Channell (Saginaw Valley State) rose above the goalkeeper to head the ball into the goal. The packed bleachers at Cass Tech never quieted down, and as the game came to a close, the DCFC faithful were given another reason to celebrate, when Matt Ybarra (Detroit) shot through a gap in the 56ers’ defense for his first-ever DCFC goal.

Le Rouge excelled on both sides of the ball. The offense, of course, was top-class. Five different goals from four different scorers paved the way for the landslide win, but the defense refused to let up as well, notching the first shutout of the 2015 campaign.

“We were very good overall for 90 minutes, but there were some lapses that we just have to make sure we do better defensively on,” said DCFC coach Ben Pirmann. “It was the first shutout of the season, and we’ve got to move from there and keep going forward. Our goal is to make playoffs, win playoffs, and win every game we play. We’ve got to take it one game at a time.”

The highlight in the defensive third arrived just after the start of the second half. Madison midfielder Andrew Whalen’s diving header came powering toward the frame, but City goalkeeper Bret Mollon (Temple) reacted to the close-range chance for the tremendous save.

Off the field, the unique occasion helped raise money for Detroit PAL, a non-profit organization that helps children build life skills through academic, athletic, and leadership activities. Le Rouge donned customized jerseys that were auctioned off during the game, and the proceeds went to Detroit PAL.

“It’s wonderful we can get these jerseys, have a good auction, and raise money for the organization,” Mellors-Blair said. “The crowd came out in the thousands again, and we can’t thank them enough for that. It’s really special here.”

DCFC travels to play the Minnesota United Reserves this weekend, and then returns home Wednesday, June 17 for a friendly matchup with the Columbus Crew College Program. Get your tickets for the rest of the home schedule here. 

6/6/15 DCFC LINEUP: Mollon, Channell (Isaevski 68’), Mellors-Blair (Allan 74’), Edwardson (Chomakov 80’), Watson, Saydee (Ybarra 77’), Murphy (Alashe 71’), Schewee, S. Harris, Rogers, Morris (Jull 77’). 

 

What Happened: In front of 3,561 supporters at Cass Tech on Saturday night, Detroit City FC handed the Madison 56ers their first loss of the NPSL season. The biggest crowd of the 2015 campaign received exactly what they wanted. A quintet of goals from four different scorers led Le Rouge past Madison, 5-0.
  
About a half hour into the match, the goal-less tie was finally broken. In the 32nd minute, James Murphy (Michigan) served a curler from the left side all the way across the 18-yard box, where Cyrus Saydee (Michigan State) collected and dribbled forward. Saydee slipped through the Madison defense and rocketed the ball inside the near post, leaving Madison goalkeeper Joe White with no chance.
 
Before the end of the half, DCFC tallied its second in the 40th minute. Murphy dished another cross from the left flank, and Tyler Channell (Saginaw Valley State) rose above the goalkeeper to head the ball into the goal.
 
Right after halftime, a big save from City goalkeeper Bret Mollon (Temple) kept the shutout in tact. Madison midfielder Andrew Whalen’s diving header came powering toward the frame, but Mollon reacted immediately for the tremendous save.
 
Madison came out firing in the second half, but City halted their momentum, notching the third goal of the night in the 66th minute. Will Mellors-Blair (Michigan) carried the ball down the pitch, battled with a Madison defender for an inside position, and slotted the ball home.
 
Mellors-Blair was at it again in the 73rd minute, racing onto a through ball from David Edwardson (Heddon FC). The forward sped through and finished for his second goal of the night.
 
As the match came to a close, Le Rouge kept pressing forward, and in the 90th minute, City recorded the fifth and final goal, as Matt Ybarra (Detroit) shot through a gap in the 56ers’ defense for the score. Ybarra’s tally was his first-ever for Le Rouge.
 
With this win, DCFC now sits atop the Midwest Region of the NPSL with a 3-1-1 record and a match in hand.
 
Flare from Mellors-Blair: Mellors-Blair’s pair of goals earned him the M1 Imaging Man of the Match award. He put his speed on display for both, breaking away from Madison’s defense each time. The star forward was substituted out soon after his second goal, and rightfully received a standing ovation from the Cass Tech crowd.
 
Dedicated to Detroit: Saturday night, DCFC wore specially designed jerseys to benefit Detroit PAL, a non-profit organization that helps children build life skills through academic, athletic, and leadership activities. The jerseys were auctioned throughout the night, and the proceeds will go to Detroit PAL’s youth soccer programs.
 
Looking Ahead: Detroit City FC takes to the road next weekend, traveling out to Minneapolis-Saint Paul area for a matchup against the Minnesota United Reserves. Le Rouge and United kick off at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 14. DCFC’s next home game is June 17 versus the Columbus Crew College program. Get your tickets here.

After persevering through two games in just three days, Detroit City FC is back to its usual schedule. This upcoming weekend only features one game for Le Rouge, but it’s important nonetheless. Saturday, June 6, DCFC hosts the Madison 56ers at Cass Tech, with kickoff set for 7:30 p.m.

The match will benefit Detroit PAL, a non-profit organization whose athletic programs help more than 11,000 Detroit children per year, to support youth soccer in the city. Players will wear specially designed jerseys that will be auctioned off after the match and sold at the stadium, with proceeds benefitting Detroit PAL’s soccer programs.

The current National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) standings have Madison and DCFC both tied for first place atop the Midwest Region, along with Lansing United. The 56ers may be tied with Detroit on paper, but by comparing past opponents, the Boys in Rouge should have the edge. In its first game of the season, Madison fought to a 2-2 draw with the Minnesota TwinStars, who DCFC dominated, 6-1, last Friday – a result that should give head coach Ben Pirmann reason to be confident heading into this matchup.
 
DCFC went one-and-one over the previous weekend. In a goal-filled frenzy at Cass Tech last Friday, DCFC sent the Minnesota TwinStars packing behind a 6-1 victory in front of 3,201 supporters. Four of the goals came in first half, all from different scorers. The M1 Imaging Man of the Match award went to Jeff Adkins (Butler) who tallied one goal and one assist on the night. The following contest was not as prosperous for Le Rouge, falling to Lansing United 3-1.

City’s next home game won’t arrive until June 17, so make sure to see the team in action at Cass Tech this Saturday night when it takes on Madison. Get your tickets for this matchup as well as the rest of the 2015 home schedule online at https://sportsengine-staging.go-vip.net/detcityfc/tickets.

Detroit City FC will take to the pitch in support of youth soccer in Detroit on Saturday, June 6 at 7:30 p.m. at Cass Tech High School.

The National Premier Soccer League regular-season match against the Madison 56ers will benefit Detroit PAL, a non-profit organization whose initiatives help more than 11,000 local children build character and life skills through athletic, academic and leadership programs each year.

One of the highlights of the night will be a silent auction of the specially designed commemorative jerseys Le Rouge will wear during the match to benefit the organization.

Blending its passions for soccer and the community, Detroit City FC has built a lasting connection with Detroit PAL through the years, helping to operate free soccer clinics and giving free season tickets to all Detroit PAL soccer players.

Admission to Saturday’s match is free for Detroit PAL players who wear their PAL jersey. 

After the match, each participating player’s jersey will be auctioned off to the highest bidder in a silent auction held at Cass Tech. Additionally, a limited number of jerseys will be sold at the official DCFC merchandise table on the stadium concourse. The funds earned in the auction and a portion of the proceeds of the jerseys sold at the match will go to support Detroit PAL soccer programs.

This season, Detroit City teamed up with Henry Ford Health System and Detroit PAL to create the Community Champs Program, which allows thousands of PAL soccer players to participate in clinics with City players and attend home matches for free.

Detroit City is proud to continue its support of Detroit PAL and its mission to better the lives of the community’s youth through its athletic programs.

For more information on Detroit PAL, visit: detroitpal.org.

Tickets for the June 6th match against the Madison 56ers are $10 online and at the gate. The most recent home match, held on May 29, drew over 3,200 supporters. A large crowd is once again expected, and it is recommended that tickets be bought in advance.

To order tickets, visit: https://sportsengine-staging.go-vip.net/detcityfc/tickets.

Detroit City FC took to the pitch twice this weekend. Once home and once away, Le Rouge recorded the biggest win of the year, an authoritative 6-1 triumph over the Minnesota TwinStars. Though on Sunday, Le Rouge struggled to capitalize against an in-state foe, Lansing United, falling 3-1.
 
Beginning action at Cass Tech in front of 3,210 supporters, Le Rouge came out firing, finding the back of the net four times in the first half. In just the sixth minute, Tyler Channell (Saginaw Valley State) finished a ball served across the box, his first goal for City. Latif Alashe (Michigan) put away the second goal of the night on a through ball from Zach Schewee (Bowling Green).
 
As the first half winded down, DCFC scored twice more. A creative, individual finish from William Mellors-Blair (Michigan) reached the bottom corner, and a volley from Jeff Adkins (Butler) went past the opposing goalkeeper to finish the half. Le Rouge went to the locker room with an emphatic 4-0 lead.
 
City didn’t slow down in the second half, when Adkins, the M1 Imaging Man of the Match, found James Murphy (Michigan) right at the goal line. Murphy tapped the pass in for the easy finish in the 54th minute.
 
In the 82nd minute, the TwinStars ended a potential shutout, but Le Rouge responded immediately. Murphy found Will Mellors-Blair inside the 18-yard box, where Mellors-Blair finished his second goal of the night.
 
Less than 48 hours later, Le Rouge were handed their first loss of the NPSL season falling to Lansing, 3-1, at Michigan State University’s DeMartin Stadium. City’s David Edwardson (Heddon F.C., England) netted Detroit’s lone goal – his first career goal – in the 44th minute, a strike from 20 yards out that flew past goalkeeper Quinn McAnaney and into the top corner of the United goal.
 
Lansing had an early goal, and polished off two more in the second half to break the tie and rally for the win.
 
Despite the loss, scoring seven goals in just two games is the sign of a potent offense and is certainly a positive takeaway from this weekend.
 
Le Rouge now holds a 2-1-1 NPSL record and return home Saturday, June 6, hosting the Madison 56ers. The 56ers will battle with DCFC under the floodlights at Cass Tech, with kickoff set for 7:30 p.m. Get your tickets to the match at https://sportsengine-staging.go-vip.net/detcityfc/tickets.

Detroit City FC recorded its first loss of the season on Sunday afternoon, falling to Lansing United, 3-1, at Michigan State University’s DeMartin Stadium. 

City’s David Edwardson (Heddon F.C., England) netted Detroit’s lone goal – his first career goal – in the 44th minute, a strike from 20 yards out that flew past goalkeeper Quinn McAnaney and into the top corner of the United goal.

The afternoon result comes less than 48 hours after Detroit’s 6-1 victory over Minnesota TwinStars.

After a slow start for Detroit in the first half, Lansing’s Stephen Owusu took advantage and opened the scoring in the 13th minute.

United maintained most of the possession and created most of the chances between the in-state clubs for the rest of the half, but Edwardson’s rocket of a strike ensured City would head into the locker rooms level at 1-1.

Even though City came out in the second half looking more composed on both sides of the ball, Lansing took advantage of its chances, with Jason Stacy scoring in the 64th minute and Matt Rickard following in the 79th minute to seal a 3-1 win for the home team. 

Le Rouge wasn’t without chances in the second half, though. 

In the 57th minute, James Murphy (Michigan) possessed the ball inside United’s 18-yard box, cut it back, and let a shot go that forced McAnaney to make a diving save. 

Twelve minutes later, Will Mellors-Blair (Michigan) had a great chance for Le Rouge after carrying the ball up field and into United’s box, but he was taken down before he could get a shot off. 

The Boys in Rouge will look to bounce back from Sunday’s result next Saturday, June 6, at Cass Tech when they host Madison 56ers at 7:30 p.m. Get your tickets to the match at https://sportsengine-staging.go-vip.net/detcityfc/tickets. 

What Happened: Detroit City FC beat the Minnesota TwinStars 6-1 behind four first-half goals on Friday night. In front of 3,210 supporters, Le Rouge kept its unbeaten NPSL record in tact, as it now stands at 2-0-1 in league play.

DCFC scored early and often, receiving four goals from four different goal scorers. Tyler Channell (Saginaw Valley State) got the scoring started in the sixth minute off a nice feed from Cyrus Saydee (Michigan State) from across the box. The opening goal was Channell’s first for City.

Latif Alashe (Michigan) would net City’s second goal, coming in the 29th minute, thanks to a well-placed volley coming off a through ball from Zach Schewee (Bowling Green).

In the winding moments of the first half, Detroit City FC would tack on two more goals in stoppage time. William Mellors-Blair (Michigan) pieced together a creative individual play in which he split the TwinStars defense before ripping a shot into the bottom corner. 

And the final play of the half consisted of a perfect ball from Kevin Taylor (Michigan/Minnesota Thunder) that landed on the foot of Jeff Adkins (Butler), who volleyed a shot past the opposing goalkeeper. Le Rouge would head to the locker room with a commanding 4-0 lead.

Even with a fiery attack in the first half, the halftime break did little to cool off the pace of Le Rouge’s play in the final third for the remainder of the match. 

Jeff Adkins, the M1 Imaging Center Man of the Match, would get on the assisting end of the scoresheet in the 54th minute when he played a ball to James Murphy (Michigan) on the goal line where he tapped the ball into the back of the net. The goal marks Murphy’s first career goal in a DCFC uniform. 

Until the 82nd minute, the 5-0 score line looked to be permanently etched into the scoreboard. But Minnesota finally broke through when Brian Chapman ripped a shot from inside the penalty area to get his team off the snide. 

Just one minute later, though, DCFC would add another goal to its evening total. Murphy found Will Mellors-Blair inside the 18-yard box, where Mellors-Blair finished his second goal of the night.

For much of the evening, City won the possession battle outright. The home side was extremely efficient in the offensive third, scoring six goals off 11 shots on target. 

The win also marks the first career victory for Detroit City FC goalkeeper Alexandre Bouillennec (Saginaw Valley State).  

Looking Ahead: Le Rouge will travel to Lansing United on Sunday, May 31, for a match that’s set to kickoff at 2:00 p.m. at DeMartin Stadium.

Detroit City FC returns home this weekend with two matches in just three days. The Minnesota Twinstars come to town Friday, May 29, with kickoff at Cass Tech set for 7:30 p.m. Less than 48 hours after Friday’s matchup, Detroit City (1-0-1) will hit the road on Sunday, May 31, going head-to-head with Lansing United (1-0-1). Sunday’s kickoff in East Lansing is set for 2:00 p.m.
 
Under the lights Friday night, greeted by thousands of DCFC faithful, Minnesota (0-0-1) will experience for the first time the exhilarating and daunting fortress nestled in downtown Detroit. Le Rouge will look to take advantage of the raucous home atmosphere in order to remain atop the Midwest standings. As the oldest team in the Midwest Region, founded in 2005, the Twinstars have seen much success around the league. Coached by Alex Bunbury, whose son Teal plays for the New England Revolution of Major League Soccer (MLS), Minnesota is sure to be in good hands. While the Twinstars have years of experience and a worthy resume, there is one category in which they are lacking: They have never played at Cass Tech.
 
Sunday’s match at Michigan State University’s DeMartin Stadium in East Lansing is a much shorter trip than last weekend. City will look to avenge its 2-2 draw against Lansing on July 13, 2014 that saw Le Rouge miss the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) postseason in its final match of the season. Prior to that result, City defeated Lansing, 1-0, in the clubs’ first-ever meeting on May 23, 2014.
 
Le Rouge earned a point on the road this past weekend, tying FC Buffalo (1-0-1), 1-1, on Saturday, as a handball in the Wolves’ 18-yard box gave DCFC a penalty kick in the 78th minute. Down by one goal, captain Josh Rogers (Michigan State) stepped up and slotted the ball home to even the score.
 
Be sure not to miss the Twinstars’ first-ever appearance at Cass Tech, and get your tickets for Friday’s game as well as tickets for the rest of the 2015 home schedule online at https://sportsengine-staging.go-vip.net/detcityfc/tickets.

If two matches are any indication, it’s safe to say Detroit City FC isn’t afraid of drama.

After Seb Harris’ (Oakland) 88th-minute header sealed the victory for Detroit City in its 3-2 win over AFC Cleveland last weekend, Le Rouge (1-0-1) returned to action Saturday night in Buffalo in what was a hard-fought and exciting 1-1 draw against Rust Belt Derby rival FC Buffalo (1-0-1).  

This time, it was captain Josh Rogers‘ (Michigan State) turn to provide the late-match dramatics. After Buffalo’s Dylan McVane opened the scoring in the 62nd minute to put Buffalo ahead, 1-0, just 14 minutes later a handball was called against Buffalo in its own box. Rogers stepped up and calmly placed the penalty kick down the middle of the goal to equalize at 1-1. 

With the score still even at 1-1 at the end of regulation time, Le Rouge’s offensive corps proved resilient, as it continued to press in search of the game-winner.

Deep into stoppage time, Tyler Channell (Saginaw Valley State) saw his shot at the near post saved by an outstretched Andrew Coughlin. Channell’s Saginaw Valley State teammate, Alex Isaevski, was there to pounce on the rebound attempt, beat a Buffalo defender and spin to beat Coughlin. Just as the ball looked to be going in, Buffalo’s Bobby Ross swept in to clear it near the goal line. 

At outside back, Isaevski showcased his versatility throughout his 90 minutes on the pitch, involving himself in several attacking plays down the flanks for City and taking the majority of City’s eight corner kicks, while also tracking back to aid on Buffalo’s dangerous counter-attacks. 

Rogers’ lone goal for City and his key defensive plays to thwart Buffalo’s attack earned him M1 Imaging Man of the Match honors.

With the 1-1 draw, City still sits atop the National Premier Soccer League Midwest Region with 4 points, tied with FC Buffalo and AFC Cleveland. The match concludes Rust Belt Derby play for Le Rouge, who sit in first place in the standings with four points. 

City returns home to Cass Tech this Friday, May 29, to kick-off a big weekend, as the team hosts the Minnesota TwinStars for the first time ever on Friday at 7:30 p.m., then travels to East Lansing on Sunday to meet Lansing United at 2 p.m.

Be sure to get your tickets for Friday’s home match at https://sportsengine-staging.go-vip.net/detcityfc/tickets while you still can.