The calendar may have flipped to June, but Detroit City FC has continued to look the same as they did in May. Le Rouge delivered a dreadful performance in Pittsburgh last weekend. The 2-0 loss doesn’t really tell how far off the pace City was. They failed to register a shot on goal and earned their only corner kick in the third minute of second half stoppage time.
As they sink further in the standings, teams like the Pittsburgh Riverhounds are pouncing. The Steel City side has now closed the gap between themselves and Detroit City in fifth place to just three points. At the end of April, DCFC could be found near the top of the USL Championship’s Eastern Conference. The gap to the top is now eight points and every other team has at least one game in hand on DCFC.
In his post-match comments posted on X (previously known as Twitter), coach Danny Dichio made reference to a heated team meeting in the locker room after the game. He also called out the team for having “too many passengers.” It’s clear that quite a few of the squad haven’t been up to the standard required since the end of April.
However, Dichio and Director of Football Trevor James put together this roster, calling it the deepest the team has ever had, a positive sign of greater investment. Results on the field are now wanting. There have been a number of player absences that have affected the overall performance. Captain Stephen Carroll and midfielder Ryan Williams did not make the trip to Pittsburgh. Midfielder Abdoulaye Diop signed a contract before the season but hasn’t been seen since. Their absences are sorely felt.
The team lacks pace and power in midfield. Teams are able to waltz through the pedestrian pairing of Jay Chapman and Dominic Gasso without breaking rhythm. One of them has to have a partner with the ability to cover a lot of ground as a ball winner. The wide players haven’t provided enough service for Darrin Smith, who still has a decent scoring rate. After Smith, however, there isn’t any secondary scoring threat.
DCFC used to be one of the league’s leading defenses. That has disappeared. Carlos Herrera whiffed on Pittsburgh’s second goal, leading to questions about the goalkeeper position, too. For the past seven weeks, nothing has been working. Next, DCFC will be playing against Loudon United, who are currently third in the Eastern Conference. That will be the last game on this extended road trip. The schedule for the rest of the season leans more towards home games at Keyworth. There is time to turn things around, but it won’t last forever.
Individual Errors Doom USA against Turkey
With one year before the start of the World Cup, the USA finally found a spot in the schedule to bring in some tough European opposition. US manager Mauricio Pochettino had planned to have his top players in for an extended period this summer to play Turkey and Switzerland and then make a run at the CONCACAF Gold Cup. However, the FIFA Club World Cup, injuries, personal problems, and fatigue have reduced his squad to little more than a B team with a few expected starters.
Facing UEFA Championship quarterfinalist Turkey is not a task to take on at less than full strength for a modest team like the USA. Still, the MLS dominated squad jumped out to a quick lead. Jack McGlynn, one of several Philadelphia Union academy products on the roster, took a pass from Malik Tillman, cut in from the right and ripped a dipping shot beyond the Turkish goalkeeper to give Pochettino’s men the perfect start. That took all of one minute.
That would be it for American offense. The US did work the ball well for the next twenty minutes or so without seriously threatening the opposing goal. Then, they worked the ball so poorly that they threatened their own goal. Johnny Cardoso, sought after by Atletico Madrid, dilly-dallied in front of his own goal and then slammed the ball off Arda Guler. Everybody watched the ball dribble past goalkeeper Matt Freese for the equalizer. Cardoso will have to live with that for a while, especially since Guler plays for Real Madrid.
Just two minutes later, the American defense engaged in some comical attempts to clear a loose ball. Miles Robinson failed on the final attempt before Kerem Aktürkoglu poked it by Freese. For the remainder of the first half the US flailed about, chasing the Turks without laying a glove on them. It was sad to watch.
Pochettino removed Cardoso and Robinson at halftime and brought on Toulouse defender Mark McKenzie and Bournemouth’s Tyler Adams. Both added some stability. The Turks rarely threatened after the break. The Americans missed a number of well-made chances. Left back Max Arfsten had two good looks when he got forward but couldn’t hit the target. Tillman, who had a great season with Dutch champions PSV Eindhoven, missed the best chance of all. Quinn Sullivan picked him out, unmarked in the middle of the goal with a lovely cross. Tillman looked certain to score but headed it straight into the goalkeeper’s arms.
The US has now lost three straight games in row. At least they have an immediate chance to change the momentum. The USA will meet Switzerland in Nashville this week in their final preparation game before the Gold Cup. The Americans will open the tournament on Sunday against Trinidad and Tobago. After exiting the Copa America at the group stage last year, the US and their new manager will be under heavy pressure to deliver a performance that gives the fan base some hope for next year.
