While last Saturday’s comfortable 3-0 win over Westchester will give Detroit City a much-needed boost of confidence heading into the final stretch of the season, it didn’t help their league position and failed to advance them in the Jagermeister League Cup. Le Rouge went into the final group match of the League Cup needing a miraculous run of results around the competition to squeak through as a wild card.
DCFC did their job in this game, but any realistic chances of advancement had been scuttled due to their humiliating 4-2 loss to Portland Hearts of Pine at the end of May. The Westchester game did serve its purpose as a confidence booster. The team scored three goals, conceded none, and showed great team spirit throughout.
Viewers tuning in on ESPN2 will have seen a nearly 7,000 strong crowd enthusiastically packing Keyworth Stadium for the second week in a row. Back to back full houses on national television will always be a good look for the club, especially if the more colorful chants were tastefully muted for sensitive audiences.
The first half looked like a struggle, though. Le Rouge controlled much of the play but rarely created a threatening chance. Before first half stoppage time, the Westchester back line succeeded in blocking every shot that could have posed a problem. The visitors engaged in some of football’s well known dark arts, stalling at free kicks and goal kicks and feigning injury to slow the game down. With the score still 0-0 midway through the first half, referee Atahan Yaya warned Westchester goalkeeper Andrew Hammersley about time-wasting.
The breakthrough came when DCFC earned a late corner before the halftime whistle. As the ball came into the penalty area a defender wrestled Devon Amoo-Mensah to the ground. The referee pointed to the spot and Ates Diouf converted the penalty. That would have been a good way to end the half, but moments later a scuffle broke out in the DCFC penalty area as a Westchester player impeded Carlos Saldana. It turned out the biggest contributor to the melee was Westchester’s Noah Powder. He received his second yellow card of the half and his marching orders.
Saldana could not have had a quieter evening once Westchester went down to ten men. DCFC had the entire second half to extend the lead against a shorthanded, lower division team. They had numerous shooting opportunities, but a succession of chances and a number of corner kicks couldn’t find the mark. The players were visibly frustrated with their inability to pile on goals. Lack of scoring has been an ongoing problem since the end of April. In the seventy-first minute Amoo-Mensah finally eased the tension by heading in from yet another corner kick. Jesse Cedeno’s cross popped up off a Westchester defender and the DCFC captain rose unchallenged to double the lead.
Goal machine Matt Sheldon added a third goal late in the second half. Another Cedeno cross caused problems for the Westchester back line. Sebastien Guenzatti outjumped his man to head the ball back across goal where Sheldon stormed in for a powerful finish. Sheldon has really raised his game this year as others have struggled. The final score provided a fair reflection of the game. DCFC dominated, especially when up a man in the second half. The team now has to carry that momentum into the final thirteen games of the USL Championship season.
A few days prior to the Westchester game, DCFC made a stunning announcement that caught everyone off guard. The club issued a short statement on July 22 that the team had parted ways with Sporting Director Trevor James. The news came as a shock and gave no indication as to why the club’s relationship with its most successful coach had suddenly come to an end. The club did post a series of social media releases thanking the Englishman for his contributions to the club, including the transition from amateur team to professional and making the move from NISA to the USL Championship. The crowd sang for Trevor James during the second half against Westchester, a sign of their gratitude and concern regarding the lack of explanation for his sudden departure. The club said they will begin to search for a new Sporting Director.
