Having finally picked up a win away from Keyworth Stadium in the Prinx Tires USL Cup against League One Forward Madison, Detroit City went into a crucial game at Charleston with hopes of ending a 14 month drought in the league. Unfortunately, the Battery didn’t see it that way. Two early goals in three minutes by the home team combined with some solid defending left DCFC frustrated on the road again.
Danny Dichio’s team didn’t create a lot of great opportunities again. The difference between his team’s performances at home and on the road could not be more stark. Without the vocal backing of the home crowd, this team looks more timid. They don’t push the game enough. There isn’t the same drive through midfield or tenacity when they try to press an opponent. Dichio has to figure out how to get this team going on the road.
DCFC has recorded two draws and four losses away from home. That feeble output contrasts with the perfect five wins from five home games. If DCFC somehow manages to win all 15 home games, they would likely make the playoffs. However, to succeed in the postseason, they will have to win at another team’s stadium.
Losing midfielder Maxi Rodriguez to another injury before halftime took what little impetus there was out of the attack. Ben Morris came on and could not get up to the speed of the game. He has looked several steps slower since his return from injury. If the rest of the creative players cannot figure out how to open defenses, Morris will have to pick up the pace or be bypassed by others.
Overall, the team remains defensively solid. It’s just that with the attack struggling away from home, they cannot afford any errors. Failing to mark Colton Swan during a corner kick and then allowing Swan time and space to pick out Langston Blackstock were the two errors. They were costly.
Fortunately, DCFC’s next two games are at the friendly confines of Keyworth Stadium. First, they play their second group match of the USL Cup against Lexington FC on Saturday night. In order to remain in contention, this is a must win. Given the demands of the competition, losing any of the four group matches virtually eliminates a team. Next week, on the eve of the World Cup, DCFC will host the El Paso Locomotive. The club gained some notoriety in recent weeks by signing Cristo Fernandez, better known as Dani Rojas on the hit television show Ted Lasso. He has yet to make his league debut, so perhaps Detroit will be in for a treat when the Locomotive come to Hamtramck.
USA STARTS WORLD CUP PREP WITH WIN
Now that Mauricio Pochettino has his final World Cup roster together, we will see what his $6 million annual salary produces. The team took some important steps during a 3-2 win over Senegal in front of over 57,000 fans in Charlotte.
The most important thing for the team is that Christian Pulisic finally scored a goal. He had not scored for any team since a late December strike for AC Milan. His goal for the USA, the second of a torrid opening half hour, was his first since 2024 in the national colors. The face of the national team had served notice of his return to form with a dazzling number of moves prior to the goal. That included a lovely exchange with Antonee Robinson which carved open the Senegalese back line. Pulisic slid the ball across for Sergino Dest to score the opener after just seven minutes.
Pulisic’s goal came from a full field move by the Americans. Alex Freeman, starting on the right of a back three, placed a delicate pass with the outside of his right foot between two defenders for Ricardo Pepi. Pepi pushed the ball to the back shoulder of a defender where Pulisic was sneaking in. Pulisic took the ball in stride around the goalkeeper and slotted it in to give the US a deserved 2-0 lead.
The Americans had played a superb opening half hour, showing increased mobility with and without the ball. They played with intensity and hunger. Pepi relished his first start in a long time. He showed some superb skill, dropping into midfield to get touches and circulate the ball. Gio Reyna started and played the first half. His overall influence was limited, but he showed that he can fit into Pochettino’s scheme seamlessly.
After their less than stellar opening, the team that won the African Nations Cup on the field, began to play. Led by legendary forward Sadio Mane, the visitors finally showed up. Mane pulled a goal back before halftime thanks to a giveaway by Robinson that caught the back line off guard. Senegal quickly turned defense into attack and Mane eluded Mark McKenzie and Tim Ream to score past Matt Turner.
Pochettino made ten changes at halftime, leaving only Sebastien Berhalter from the starting eleven on the field. It took ten minutes for the new team to find their feet. By that time, Mane had struck again. He took advantage of some slow thinking by Miles Robinson and a weak attempt to charge out of goal by debutant Chris Brady. That equalizer kick-started the Americans.
Following that equalizer, the USA had the ball in the back of the net three times. The first two, one by Folarin Balogun and another from Malik Tillman, were ruled out by VAR. The officials ruled Balogun was offside when Tillman’s pass found him in acres of space in front of goal. Tillman’s came back due to a foul in the buildup by Balogun. Nevertheless, the team persisted and got their reward. Tim Weah burst forward on the right wing and found Balogun near the penalty spot. The Monaco forward made no mistake as the team’s French connection combined to give the USA the win.
While Pochettino didn’t completely tip his hand, the team looked far more effective in this game with a back three rather than the four-man defense that Portugal and Belgium had little trouble exposing during the March window. He may not have decided on his starting eleven for the World Cup game against Paraguay on June 12, but most of the key figures looked like they were in the right places. There will be key decisions such as who starts next to Tyler Adams in midfield and whether Pepi or Balogun plays from the start. The composition of the back three will depend on whether or not Chris Richards recovers from an ankle ligament injury in time to play. Dest and Weah are the top contenders right wing. Both had good outings against Senegal.
The USA will wrap up preparations against Germany in Chicago on Saturday afternoon. Soldier Field will be sold out for the final friendly. Expected starting goalkeeper Matt Freese as well as forward Haji Wright and midfielder Brendan Aaronson will be looking for some significant minutes after sitting out the Senegal game. After that, the pressure will build for six days. A home World Cup is a once in a lifetime event for a player. Every US player is aware of that. They have shown the ability to be competitive. Now, they have to deliver.
