It took another stubborn defensive effort and a stunning goal to lift DCFC past Rhode Island FC last weekend, but the 1-0 win has secured Le Rouge home field advantage in the first round of the USL Championship playoffs.
Darrin Smith provided the winning goal with a fabulous shot from outside the penalty area with the home team down to ten men. The South African had been quiet up to the 56th minute when Kobe Hernandez-Foster found him unmarked making a run from the wide left position towards the middle. Rhode Island’s defenders inexplicably backed off and allowed Smith time and space to turn and pick the top corner to the goalkeeper’s left. From that point on, DCFC managed the game and walked away with another narrow win, another clean sheet, and three more points.
This time Carlos Herrera was not around to add to his league-leading 13 shutouts. After a comfortable start during which DCFC controlled the play, Herrera made a rash decision to charge out of his penalty area and clatter into Rhode Island’s Osman Foyo. The impact left both players writhing on the field, but referee Muhammed Kaleia had no hesitation in showing Herrera a red card. That left Danny Dichio’s team with ten men after just 23 minutes of play.
Dichio took off Alex Dalou, who had been playing in the number ten position underneath Smith, so he could bring in the experienced Carlos Saldana to play goal. Few teams could lose their number one goalkeeper and suffer no drop off. Saldana had an excellent night, controlling his penalty area and managing his distribution without difficulty. He will need to bring all that and more to the next game when DCFC travels to Florida to face the league-leaders in Tampa Bay.
The ten men established a strong defensive shape with four defenders, four in midfield, and Smith up front on his own. They had veteran leadership in Michael Bryant, who completed ninety minutes for the first time this season. Dichio had to be careful managing his bench after using a second substitution during the first half when Kian Williams left with an injury. Ates Diouf came on to give the team a speedy outlet that kept the Rhode Island defense from pressing too far forward.
Smith’s goal wasn’t the only attack DCFC mustered while shorthanded. Maxi Rodriguez had a chance to give his former team some grief just a few minutes before the goal, but shot high when set up by Hernandez-Foster. Hernandez-Foster whistled a free kick just over the bar that would have doubled the lead in the 64th minute. Substitute Cheikhou Nieng set up Diouf with a cushioned header, but Diouf’s shot was blocked in the 83rd minute.
Rhode Island finally pressed in the late stages, earning a couple of corner kicks. In stoppage time, a melee broke out in the corner when some of DCFC’s injured and reserve players exchanged pleasantries with the Rhode Island players preparing to take the kick. The officials restored order, but the visitors simply couldn’t find a goal or even a clear shot.
The win kept DCFC five points behind the Tampa Bay Rowdies. If DCFC can win in Tampa on Saturday and in Louisville to wrap up the season, combined with another Tampa Bay loss, they would finish top of the league. For now though, they are in second place, four points ahead of the Charleston Battery, who lost at home to Louisville last weekend. The Battery have three games left and could pass DCFC if they win out. All the teams in the Eastern Conference with an extra game to play are in action during this week, so when play begins on Saturday every team will have two games remaining.
Detroit City has started to sell playoff tickets for the first round. That will take place on Halloween weekend against an opponent to be determined. As of the results from last weekend, DCFC would be facing the same Rhode Island team that just came to Keyworth in the first round. However, Hartford, Miami, and Indy XI are also candidates to be first opponent. City will have to keep its best players healthy and on the field to wrap up the season and start the playoffs in the best form possible.
