On May 11th, Detroit City FC started their 2024 USL W League campaign with a 1-0 win at Atwood Stadium, against a Flint City side that ran roughshod over the Great Lakes Division in 2023. A second win over Flint City occurred in the home opener at Keyworth Stadium the following Saturday. Since then we have seen Dave Dwaihy’s side impress those watching either in person or stream with quality football, pace, focus, and attack. The stats speak for themselves after the first six games played:
Five wins. One draw. Unbeaten in W League play. Thirteen goals were scored. Two conceded. Setting and maintaining the standard of play.
Yet, despite that incredible start to the season, Le Rouge leads the Great Lakes Division by only one point over Midwest United, and by two points over Kalamazoo FC. Wednesday night starts the second half of W League play and the remaining six games of this regular season. Here’s a little bit on each of the remaining opponents for Detroit City FC this regular season:
Cleveland Force SC (1 Win-0 Draws-5 Losses, 5 Goals Scored, 14 Goals Allowed): Detroit City FC’s first match of the second half of W League play begins with a drive down the Ohio Turnpike to take on Cleveland Force at Krenzler Field on the campus of Cleveland State University this Wednesday, June 12th. Le Rouge had to battle and keep at the attack in the team’s first meeting on June 1st; a 1-0 Detroit City win via a Sophia Romine banger, but a match that was one-sided wise in favor of Le Rouge. Cleveland was on the road all but one match in the first half which saw them play six times in fifteen days. Cleveland has another six matches in eighteen days, five out of six at home. I see Detroit City FC getting the win on Wednesday, but having to dig deep again to get it potentially. Kickoff is at 7 PM Eastern on Wednesday, June 12th.
Midwest United FC (5 Wins-0 Draws-1 Loss, 16 Goals Scored, 5 Goals Allowed): Detroit City FC has two matchups with Midwest United in the second half of the season; the first one is a Saturday Night Special home tilt at Keyworth this coming Saturday, June 15th at 7 PM, two days after Midwest has another big road match at Kalamazoo FC on Thursday, June 13th (condolences to all watching that one on YouTube in advance because of potential stream problems). Detroit City FC goes to Midwest for the second matchup on Thursday, June 27th; Midwest has a match before at Flint City on June 23rd to avenge Flint City for inflicting their only defeat of the season currently. Four of the remaining six for Midwest United are on the road. If there ever is a time for Detroit City FC to get their first and potentially second-ever win against Midwest United, the time is NOW. Otherwise, it might cost Le Rouge the Great Lakes Division. (Writing this also reminds me how I predicted Detroit City to do the double over Midwest United last year, only for Le Rouge to lose twice with potentially their two worse performances of the season. DAMNIT)
Michiana Lions FC (0 Wins-0 Draws-7 Losses, 4 Goals Scored, 29 Goals Allowed): Detroit City FC travels to South Bend on Wednesday, June 19th to not only take in the Juneteenth holiday but also take on a Michiana Lions side that they comfortably beat 5-0 at Keyworth on May 23rd. Michiana’s last match was a 7-2 defeat at Flint City on Sunday 6/9 and an away trip to Ann Arbor is in store for Michiana on June 16th before the home tilt with Le Rouge. A business-like mindset for Detroit City FC on Juneteenth is needed, especially depending on how the two matches before this one play out.
Kalamazoo FC (4 Wins-2 Draws-2 Losses, 14 Goals Scored, 4 Goals Allowed): Detroit City FC both players and supporters had a battle last Tuesday with Kalamazoo FC. The players on the field, City’s only match without a win in a hard-fought 0-0 draw between the sides. Detroit City’s supporters also had to battle the Kalamazoo stream on YouTube (alright I’m done ripping on the stream, for now). Kalamazoo came into that match after an impressive 4-0 win at home against Flint City. Kalamazoo’s final four is Midwest at home on 6/13, Flint City away on 6/19, Detroit City FC at Keyworth on 6/22, and Michiana at home on 6/30.
AFC Ann Arbor (3 Wins-1 Draw-3 Losses, 10 Goals Scored, 12 Goals Allowed): Detroit City FC ends the W League regular season on Sunday, June 30th at Hollway Field located on the campus of Ann Arbor Pioneer High School against an AFC Ann Arbor side that Le Rouge dispatched of 4-1 this past Saturday. Detroit City FC has scored four or more in three consecutive matches against Ann Arbor (4-1 at home and 6-0 on the road wins last season). Can they make it four in a row with four or more? One can hope, especially if there’s a chance to take the Great Lakes Division.
If Detroit City FC’s second half of this W League season is similar to the first half, Great Lakes Division glory should surely be in its sights. These remaining six will answer the following questions:
Does Detroit City FC get their first win ever against Midwest United?
Do they take the Great Lakes Division?
Do they potentially finish the regular season unbeaten?
Regardless of what the answers turn out to be, we like Le Rouge, and will move onward.
