We last left off with Danny Dichio’s Detroit City FC side after a 3-2 triumph on the road Wednesday against Tampa Bay Rowdies. A result that meant DCFC came into Saturday night’s match back home at Keyworth with FC Tulsa winners of the last two, and unbeaten in the last five. Taking on an FC Tulsa side that while in the playoffs in the Western Conference, but with a point total that would put them out of the playoffs in the Eastern Conference if they were still in the East (FC Tulsa moved to the West with Memphis 901 after the end of last season).
It was perhaps the perception of Tulsa’s position in the West that led to DCFC fielding a starting eleven that could be interpreted as underestimating FC Tulsa. Heavily rotated, absent of Carlos Saldaña, Rhys Williams, Devon Amoo-Mensah, Brett Levis, and Ben Morris, names that have been integral for the recent run of wins. Nate Steinwascher was back in the net, Victor Bezerra and Jeciel Cedeno were starting in the attack, and Ryan Williams was in the midfield for James Murphy.
It’s possible that all these rotations resulted in the Detroit City FC team that we witnessed in the match. One that was devoid of creativity, and one that possessed for the sake of possession as opposed to possessing with intent to create, shoot, and score. As opposed to creating more by holding the ball less as in the past couple of matches. At the same time, FC Tulsa was comfortable with not having the ball, in having one more shot on target in the DCFC. One going in the net by way of former DCFC loanee Aaron Bibout, which was all that was needed for FC Tulsa to leave Keyworth Stadium with all three points.
This home setback for Detroit City FC continues what is now a troubling trend. The last home win for DCFC was on June 15th versus a Charleston Battery side which is now second in the Eastern Conference. Since then seven home matches have been played, with only three goals scored. It’s almost as if this Detroit City FC side is scared to play in front of their home crowd, or not trusting themselves or the game plan to get the three points.
Fortunately for DCFC, Saturday night’s setback did not affect them in the table. Losses by both Birmingham Legion (3-0 at home to Pittsburgh Riverhounds) and Indy Eleven (3-2 at Las Vegas Lights) allowed DCFC to hold onto fourth place in the Eastern Conference, which means hosting a first-round playoff match at home. However, with a 4-4-4 home record and only twelve goals scored in twelve games, that may not be a good thing for this DCFC side based on those numbers.
The next matchup for Detroit City FC is home to Hartford Athletic on Saturday, August 31st. Hartford Athletic took the earlier meeting between the two sides on July 31st with a 1-0 win and winners of their last two against Las Vegas Lights and Louisville City FC, both being 2-1 results. Will we see a rejuvenated Detroit City FC side on the 31st of August? We will see, in the meantime, we keep moving onward.
