By Adam Mendelevitz, for Next In Line
First day of Spring in Detroit. Image credit: Detroit City FC on Twitter.
Here we are again, folks. Loudoun has gotten off to a hot start, the team is shooting up the power rankings among USL watchers, Zach Ryan’s in contention for the Golden Boot, and the team seems to be meshing together. But before preparing your USLC Cup watch parties months in advance, keep in mind what happened the last couple of seasons. Or don’t, as it’s a bit of wisdom from classic cartoons that you fall from the cliff right after you look down. It’s time to look ahead to Loudoun’s upcoming battle against a team that has punched our clock several times: Detroit City FC.
[Ed Note: Not using DCFC due to avoid confusion with our Washington, DC-area audience]
Head-to-Head History
After jumping up from NISA to the USLC in 2022, Detroit has been a fringe playoff team. They haven’t gotten close to the Cup, but they did upset a top-ranked Riverhounds side in last year’s playoffs. With regards to Loudoun specifically, they won 3 of our 4 previous matchups, and the remainder was a 1-1 draw where Loudoun forward Tommy Williamson got a red card for retaliation (noticing a running theme here?) dealing with a pushy goalkeeper after his teammate scored a PK on him. Two of those wins were clean sheets where Loudoun was already out of the playoff race. It may sound bleak, but this is an opportunity to show how this Loudoun team is no longer that same bottom-feeder.
Their Season So Far
Detroit already got a week off early in the USLC season, so their first and only match of 2024 to this point was playing in Colorado Springs against the Switchbacks. They won it 2-1, with goals from former Loudoun attacker Elvis Amoh, and Detroit veteran midfielder Connor Rutz coming off the bench. Also helped that on the other end, former Loudoun RB Koa Santos got 2 yellows and sent off, forcing the Switchbacks to play a man down for the last third of the match.
But even if they hadn’t played a game yet, Detroit would still be a big test for Loudoun due to a few names that Loudoun fans might find familiar…
Know Your Opponent
…Maxi Rodriguez. He’s always been a pretty good center-mid for Detroit, but when playing against Loudoun, he suddenly turns into a goal-scoring machine. He put 6 goals into Loudoun’s net in 4 appearances with Detroit, including a hat trick. You could argue that most of those goals came in garbage time when Loudoun was basically checked out of the year, that we got a new team with a new defense and better mindset. But until we see them clash for real, Loudoun should prioritize having at least one pair of eyes on Maxi at all times.
Outside of Maxi, Detroit has a pretty solid defensive core, starting with their goalkeeper Nathan Steinwascher who has two clean sheets against Loudoun and would be happy to add another. The backline is anchored by their longtime Captain, the Irish CB, Stephen Carroll. For wingbacks they have support with Alex Villanueva joining them from Orange County on the left, and Matt Sheldon from Hartford on the right.
Supporting them are a midfield corps that reportedly has a defense-first mindset, but can fire off long-range shots at the edge of the box for those who aren’t careful. The Senegalese mid Abdoulaye Diop, and the recent arrival of James Murphy from Monterrey Bay, are just as good at challenging opposing attackers in their final third, as they are facilitating scoring chances.
On the attacking side, the Chicago Fire just loaned Victor Bezerra to Detroit earlier this week, so there’s a chance we see him appear in this game, along with Ali Coote and the aforementioned Elvis Amoh.
Projected Lineups
It’s a bit difficult to forecast Detroit’s starting lineup with their new head coach, the Toronto FC legend Daniele Dichio, taking the reins for the first time, while their previous manager, Trevor James, got promoted to a Front Office position. So I’m going to be lazy and say there won’t be much changed from their previous starting lineup. Maybe they slot Villanueva or Bezerra in there, but I think it’s a safer bet they’ll come off the bench later in the game.
And speaking of lazy, I’m also going to say that Loudoun trots out the same lineup as last time, except Francois should be returning from his red card suspension, and we’re not sure if Tingey has recovered from his injury. So it’ll probably be something like this:
Wouldn’t be surprised to see Aboukoura come off the bench and wreak some havoc in the final third of the match, as he loves to do.
Three Questions:
- Maxi Capacity? I said it above but it bears repeating: Can they handle Maxi Rodriguez and stop him from torching Loudoun directly and indirectly this time?
- Can we count on the counter? Detroit’s mids and CBs have shown in previous years that they can be disruptive to enemy attackers. Will Loudoun be able to play a patient game with this team, or will Coach Martin have to adjust his tactics and rely on a long ball?
- Super-er Subs? If neither team can break through, it will come down to fresh legs in the final 30 minutes or so to push one side over the edge. Will Aboukoura do it for Loudoun? Will Bezerra get it done for Detroit? Or maybe the X-Factor will come from someone we haven’t seen yet this season. Tommy Williamson? Riley Bidois? Elias Norris? The opportunity is there.
Prediction
All that said, I’m predicting a knock-down, drag-out, 1-1 draw. Loudoun will have to brave some serious cold, but they’ll have the following week off to rest and warm up before they head to the second part of their road trip.