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USL Detroit City FC

Detroit City FC, Michigan Stars FC to Square off Tuesday in Second Round of Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup

April 4, 2022 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Detroit City FC News Release


DETROIT, Michigan - The Detroit City Football Club is set to host the Michigan Stars FC in the second round of the 2022 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup at Keyworth Stadium on Tuesday, April 5. The stream will be available on ESPN+.

Entering U.S. Soccer's national championship as a professional side for the first time in Club history, Le Rouge opens cup play in round two with a familiar foe in the Stars, having played in the same league from 2013-17 and 2019-2021 - NPSL (2013-2017), NPSL Member's Cup (2019), NISA (2020-2021).

Detroit City FC has made four appearances in the Open Cup - all coming as an amateur side - most recently in 2018. Le Rouge moved out of the first round in each of its past two appearances before falling to FC Cincinnati in 2018 (FC Cincinnati competed in the USL Championship in 2018) and to Louisville City in 2016. DCFC was announced as part of both the 2020 and 2021 tournaments that did not take place.

Tuesday night is City's second game in four days, coming off a 1-1 draw in USL Championship play against Memphis 901 FC. Detroit City controlled possession, holding the ball for 63.2% of the match and outshooting 901, 15-9. After an early Memphis goal, it was forward Pato Botello Faz off great service from right back Rhys Williams that brought the scoreline level in the 73rd.

Le Rouge has been able to control possession throughout its USL Championship season, ranking second in the league with 58.3% of possession through four fixtures. Goals have been hard to come by for City's opponents - ranking sixth in the league with just three goals conceded. Detroit City gave up its first goal of the season from run of play last time out. Under Trevor James, City has gone 11-straight matches without allowing a goal from run of play (two PKs, 9 clean sheets) from April 13, 2020 to June 26, 2020 (1,132 minutes).

Centerback Devon Amoo-Mensah - the former captain of the Michigan Stars - has been a standout since arriving in Detroit this offseason. Last time out, he won 13-of-14 duels, including 6-of-7 in the air. He's second on the team in duels won this season with 31 behind right back Rhys Williams at 44. Against Memphis on April 2, Amoo-Mensah completed a team-high 68 passes at a clip of 83.8% - creating two chances.

Williams has been one of City's most consistent performers in 2022 and currently lands No. 21 on Fotmob's top 100 players in the USL Championship. Williams leads the team in duels won with 44, including winning possession five times in the final third through four outings. He's averaging 2.3 successful tackles per match while leading the squad in chances created. His assist last time out against Memphis was Le Rouge's first of the season, with the previous two goals coming unassisted. Against 901, Williams created four chances while winning 12 duels.

Tuesday night will be the Stars' first match of 2022. In the 2021 NISA fall season, which DCFC claimed the table with 45 points (12 ahead of second-place Cal United Strikers), the Michigan Stars ended in 7th after the 18-game season with a mark of 5-7-6. MSFC will be looking to replace its leading goal scorer from a year ago, as Kyle Nuel (seven goals in 2021) joined AC Syracuse this offseason - along with fellow starter Zach Reynolds.

Along with replacing some mainstays from the past couple of seasons, the Stars welcome a new head coach for 2022. Newly named head coach and sporting director for the Stars is Louisiana native, Trevor Banks. Banks most recently started the men's NCAA Division 1 soccer program at Chicago State University and assisted in starting the Chicago House AC franchise in its inaugural 2021 season.

Gates open at 6:30 pm on Tuesday and tickets are available at tickets.detcityfc.com.

Follow @DetroitCityFCM on Twitter for in-match updates. For more information about Detroit City FC, visit detcityfc.com.com and follow @DetroitCityFC on Twitter and Facebook and @detroitcityfootballclub on Instagram.

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