After gaining national notoriety over the last few years for its marvelous in-stadium atmosphere and bubbling community culture, Detroit City FC is gr
After gaining national notoriety over the last few years for its marvelous in-stadium atmosphere and bubbling community culture, Detroit City FC is grabbing the latest headlines for their performance on the pitch.
Le Rouge, as the club is affectionately known, is hosting Midland-Odessa FC this Saturday in the semifinal round of the National Premier Soccer League playoffs, the match at Keyworth Stadium deciding who will go onto the final and the face the winner of the other semi between Elm City Express and CD Aguiluchos.
Let’s get to know the two sides due to square off in the Motor City.
Detroit City FC: DCFC is a testament to the power of a supporter-built, community focused club that uses soccer to make a positive impact in the city of Detroit. From the first year as a club in 2012, Detroit City have grown organically from the ground up. The growth has continued with each passing season, and this year has been the most successful yet in almost every way imaginable, not the least of which being on-field results.
Le Rouge captured their first-ever Midwest Region title and a place in their first ever National Semifinal with a wild 3-2 win last Saturday over in-state Michigan rivals AFC Ann Arbor.
Check out the moment that clinched a place in the last four, a stoppage time goal from Tyrone Mondi.
The winning goal from Tyrone Mondi. What a moment. #DCTID pic.twitter.com/xRjTNlbcBd
— Detroit City FC (@DetroitCityFC) July 30, 2017
Midland-Odessa FC: While making it to the last four in your first season in a new league is quite the achievement, the boys from West Texas aren’t satisfied with a trip to Detroit. They want the whole thing.
After eight years as West Texas United Sockers FC, all spent as a member of the PDL, (a period of time which ended in 2016 with a loss in the league’s national semifinals to the eventual champion Michigan Bucks) Midland-Odessa FC made the switch in the name and league, jumping to the NPSL for the 2017 season.
Now here they are, with a different moniker and in a different league, yet in a summer situation that feels so eerily similar to where they were last summer, facing a highly touted side from the Great Lake State with a place in a final on the line, following their 1-0 win over Inter Nashville FC 1-0 in the NPSL South Region Final last weekend.
The club is a fully amateur level side playing in the NPSL’s Lonestar Conference, representing West Texas and the Permian Basin, striving to epitomize a blue-collar, hardworking attitude, creating a soccer team very much akin to the people in the Midland-Odessa area.
West Texas is known to most as oil country. When someone hears “Odessa”, they’re likely to think of high school football. Midland-Odessa FC are doing everything in their power to offer a quality on-field soccer product and help put Midland-Odessa on the map of the beautiful game.
Players to Watch
Detroit City FC:
Cyrus Saydee, MF – Saydee has played for Detroit since the club’s first season in 2012. He is a fan favorite, and is considered by many around the club to be the best player to wear the kit in the young history of DCFC.
Saydee has quite the story, and deep loyalty for the area he calls home. He came to Michigan as a seven year-old refugee from the Ivory Coast, where his family had fled to escape civil war in their native Liberia. Saydee excelled both academically and on the pitch, eventually starring for Michigan State University.
Last month, Italian Serie B side Venezia FC came to Keyworth Stadium for a friendly, a match won by Detroit City 2-0. The speedy, slight of build Saydee was sensational for the home side, garnering the attention of Venezia Manager (AC Milan and Italy great) Filippo Inzaghi. The AC Milan and Italy great proceeded to offer Saydee a trial at Venezia. Saydee is still working on finalizing his visa situation and if all goes according to plan, he will be making a trip to Italy at season’s end. Saydee of course is hoping his trial begins after Detroit City have been crowded champions of the NPSL.
Fernando Piña, GK – It’s Piña’s first year with the club and he has made a serious impact. The difference maker in some key matches through the course of the campaign and especially in the postseason, Piña’s been immense between the pipes for Le Rouge.
Stephen Carroll, CB – The iron man at the back for Detroit, Carroll has featured in more matches and logged more minutes than every teammate other than Saydee. He will be vital as a defensive leader for his side.
Shawn Lawson, F – The fire of the DCFC attack has been stoked on many occasions in 2017 by Lawson. He is the club’s leading scorer with 9 goals on the season.
Midland-Odessa FC:
Ricardo Palomino, F – The team’s leading scorer with seven goals, the striker from Montana State University Billings also knows how to play provider. Palomino has six assists on the season.
Jamie O’Grady, F – Much like Palomino, Jamie O’Grady represents the well-balanced attack for the lads from West Texas. The forward from Hartwick University has 6 goals to go with 5 assists for the club in 2017.
Braulio Linares-Ortiz, GK – With a 6-2-0 record as a starter this season, the Coastal Carolina University goalkeeper has plenty of confidence going into this critical showdown with Detroit City. While the players in front of him have been well-organized defensively, Linares-Ortiz will likely have to make a few big saves against Le Rouge and deal with as intimidating of an atmosphere as you will find in the lower league ranks of American Soccer, the passionate backing of the Northern Guard ready to do everything they can will in a goal for their beloved DCFC.
Darius Strambler, MF – Another Coastal Carolina product will be key for Midland-Odessa on Saturday. Central midfielder Darius Strambler will have to get scrappy with Cyrus Saydee, and bring his own flair to the table when his team moves forward. With 4 goals and 6 assists on the season, Strambler is most certainly capable of popping up with that one moment of magic that could send his side to the final.
WHO: Detroit City FC vs. Midland-Odessa FC
WHAT: NPSL Semifinal
WHERE: Keyworth Stadium, Detroit, Michigan
WHEN: Saturday August 5th, 7:30 ET / 4:30 PT
