Detroit City FC had time on their side Friday, as they pulled out a 3-2 victory over Cincinnati Friday night. Pit file photo
[dropcap]R[/dropcap]oughly a month ago, Detroit City FC found itself the victim of a late stoppage-time goal. This time, City emerged fortunate.
In the dying seconds of two minutes added after 90 minutes of play, City took advantage of a corner kick by Wade Allen that was serviced in to Michael Lamb to preserve three points in a 3-2 away victory Friday night over the Cincinnati Saints.
“We’ve been working on some set pieces in training a little bit with mixing up the runs here and there,” City coach Ben Pirmann said. “I don’t know if Wade should have been the one on the ball because he’s so good in the air, but he served a good ball in, Lamb timed a late ball, and in true center back fashion, timed a great ball in the net.”
For those who invested in the first half of play, the result never seemed in doubt. The visitors planted seeds of dominance early, with William Mellors-Blair and Zach Myers responsible for building a two-goal lead. Le Rouge would maintain the majority of both possession and chances throughout the first 45 minutes of play.
But the Saints would show resolve, scoring answering a necessary two times against a DCFC (4-0-0) squad that had yet to allow any goals in NPSL play until tonight. Marc Hansson took advantage of erroneous defending first, and Josh Henderson headed home the tying goal in the 73rd minute for Cincinnati to set up the eventual heroics.
“Honestly, I think we disrespected them,” Pirmann said. “We scored two minutes in, 10 minutes in…we thoroughly outplayed them the first game, and in the first half. I think our games, we thought we won the game.”
“We had a bad mentality. The good thing about that is, as hard as it was to turn that around after it became 2-2, we found an extra gear to get the result.”
Already missing key members like Tylor Arnone and Kevin Taylor, Pirmann explained that some substitutions and roster moves were made mindful of a schedule that sees City traveling to face the Indiana Fire on Sunday. One of those included Myers, the club’s leading scorer, being subbed out for Allen after Cincinnati’s (1-0-4) first goal.
“He was getting kicked, and he was working so hard that he running out of gas a little bit,” Pirmann said. “It wasn’t necessarily anything ultra-tactical. It was more or less necessity, and you move on from there.”
“We brought, honestly, five or six guys that haven’t figured into the 18 yet. We played some new guys that played pretty well, and we’ll play some new guys on Sunday. It’s a 14-game season, and with guys working, with classes and family events, it’s one of those things where you have to find a good balance.
After DCFC’s contest Sunday, the team returns home to Cass Tech, hosting the Erie Admiralson June 6.
The Saints also battle a quick turnaround, visiting the Michigan Stars Saturday afternoon.
To hear an exclusive interview with City head coach Ben Pirmann, please visit Press Row Sports.
