Midweek Business: Le Rouge Travels to Take on New York Red Bulls II
September 20, 2022 – United Soccer League Championship (USL) – Detroit City FC News Release
DETROIT, Michigan – After clinching a playoff spot this past weekend, Detroit City FC will be traveling midweek to face the New York Red Bulls II of the Eastern Conference. The game is scheduled for this Wednesday 21st at 7:00pm at MSU Soccer Park at Pittser Field in Montclair, New Jersey and it will be streamed on ESPN+.
This will be the second meeting for the team’s this season and City came away with a 2-0 victory in the first iteration of this fixture. In Detroit’s win, the first goal was scored by forward Francis Atuahene, with the second goal coming via an own goal by defender Lucas Monzón.
This past Saturday, Le Rouge played the Tampa Bay Rowdies at home, earning an important 1-0 win to grab all three points. This win secured their season will be extended as Detroit City FC officially clinched a playoff spot with Indy Eleven’s loss to Monterey Bay later on Saturday night. Forward Antoine Hoppenot scored the game winner, it was his first goal since May 21st. Defender Stephen Carroll won an aerial ball around the midfield line and the header found midfielder Maxi Rodriguez. Rodriguez dribbled the ball through multiple Rowdie players and passed it ahead to Hoppenot, who placed the ball in the back of the net. The Rowdies controlled most of the possession in the game, but City held them to zero shots on target.
Detroit now has a record of 13-10, which has them currently sitting in 6th place in the USL Championship Eastern Conference, just 14 points off 1st place Louisville City. They are just three points off 5th place, behind the Pittsburgh Riverhounds with a game in hand.
Against his former club Tampa, Forward Antoine Hoppenot scored his 6th goal of the season. During Le Rouge’s Professional Era (2020-Pres), Hoppenot with his six goals is tied for 5th for all-time and he is in first for all time assists with ten. He has created 65 chances this season, good for first on the team and fifth in the league.
Midfielder Maxi Rodriguez earned his 3rd league assist of the season and his 5th overall last time out. This was his first assist since April 23rd when City played Hartford Athletic. During Le Rouge’s Professional Era (2020-Pres), he is 2nd in all-time goals with 14 and 3rd for assists with five. He has created 37 chances, good for 2nd on the team. He has made Team of the Week five times this season during weeks 3, 7, 10, 20, 27.
The New York Red Bulls II sit in 14th place in the Eastern Conference, with 14 points and a record of 3-5-22. With only three wins this season, they will not have a playoff spot this year. In their past five league games, the New York Red Bulls II are 0-1-4. Their only draw was against Hartford Athletic (3-0). Their four losses came against Birmingham Legion FC (3-1), Charleston Battery (3-0), The Miami FC (7-1), and Oakland Roots SC (1-0).
In 29 games this season, forward Jordan Adebayo-Smith leads his team with six goals, 95 aerial duels and 40 aerial duels won this season. He has 30 shots, with 18 on target, and a passing accuracy of 64.4%.
Forward Jeremy Rafanello’s 37 shots, and 20 shots on target leads his team in these categories. He has three goals and one assist this season, while creating 20 chances.
The next game for Le Rouge is this Saturday September 24th at Keyworth Stadium when they will take on FC Tulsa at 7:30pm. It will be streamed on TV20 and ESPN+
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