Highlights |Stats
Colorado Springs, CO — Detroit City continued the perfect start to the 2025 season on Saturday afternoon, defeating the defending USL Championship champions Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC 2-1 in the home opener for the champions. After going down 1-0 early in the second half, Darren Smith leveled the game for Le Rouge just past the hour mark, and Sebastián Guenzatti’s goal in the 82nd minute sealed the three points for Detroit City.
Head Coach Danny Dichio elected not to change the starting XI that took the field in Miami last week and won 2-0. Carlos Saldaña got the start in net for Detroit. Alex Villanueva, Stephen Carroll, Shane Wiedt, and Michael Bryant made up the defensive back line. The midfield consisted of Marcello Polisi, Jay Chapman, and Jeciel Cedeño. Ben Morris, Darren Smith, and Rhys Williams rounded out the starters.
It was another slow start for Detroit City, as Colorado Springs had the bulk of possession through the first 15 minutes. Both sides struggled to get anything going in the final third due to some stellar defensive play by the back lines.
Detroit’s first opportunity of the game came in the 20th minute. On a fast break, Darren Smith took a shot from around 25 yards out. Although it was going on target, the ball got too much air under it and just missed the top corner of the net.
Another good opportunity came in the 36th minute for Le Rouge, as Smith put a beautiful cross into the box for Alex Villanueva at the far post, but his shot was sent high above the bar.
Right before the first-half break, Jeciel Cedeño came close to an opener, as the Colorado Springs goalkeeper saved his shot from just above the penalty spot.
Coming out of the break, Colorado Springs started quickly once again. In the 48th minute, the Switchbacks entered the box, forcing Saldaña to make a save. On the rebound of the save, Juan Tejada put the ball in the back of the net to give Colorado Springs the 1-0 lead.
Detroit started to adjust the tactics on the field in the 60th minute, as a double change saw Morey Doner and Connor Rutz enter the match for Rhys Williams and Marcello Polisi.
After the restart of play in the 62nd minute, a DCFC long ball is played into the box. The Colorado Springs goalkeeper comes out to save it, but Darren Smith gets a touch on it first and tipped it over and into the back of the net to level the game at 1-1. That was Smith’s first goal for Detroit City.
Detroit City would make another double change in the 72nd minute as Sebastián Guenzatti and Jordan Adebayo-Smith entered the match for Jeciel Cedeño and Darren Smith. For Adebayo-Smith, it’s his first appearance for Le Rouge.
Detroit City would go ahead in the 82nd minute, as Jay Chapman drove the ball into the box to Villanueva, who crossed it to Guenzatti at the front of the net. The ball deflected off of goalkeeper Christian Herrera and went into the back of the net, giving DCFC a 2-1 lead.
The last substitution for Detroit on the evening came in the 90th minute. Ben Morris exited, and Haruki Yamazaki made his Detroit City debut.
Detroit would play lockdown defense in the five minutes of stoppage time, making two key stops on Colorado Springs attacks in the 93rd and 94th minutes.
For Detroit City, it’s the second consecutive year they have traveled to Colorado Springs early on in the season and come back from 1-0 down to win 2-1. In all three games Detroit has played at Weidner Field, Le Rouge has won them all 2-1.
Le Rouge returns to Keyworth for the first time in 2025 next Saturday, March 22, to host Birmingham Legion FC. Kickoff is set for 4:00 p.m. Tickets for all Detroit City matches can be found at www.detcityfc.com/tickets.
For more information about Detroit City FC, visit detcityfc.com and follow @DetroitCityFC on X and Facebook and @detroitcityfootballclub on Instagram.
Detroit City Starting XI — Carlos Saldaña, Alex Villanueva, Stephen Carroll, Shane Wiedt, Michael Bryant, Marcello Polisi (60’), Jay Chapman, Jeciel Cedeño (72’), Ben Morris (90’), Darren Smith (72’), Rhys Williams (60’)
Detroit City Substitutes — Connor Rutz (60’), Matt Sheldon, Haruki Yamazaki (90’), Carlos Herrera, Sebasián Guenzatti (72’), Morey Doner (60’), Jordan Adebayo-Smith (72’)
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Primary Media Contact: Jarrett Maki (Sports Information Director, jarrett.maki@detcityfc.com)