AFC Ann Arbor hit the road once again as they take the trip down I-94 to square off with their closest rivals Detroit City FC for the first of their two meetings this season. The Mighty Oak are finishing off an opening portion of the season that sees them play three of their first four matches on the road, and will hope to improve to a 100% winning percentage away from home. On the season, AFCAA are 2-0-1 and coming off a 3-1 victory in Columbus last Friday.

The victory last Friday saw a couple early brilliant long-range finishes from Jack Hallahan and Sebastian Chalbaud, before Yazeed Matthews finished with a third against the ten-man FC Columbus side. Jordan Montoya, who came off the bench last match, remains the team’s top goal-scorer thanks to his two-goal season opener against Michigan Stars. The goal scorers each found the back of the net in what was their first starts of the season in blue and white, and the first starts of their career for AFCAA in the case of Matthews and Chalbaud.

A win at Keyworth Stadium would put AFC on the same point total at this point last season, with ten out of their first twelve possible points. This fixture last season was a 1-0 victory thanks to a Chris Odhiambo finish in the 54th minute. Of players that featured that day, Montoya, Stephen Turnbull, and Breno Stapcinkas all will hope to feature again this season.

The Mighty Oak have plenty of history in Detroit. They are 2-0-1 at Keyworth in the NPSL regular season of the NPSL including snagging a point in the first ever NPSL match to be played at the home of Le Rouge. Having held DCFC goalless in 180 minutes in 2018, they will hope to do the same this season, while securing their first clean sheet of 2019.

The Opponent

Detroit City are 1-1-0 to open the season, having split their first two matches, both common fixtures of The Mighty Oak. City opened the season with a 1-0 victory on the road at Michigan Stars before falling in a thrilling 3-2 home opener to Kalamazoo FC. Shawn Lawson has scored in both of the first two games while Max Todd chipped in a goal as well. The soon-to-be NPSL Founder’s Cup side will look to make amends for stumbling in a rainy Sunday night home opener and right the ship, while The Mighty Oak will intend on spoiling the party.

Detroit’s last starting eleven (4-3-3): Nate Steinwascher, Kervin Kenton, Jalen Crisler, Moussa Gueye, Will Perkins, Bakie Goodman, Abdoulaye Diop, Max Todd, Tommy Buono, Shawn Lawson, Cyrus Saydee