Detroit City FC’s season ended Friday night in Hamtramck, where the sixth-seeded Hartford Athletic beat the third-seeded hosts 2-1 in an Eastern Conference quarterfinal of the USL Championship playoffs. Detroit City played most of the match with 10 men after an early red card, and its coach blamed the officiating afterward.
For Detroit soccer fans, the result ends the Detroit City FC playoffs after a single game. It also cuts short a season in which Detroit City allowed goals at home so rarely that its goalkeeper won the league’s top award for the position. The single-elimination format left no second chance.
How the match turned
The game changed within the first 25 minutes. Midfielder Kobe Hernandez-Foster was sent off after a tussle with a Hartford player near the corner flag, during which he threw the ball at the player’s head, the Detroit Free Press reported. The club’s own match report also lists the red card for Hernandez-Foster.
Hartford forward Sadat Anaku scored later in the first half. It was the first goal Detroit City had allowed at home since Sept. 5, according to the Free Press. Le Rouge, as the club is known, answered in the 45th minute when captain Devon Amoo-Mensah converted a rebound to make it 1-1 at halftime. It was his second career postseason goal, the club said, after his winner against Louisville City FC last year.
Detroit City pushed after the break. Darren Smith forced an athletic save from Hartford’s goalkeeper with a heel flick, sent another shot over the crossbar and had a header saved, the Free Press reported. With about 15 minutes left, Anaku scored again to restore Hartford’s lead. Detroit City’s best late chance came when substitute Cheikhou Niang hit the crossbar from close range, according to the Free Press.
Dichio criticizes the officiating
Coach Danny Dichio, who received a yellow card for arguing with referee Elton Garcia, said after the match that the game “wasn’t decided by the two teams” but by officiating he called “very, very poor for a playoff game,” the Free Press reported. He said the referees offered no explanation.
Dichio also called Hartford’s celebration in front of Detroit City’s supporters section “classless,” according to the newspaper, which reported that a shoving match broke out after the final whistle.
A season built on defense
The loss stings in part because of how hard Detroit City was to score against this year. Goalkeeper Carlos Herrera was named the 2026 USL Championship Golden Glove winner on Oct. 26, an award the club said goes each year to the league’s best goalkeeper. He entered the season’s final weekend tied for the league lead with 13 clean sheets, and added another in a 0-0 draw at Louisville City on Oct. 24 that secured the No. 3 seed in the East, according to the club.
The playoff berth was Detroit City’s fifth in a row. The club won its first USL Championship playoff game at Pittsburgh in 2023 and reached the conference semifinals. In 2024, it hosted its first playoff match and lost to the Tampa Bay Rowdies on penalties. Last year it upset top-seeded Louisville City on the road before falling on penalties to Pittsburgh, the eventual champion, according to the club. For a look back at what was at stake before the finale, see our Detroit City FC playoff preview.
Detroit City FC vs. Hartford at a glance
| Final | Hartford Athletic 2, Detroit City FC 1 |
| When and where | Friday, Oct. 30, 2026, Keyworth Stadium, Hamtramck |
| Round | USL Championship Eastern Conference quarterfinal (No. 6 Hartford at No. 3 Detroit City) |
| Goals | Hartford: Sadat Anaku (2). Detroit City: Devon Amoo-Mensah (45th minute) |
| Red card | Kobe Hernandez-Foster, Detroit City, first half |
| Next for Hartford | Conference semifinal at the Charleston Battery, according to Hartford |
What comes next for both clubs
For Hartford, the win was its first ever in the USL Championship playoffs, according to Hartford Athletic’s match recap. The conference semifinals are scheduled for Nov. 6-8, and the recap said Hartford will travel to Charleston for that round.
For Detroit City, the offseason begins with the club’s longer-term project in view. On Oct. 29, it named Oak View Group as the hospitality provider for AlumniFi Field, a stadium the club says will open in 2028 on the former Southwest Detroit Hospital site. Until then, Keyworth Stadium in Hamtramck remains its home; our guide to Detroit sports venues covers where each local team plays.
What remains unknown: the club had not announced roster decisions, contract news, or 2027 schedule details as of Saturday. This article will be updated when they are announced.
For Detroit City fans this weekend
- Watch the club’s news page for offseason roster and 2027 schedule announcements.
- Catch the Red Wings, who host the St. Louis Blues at 1 p.m. ET Saturday, Oct. 31, at Little Caesars Arena.
- Plan for Sunday’s Lions game against Minnesota at 1 p.m. ET with our Lions vs. Vikings TV and streaming guide.
- Follow every result in our latest Detroit sports scores.
Frequently asked questions
Is Detroit City FC still in the playoffs?
No. Detroit City FC was eliminated on Oct. 30, 2026, with a 2-1 home loss to Hartford Athletic in the Eastern Conference quarterfinals. USL Championship playoff rounds are single-elimination.
Who scored for Detroit City FC against Hartford?
Captain Devon Amoo-Mensah scored Detroit City’s only goal in the 45th minute. Sadat Anaku scored both of Hartford’s goals.
Why did Detroit City FC play with 10 men?
Midfielder Kobe Hernandez-Foster received a red card in the first half after a confrontation with a Hartford player near the corner flag, according to the Detroit Free Press and the club.
When does Detroit City FC’s new stadium open?
The club says AlumniFi Field, a stadium on the former Southwest Detroit Hospital site, is scheduled to open in 2028. Detroit City plays at Keyworth Stadium in Hamtramck until then.
Last updated Oct. 31, 2026. Sources: Detroit Free Press, Detroit City FC, and Hartford Athletic.
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