Coming off arguably the biggest upset in USL playoff history, Detroit City FC looks to continue its run towards a league championship.
DCFC will play in the Eastern Conference semifinals against Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC at Highmark Stadium in Pittsburgh on Saturday, Nov. 8. The game is scheduled to kick off at 7:30 p.m. ET and will be available to stream on ESPN+. The winner will advance to the 2025 USL Championship semifinals.
No. 8-seeded DCFC advanced past the first round of the playoffs thanks to a 1-0 road win over top-seeded Louisville City FC on Saturday, Nov. 1, one that knocked out a LCFC team that notched a league-high 73 points, 11 more than the second-place Charleston Battery. DCFC, meanwhile, squeaked into the playoffs after a 1-1 draw with the Tampa Bay Rowdies that gave them their 37th point of the season, a little over half of LCFC’s point total.
Watch USL playoffs on ESPN+
DCFC has made the USL playoffs in every season since joining the Championship in 2022. However, they have never made it past the conference semifinals, reaching that round only once (2023) when they suffered a 4-0 loss to LCFC. A win over the Riverhounds would put DCFC in the semifinal round to play the winner of North Carolina FC and Rhode Island FC.
They recorded their best USL regular-season record in 2024, finishing third in the Eastern Conference with 56 points and earning a home playoff match at Keyworth Stadium in Hamtramck. They lost in penalties to the Tampa Bay Rowdies, however, ending the season well short of a trophy.
You can reach Christian at cromo@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit City FC to play in USL Championship quarterfinals vs Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
Reporting by Christian Romo, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
