Riverhounds, Detroit City FC play to scoreless draw in preseason clash

File photo courtesy Ed Thompson

The Riverhounds continue to shut down preseason opponents and for the second straight match, they also came up empty themselves, playing USL Championship rival Detroit City FC to a 0-0 draw at the Legacy Center Sports Complex in Brighton, Mich. on Tuesday afternoon.  

The clean sheet runs the Hounds’ streak of preseason shutouts to three in a row after holding Penn State University and the University of Akron without a goal in their previous two matches. 

Detroit City FC — entering its second year in the USL Championship — is the first professional opponent the Hounds have faced since a closed-door, extended-length scrimmage with MLS’ Columbus Crew three weeks ago, and both teams utilized starting lineups loaded with players who very likely could be in the first 11 on Opening Day.

The Hounds and Detroit have now played to a tie in all four meetings in their history, which includes a pair of 1-1 regular-season matches in 2022 and another scoreless draw in the 2021 preseason. The teams will meet this year in the regular season on July 15 at Highmark Stadium and in the season finale, Oct. 14, at Detroit’s Keyworth Stadium home.

The Hounds have two preseason matches remaining, beginning with a 7 p.m. match this Saturday, Feb. 25 against the University of Pittsburgh, a participant in the 2022 College Cup — the NCAA’s Final Four. That game at Highmark Stadium is open to the public, and admission is free.