LOUSIVILLE, Ky. – Devon Amoo-Mensah scored the only goal as No. 8 seed Detroit City FC took a 1-0 victory against No. 1 seed Louisville City FC in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals of the 2025 USL Championship Playoffs presented by Terminix, with Le Rouge’s victory their first at Lynn Family Stadium in club history.

After a tight opening to the game, Louisville went close to opening the scoring just past the half-hour mark when Taylor Davila’s shot from 25 yards was tipped over the crossbar by Detroit goalkeeper Carlos Saldaña. The visitors struck first in the 34th minute, however, as a corner from the left by Ryan Williams was flicked on by Jay Chapman to Amoo-Mensah, who crashed in at the back post to finish from close range.

Trailing at the break, LouCity went close to an equalizer just past the hour-mark as Brian Ownby’s header to the top-right corner was denied by a brilliant full-stretch save from Saldaña. Ownby also went close with another header with seven minutes to go, only to see it go wide of the right post. Both Sam Gleadle and Davila then had shots blocked as Detroit’s defense thwarted the hosts’ pressure, while another header by Ownby glanced over the crossbar, but Le Rouge held form for its second upset of a No. 1 seed in an Eastern Conference Quarterfinal in three years.

Takeaways

Louisville City FC: A season after missing out on a trip to the Eastern Conference Final for the first time in club history, LouCity was eliminated in the opening game of the playoffs as its recorded only three shots on target out of 17 on the night.

Detroit City FC: The visitors topped their victory against Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals in 2023 thanks to Devon Amoo-Mensah’s goal, which proved the only shot on target Le Rouge recorded in the contest.

Key moment

Detroit City goalkeeper Carlos Saldaña made a pair of outstanding punches on consecutive LouCity corner kicks in stoppage time to help the visitors hold firm late on to secure the shutout and the win.

Key stat

43.7 percent of the game was played in Detroit City’s defensive third of the field, but the visitors recorded eight blocked shots in addition to Carlos Saldaña’s three saves to hold the hosts off the board.

USLChampionship.com Player of the Match

Devon Amoo-Mensah, Detroit City FC – Le Rouge’s captain scored the only goal of the night and recorded eight clearances and five recoveries in helping the visitors post a major road upset.

Scoring Summary
DET – Devon Amoo-Mensah (Jay Chapman) 34’