MATCH REPORT: FC United make more friends not millionaires with six goal friendly at Detroit City

FC United of Manchester finished the 2015/16 season with an entertaining 3-3 draw in an international friendly against Detroit City of Michigan, USA on Saturday afternoon in front of 6,245 supporters.

Sam Madeley, George Thomson and Dale Johnson scored the Reds’ three first half goals before our hosts, a fellow community focused football club, snatched a stoppage time equaliser to make sure honours were even at the newly refurbished Keyworth Stadium.

In an action packed first half, FC United came from behind twice to lead 3-2 at halftime. Karl Marginson’s side led for the entire second half in sweltering 35 degree heat but with 90 minutes on the clock, they were unable to hold out for the win, conceding a soft but unimportant equaliser at the death.

Javi Bautista broke the deadlock for Le Rouge with a well taken goal in the 11th minute after United were caught off guard by a lofted ball over the top from midfield. Thankfully, United responded quickly. Just three minutes later, Madeley stabbed home Tom Greaves’ low drilled cross at the back post to make it 1-1.

The Reds, playing in our white changed kit, came unstuck with some more poor defending 13 minutes later. Bautista was proving to be Detroit’s dangerman and it was his deflected shot that gave the unmarked Jeff Adkins the opportunity to fire home from close range.

The game was turned on its head two minutes before halftime as FC United, not for the first time this season, scored two goals in quick succession. Thomson struck a sweet shot into the bottom corner from 25 yards out to make it 2-2. Just two minutes later, Johnson calmly slotted the third home after good build up play.

Despite only providing one more goal, the second half still had plenty of action. English legs began to tire in the heat and it looked fairly inevitable that an equaliser was on its way as Detroit had chance after chance towards the end. And so it proved, Alec Lasinski netting from close range pasted substitute goalkeeper Nick Culkin.

The result was inconsequential for most. What mattered was an entertaining match of football between two like-minded clubs as the beautiful game once again provided the vehicle to make more friends not millionaires around the world, this time State-side.