WEST CARROLLTON, OH (June 25, 2016) The Dayton Dutch Lions FC (3-2-3) took on the TFC Academy (1-5-4) at DOC Stadium on a blistering hot evening.
Both teams started with good pace and energy as they battled through the middle, end to end. Passing, skills and possession were the name of the game as the teams pressed farther and farther into their opponents final third looking for a goal.
Shots ensued on both ends as the teams began to penetrate. Opportunities increased, but shots went wide for Dayton and TFC.
That changed in the twenty third minute as a series of one-touch passes by the Toronto led to Mark Marcantognini passing back to a waiting Ethan Beckford who shot past the Dayton keeper for the first goal of the night.
As the half wore down, the Lions attacked and had TFC on their heels. Several crosses were laid up for players in the box, but they could not find the final touch.
The first half ended with the score Dayton Dutch Lions FC 0, TFC Academy 1.
Dayton came out with intensity and purpose in the second half as the pace quickened. Shots by Michael Frasca and Nduka Kemjika flew just high and wide.
In the fifty sixth minute, Dayton’s Jack Cousin made a run down the left and got a good angle for a shot, but it sailed high.
The Lions hard work brought about a change in the fifty ninth minute when a pass from Paul Messerly was pulled back and placed for an onrushing Michael Frasca to fire into the net, tying the game at one.
Dayton had another quality chance in the seventieth minute when a shot was blocked by the TFC keeper. The rebound was jumped onto by Kennedy Nwabia and shot into the goal, but it was brought back on an offsides call.
Both keepers and defenses were kept busy as Dayton and TFC attacked repeatedly. Shots were fired off.
Dayton continued their offensive press and in the eighty fourth minute Eric Lynch dribbled the ball down and placed the ball at Kennedy Nwabia’s feet. Turning around his defender, and muscling his way into the goal, Nwabia slotted the ball to the corner, putting the Lions up 2-1.
Unfortunately, the lead wouldn’t last long as TFC came right back in the eighty ninth minute. Passing around the Dayton defense Mike Marcantognini took the shot and slotted it past the keeper to tie the game back up at two.
Dayton fought until the last whistle but the score at the end of the game was Dayton Dutch Lions FC 2, TFC Academy 2.
Dayton’s Coach Sid van Druenen had these comments after the game. “At the start, I think we had high expectations for this team. This is the disappointment you see on everybody’s faces. We aimed for a playoff spot and right now with this result we know it is out of reach. At the same time, we will continue creating a good environment, working every day, training every day that will make them better. That’s our top priority, helping these guys achieve their goals and have them going back to college as improved soccer players. We are asking a lot of our guys, playing two games a week and today it was visible in the first half, we were late, we were chasing. They are tired. We made some changes in the second half and we were able to turn it around, but TFC is a good team. We will probably see some of these kids in the MLS some day. It shows the competitiveness in this division, in this league. So our primary goal is out of reach, now we just help these guys to grow and I cannot be disappointed in the work ethic and intentions we brought in the second half. You play this game to win....you win some, you lose some and tie some and that is just soccer.”
The Dayton Dutch Lions FC travel to play the Pittsburgh Riverhounds U23 at High mark Stadium on Wednesday, June 29th at 5:00pm EDT. The Lions continue on the road to meet the Derby City Rovers (4-2-2) at Woehrle Field at 7:30pm EDT on Saturday, July 2nd.
MATCH SUMMARY
Venue: DOC Stadium
Referee: Luke Soboto
Assistants: James Cormican, Mikael Lunquist
Fourth Official: Jeremiah Woods
Attendance: 296
Weather: Hot, High 80’s to 90’s
SCORING SUMMARY:
23’ – TFC – Ethan Beckford, (Mark Marcantognini) 0-1
59’ – Dayton – Michael Frasca, (Paul Messerly) 1-1
84’ – Dayton – Kennedy Nwabia (Eric Lynch) 2-1
89’ – TFC – Mike Marcantognini 2-2
DISCIPLINARY SUMMARY:
44’ – TFC – Matt Srbely – Yellow
68’ – TFC – Nikola Stakic – Yellow
79’ – TFC – Klaidi Cela - Yellow
79’ – Dayton – Michael Frasca – Yellow
87’ – Dayton – Kennedy Nwabia - Yellow
LINEUPS:
Dayton Dutch Lions FC: Eric Lynch, Michael Brezovsky, Jack Cousin (Kennedy Nwabia 67’), Christian Kershaw (Bradley Schluter 86’), Mateus Gama (Michael Frasca 45’), John Schwien (Rafael Gamboa 45’), Paul Messerly, Nduka Kemjika (Colton Oord 89’), William Lukowski, Samuel DeRoy, Joseph Furry
Subs: Paulo Pinto, Daan de Blank, Kennedy Nwabia, Bradley Schluter, Colton Oord, Michael Frasca, Rafael Gamboa
TFC Academy: Leonard Sohn (Dante Campbell 65’), Nikola Stakic, Klaidi Cela (Julian Dunn 82’), Steven Furlano, Angelo Cavalluzzo, Cyrus Rollocks (Nicholas Osorio 65’), Kota Sakurai (Jacob Cini 70’), Andrew Dias (Marko Mandekic 70’), Ethan Beckford (Richie Ennin 56’), Matt Srbely, Mike Marcantognini
Subs: Darren Macleod, Julian Dunn, Nicholas Osorio, Richie Ennin, Dante Campbell, Jacob Cini, Marko Mandekic