Pittsburgh, PA (June 29, 2016) The Dayton Dutch Lions FC (3-2-4 13 points) ran it's unbeaten streak to 4 games with a 2-2 draw against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds (1-5-4 7 points). This leaves the Lions in 4th place in the conference and any hopes of a playoff spot grow dimmer.
The game was a back and forth match with both teams wasting chances to get on the score board in the first half. The half ended 0-0 and neither squad was happy with their finishing. The Lions controlled a good portion of possession, but could not find the final touch.
The second half saw 4 goals with the home squad scoring first off a deflection in the 56th minute. Dayton had been playing well and the goal came against the run of play. The shot was covered, but it caught the leg of a Lions defender and ricocheted behind the keeper for a 1-0 deficit.
The goal did not diminish the effort the Lions were providing to the the attack. This effort was rewarded just 5 minutes later when Dayton won back-to-back corner kicks. The second corner was met by Sam Deroy who headed the ball into the lower corner to tie the match at 1-1.
The Lions kept pressing forward and wonderful display of soccer produced the go-ahead goal. In the 70th minute, the ball was won and passed up the right flank. With no advantage, the Lions switched the attack point and swung the ball to the left flank. Bradley Schluter was able to send a good cross near post which was met by an onrushing Eric Lynch. He was able to get his head on to the ball and flick it into the back of the net. The visitors led 2-1.
Dayton did not let slow down and produced two additional strong chances for goal with one shot going right at the goalie and the other being shot wide.
With the Lions holding onto the lead and the game in stoppage time, a Riverhounds forward was able to dribble into the box and get a shot off into the crowded penalty area. The Lions defender turned away from the shot, but his back arm caught the ball and the referee called a penalty. With the last strike of the match, the Riverhounds scored the penalty shot and the game ended 2-2.
"I would like to think that we could get 3 points against those teams below us, but this is our third straight tie with a team lower in the conference standings. We had our chances to put this game away and we did not. If we convert one of the numerous opportunities that we had to score.....a victory would have been the result," said Head Coach Sid van Druenen. "This is the second game that we have given up the tying goal in the last minutes.....those goals hurt."
"We will continue to train hard, work hard and give our best effort. We still have 5 games left and we can try and put together a winning streak that will move us up in the standings. I know that we are banged up a bit, but this is a great group of players and I look forward to getting after Derby City on Saturday."
The games don't stop as they will be back on the road this Saturday as they travel to Derby City for a 7:00pm kickoff.