The Dayton Dutch Lions FC played their second game of the season yesterday against "close" rival and friend the Pittsburgh Riverhounds. After a promising 0-0 away in Charlotte last week the team team came back empty handed losing 2-0.
It was a cold and rainy night in Chartiers Valley Stadium in Pittsburgh making the field very slippery resulting in a lot of ball losses the first half on both sides. Coach Ivar van Dinteren was happy with the team that tied Charlotte a week before and sent the same 11 in the game hoping to get another shutout but this time score as well. That changed quickly when Pittsburgh scored the first goal of the season against the Lions with C’deBaca heading a serve from Stefan Lundberg in goal. The whole first both teams were pretty close and the Lions were struggling with keeping possession of the ball and therefore not creating any serious scoring opportunities.
The second half the Lions came out stronger resulting in more pressure and a clear chance for forward Gerrit Bartels almost scoring the first goal of the season but his header just missed the goal by a few inches after a cross from Michael MacNamara. Coach Ivar van Dinteren tried to make some changes bringing in extra forwards Eli Garner and Daniel Hollowatty. Although the Lions were more dominant they could not create serious danger in and around the box and on a counterattack it was the Riverhounds who would add to their lead in the 81st minute when Nunez picked off a pass at the edge of the middle third and found goalie Matt Williams coming out and lifted a left-footed shot over his head to find the back of the empty net.
Coach Ivar van Dinteren was disappointed after the game: "I feel we were struggling with the field and did not play our own game. Pittsburgh was physically a little stronger in the first half and although we dominated most of the 2nd half we did not really create too many scoring opportunities. On both goals we made some mistakes that you cannot make at this level. But we have a good group and we will work hard this week to be ready for our home opener and give our fans a good game and our first win."
Dayton Dutch Lions FC plays it's first home game Saturday April 28 against Rochester Rhinos at Springboro High School. The game starts at 7.30pm. Rochester has started the season very well winning two games on the road against Los Angeles Blues.