Second game too much for tired Lions, losing 4-0

Second game too much for tired Lions, losing 4-0
After coming off a very promising tie at Rochester, the Dayton Dutch Lions FC had a chance today to move up the standings 2 positions if they would pick up a win. But the sofar very well organized Lions clearly struggled the first half with a physical game the day before against Rochester, arriving in Harrisburg at 3.30am at the hotel and temperatures in the eighties.

 

Easy win Harrisburg City Islanders

 

Harrisburg was aware of that and goalkeeper Matt Williams had to come up with two big saves already in the first 4 minutes to keep a clean sheet. The next ten minutes the Islanders created another three open chances with forwards Ekra, Torray and Ombiji being a constant plague for the Lions defense. Ivory Cost native Ekra managed to score two of these chances putting Harrisburg up 2-0. The first coming off a cross from Noon, the second he outrun the Lions defense and fired it passed Williams making it 2-0. Ivory Coast native Ekra almost scored a hattrick but saw his shot just wide.

 

The Lions could not keep the ball in the team but were given a unique chance to get back into the game when Gerrit Bartels was slightly touched in the box and fell, getting a pk in the 22nd minute. Bartels took the pk himself but goalie Nick Noble saved the shot in the right low corner keeping the score 2-0. It was the only chance that the Lions got the first half. The Lions then slowly got out of the pressure a little bit and the score seemed to stay 2-0 until halftime until Torray crossed a pass from Ombiji in front of goal and Langley beat Williams coming to the first post ending the Lions hopes to possibly get back in the game. Harrisburg ended up out shooting the Lions 9-3 in the first half.

 

The second half coach Ivar van Dinteren brought Mikael McNamara, Gibson Bardsley and Eli Garner. This resulted in an open chance for Taylor Lord (who came in for Nixon Dias the first half) after an Eli Garner cross from the left. From 7 yards out goalie Noble saved the shot. In the 49th a Joel DeLass cross almost went in after it hit a defender and Noble was able to clear right on the goal line. But instead of getting the 3-1 Ekra scored 4-0 in the 56th minute receiving a Torray cross and Ekra scored from around the penalty box scoring his third of the game. Harrisburg immediately took their key forwards out and the game died and no chances were created with the Lions not pressuring the Islanders defense but maintaining the 4-0.

 

The Lions will need to recover quickly from the tough loss playing again Tuesday in the second round of the US Open Cup in Chicago against the Chicago Fire PDL.