The Dayton Dutch Lions FC has had a strong start to the 2013 season, winning two out of its first three games against formidable competition. Dayton hopes to keep the momentum going against the Charleston Battery, when it hosts the defending USL PRO champions at Beavercreek High School on Friday, May 3 at 7:00 PM.
The Dutch Lions are coming off a tough, but successful road trip to Florida last weekend, during which they outlasted VSI Tampa Bay 1-0 before falling to Orlando City 0-4 the next night. Splitting the games away from Dayton brought the Dutch Lions record to 2-1-0, the club’s best start since joining USL PRO in 2011.
“I’m very satisfied with the start of the season,” said Dutch Lions Head Coach Patrick Bal. “We played a man down against Pittsburgh for over an hour, then played Tampa Bay and Orlando on back-to-back nights during our longest road trip of the year. Getting six points out of those three matches is a great start.”
Charleston began the season with a loss at Richmond, but bounced back to defeat Antigua and Pittsburgh in their next two matches. The Battery will be looking to pick up an additional three points in Harrisburg on Wednesday before lacing up the cleats in Dayton on Friday.
Bal stated, “We can compete with every team in this league, but we will have to be at 100% to beat last year’s champions. I have a lot of respect for their organization, and I am looking forward to a great game. Hopefully, we can keep our unbeaten streak at home alive a little longer.”
“We can expect a physical game that will display a lot of skill. Both Dayton and Charleston have experienced professional players from around the world who love to win. This will create a great atmosphere to play in,” said Dayton forward Gibson Bardsley. “We need to play as a team, defend as a unit, and push forward as a unit. If we can push high and press them properly, we should be able to create chances that will lead to goals.”
Charleston barely edged out the Dutch Lions in the two-game series the clubs played in 2012. A goal late in stoppage time gave the Battery a 1-0 victory in Dayton. The two teams played to 0-0 draw in Charleston’s Blackbaud Stadium to finish the regular season. Given the similar starts to this season for both teams, fans at Beavercreek High School can expect to see another exciting, tightly contested match. Tickets for the game are available at www.ticketfly.com.