Dayton Dutch Lions FC can’t overcome Charleston Battery PK Goal, struggle in final third of the field
Dayton Dutch Lions News Release -- www.dutchlionsfc.com
Friday, May 3, 2013 BEAVERCREEK, OH - A hard "fought" penalty kick converted by Nicki Patterson gave Charleston Battery (4-1-0) a 1-0 lead in the first half and managed to stay intact as The Dayton Dutch Lions (2-2-0) had possession the majority of the game but struggled to create chances the whole game. Even the lively crowd on a beautiful spring evening at the Miami Valley Hospital Stadium in Beavercreek couldn’t lift the Dutch Lions past the disappointment for a go-ahead in the USL Pro standings.
The game hardly started when Charleston had a a breakaway on the left side putting the ball in the 5 yard box with Matt Williams coming up with a great save. After the chance the Dayton Dutch Lions FC showed a lot of possession building up from the back through their midfield occasionally trying to switch sides with long balls to wingers Garner and Bardsley. But the experienced Charleston defense stood strong and well organized and the Lions had trouble creating any real danger up front the whole game. Tragedy struck for the Dutch Lions in the 34th minute with an unfortunate handball in the box by Dutch Lions’ Greg Presciado called by the linesman to the referee, leading to a Charleston Battery Penalty Kick by USL 2012 All-Pro, Nicki Paterson, who nicely placed the ball for the 1-0 lead. The Lions had their best attack a few minutes after that when they penetrated the Charleston defense in the right side of the box but the nice cross was head just over the crossbar by Shane Smith.
In the second half, Charleston Battery no longer pressured the DDL's defense and sat back waiting for the counterattack and slowing the game down. as in the first half the DDL forwards could not beat their direct opponents and while the strong DDL defense kept Charleston creating any danger themselves, it was not until Coach Bal brought in Joe Broekhuizen, Dayton’s big man, that they started to win the ball around the Charleston box resulting in the best chance for the equalizer when the ball was played in the box on the left where Brandon Schwartzendruber was standing wide open for a 10 yard open shot but the ball went wide. Despite a lot of possession Charleston’s experience locked the game down as they did in the previous 2 years in Dayton.
Clearly disappointed by the loss, Dayton Dutch Lions FC Coach Bal felt the Dutch Lions had possession 70-80% of the game,. “Our lack of speed and precision left us with no true chances for the win.” Coach Bal continued, “While I don’t think we deserved to lose, I’m not sure we deserved a win either.”
Dayton stays in Beavercreek for a 7:30 game at the Miami Valley Hospital Stadium on Saturday, May 11, against the Phoenix FC Wolves (2-3-1).