DeLass and Bardsley both score two to give Dayton Dutch Lions FC victory in exciting match
Dayton, May 11 2013 - Joel DeLass and Eli Garner scored two goals apiece as the Dayton Dutch Lions withstood a strong comeback by Phoenix FC to take a 4-3 victory at a cold and rainy Beavercreek Stadium on Saturday night.
Phoenix took an early lead in the sixth minute as a close-range effort by Thomas Ramos hit the underside of the crossbar and dropped over the goal line.
The Dutch Lions came close to an equalizer as a volley went just over the crossbar in the 13th minute, but they were able to get back on even terms in the 18th minute as an angled pass by Shintaro Harada found Joel DeLass in space on the left, and the midfielder shot low into the right corner of the net.
The game remained open at both ends, Phoenix forcing a good save from Matt Williams to tip an effort over the crossbar. Wolves goalkeeper Andrew Weber also had to be sharp, making a good save from Brandon Swartzendruber in the 26th minute. Dayton took the lead in the final minute of the first half, with Gibson Bardsley getting a return pass from a throw-in on the left before cutting into the penalty area and shooting into the right corner of the net. Bardsley then added a second three minutes into the second half, latching onto a great pass by Eli Garner before shooting low into the left corner from the right side of the penalty area.
Dayton appeared to have put the game away with 13 minutes to play after the Dutch Lions were awarded a penalty for a foul in the penalty area that DeLass shot low into the left side of the net to make it 4-1. Phoenix hit back immediately, however, Aaron King driving home a fierce finish from 12 yards for his second goal in as many games two minutes later. The Wolves then pulled within a goal a minute later, Peabo Doue heading home from a corner with 10 minutes to go. Phoenix thought it had tied the game off a free kick three minutes later, only for the assistant referee’s flag to be raised for offside. The Lions were able to hold on to the lead making them jump over Phoenix in the standings with 9 points in 5 games.
Dayton Dutch Lions Coach Patrick Bal was visibly shaken at the final: “A couple of crazy minutes and then the goal fell and I expected the worst.” When asked about the game, Bal said, “I like the way it was played. It was hard and it was fair. There were no crazy tackles.” Bal continued, “Both teams knew what they were playing for. It was a huge win towards making the playoffs.”
League play is suspended when, on Tuesday May 14th, Dayton plays in the US Open Cup against Louisville’s River City Rovers at 7:00 pm in the Miami Valley Hospital Stadium in Beavercreek. Dayton then travels to Pittsburgh for a league rematch against the Riverhounds (1-4-3) at Pittsburgh’s Highmark Stadium on Saturday, May 18th. Dayton’s next home game is Sunday, May 26th, at 6:30 pm, again at the Miami Valley Hospital Stadium in Beavercreek. The Dutch Lions face Antigua’s Barracuda FC (0-6 -0).
Line up Dayton Dutch Lions FC
Williams, Lord, Presciado, Granger, Smith, DeLass (C), Harada, Khutsidze, Bardsley (Kissinger), Schwartzendruber (Westdijk), Garner (Broekhuizen)