Dayton Dutch Lions Advance to Next Round of Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
Dutch Lions’ 3-0 Victory over Louisville’s River City Rovers in historic tournament
Dayton Dutch Lions News Release -- www.dutchlionsfc.com
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
BEAVERCREEK, OH....Strong possession against the River City Rovers produced a win for the Dayton Dutch Lions in their opening match of the 100th edition of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, one of the oldest national cup competitions in United States soccer. The Dutch Lions rolled hard over the River City Rovers of Louisville, Kentucky’s first Premier Development League (PDL) soccer team, winning the match 3-0.
The Dutch Lions drew first blood early with an opportunistic Irakli Khutsidze goal in the 9th minute on a botched clearance by River City defense. The Rovers’ Goalkeeper, Taylor Hafling, endured significant and continual pressure as the Dutch Lions relentlessly pounded the ball at him and kept the success rate low for the Dutch Lions with a hungry Dutch Lions defense on the prowl most of the first half. Both defensive backs, Shane Smith and Gregory Preciado, traded shot attempts throughout the first half and managed to slow the rhythm when they returned to the Dutch Lions’ side of the pitch, frustrating the River City Rovers. River City’s Lindokuhle Mfeka took advantage of an onrushing Lwandiso Gonya who one-timed a dipping ball on target, but the Dutch Lions’ Keeper Matt Williams had an easy save for one of the few Rover City attempts. Dutch Lions’ Joey Madigan crept up the top with the help of an Eric Kissinger assist and the 26th minute yielded another goal for the Dutch Lions, who left the field at the half 2-0.
The tempo of the game was decidedly sluggish for the Dutch Lions when the teams took the field for the second half of play. River City seized on the reduction in energy and came out strong. However, the change of pace couldn’t stop a third Dutch Lions goal in the 47th minute, smoked in by Tjeerd Westdijk, and the Dutch Lions increased their lead to 3-0. Corner kicks dominated the second half for the Rovers, with one possibility in the 55th minute by Dean Abdehou that was subsequently tapped away by Williams. Rover City kept the pressure on and another 59th minute corner kick found the head of Richard Ballard but Dutch Lions’ Preciado was ready with a quick flick and the ball stayed far from the goal.
At this point, Dutch Lions Coach Patrick Bal went to his bench to change things up. In his 2013 debut, Nago MBengue was substituted in for Gibson Bardsley, and new energy was infused into the game. In a full sprint up the top of the penalty area, Westdijk took a beautiful shot which was punched out to left by the River City Goalkeeper, Hafling, and a hungry MBengue took the chance for another nice Dutch Lions attempt that was thwarted by an electric save by Hafling once again. The continued River City pressure was in vain, however, and the Dutch Lions finished the match with the 3-0 Victory.
Coach Bal, while pleased with the win, was visibly disappointed in the second half performance of his team. “In a game like this you have to be continually creative. If you start thinking everything is easy then you have one corner kick, three corner kicks, five corner kicks and suddenly you see a change in the game with a team who could be very hungry. We cannot play like this and expect to keep winning.”
The Dayton Dutch Lions will move forward in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup with another home game in Beavercreek on May 21 against the Dearborn Stars of the United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA). This year the U.S. Open Cup drew 68 teams, the largest field in the modern era for the tournament which dates back to 1914. It is among the oldest in the world and includes teams from the MLS, USL Pro, PDL, USASA, and other leagues, with a significant increase in prize money as a draw.
Dayton hits the road to Pittsburgh for a league rematch against the Riverhounds (1-4-3) at Pittsburgh’s Highmark Stadium on Saturday, May 18th. After the tournament game on the 21st, Dayton’s next league 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).