Dayton Dutch Lions FC can't hold on to 1-0 halftime lead in Columbus
Wednesday, July 10, 2013. DAYTON, OHIO - A penalty kick awarded to the Crew Reserves resulting in the equalizer by the Crew and an ejection of Head Coach Patrick Bal took the wind out of the sails of The Dayton Dutch Lions’ (7-3-6), who lost 3-1 to the Columbus Crew Reserves (3-4-1). In the second match with the Crew Reserves, and the third encounter with the Crew, Dayton couldn’t sustain their early lead by Tjeerd Westdijk after Coach Bal’s departure.
Same as in the first game (4-4) both teams played very open resulting in several chances but it was the Dutch Lions struck first in the 42nd minute of the game, when Tjeerd Westdijk took a cross from Gibson Bardsley and scored on a half volley, taking Dayton ahead at the half. At this point, a stadium power failure forced a shortened half so the teams could continue to play with daylight as their only illumination.
Both Dayton and Columbus emerged strong in the second half, but a Dayton foul in the box in the 68th minute allowed Columbus’ Ben Speas to drive home a PK, tying the game 1-1. Following the PK, Head Coach Patrick Bal was ejected from the game by Referee Andrey Castel. Columbus seized on the confusion with a 76th minute goal by the Crew’s Tyson Wahl from a 25 yard free kick that managed to beat Dayton goalkeeper Matt Williams, and the Crew nudged ahead 2-1. Several minutes later, Tony Tchani’s shot to the Dayton goal pushed the Crew even farther forward, and the game ended with the Crew winning 3-1.
The Dutch Lions head back home to Dayton for the second double Dutch header of the season, Sunday, July 14th, beginning with the W League champions, the Dutch Lion’s Women’s team (5-1-3), who play VSI Tampa Bay (2-5-1) at 4:00 pm. The Dutch Lions Men tackle USL Pro’s first place team, Orlando City (10-2-4), with game time at 6:30 pm.