Charlotte, NC - The Dayton Dutch Lions FC played the Charlotte Eagles to a scoreless draw in front of 1,032 people on Saturday night at Queens Sports Complex. Both teams had several good scoring opportunities and the game easily could have ended in 3-3. The draw keeps the Lions in 7th position with 28 points in 19 games. Goalkeepers Matt Williams and Eric Reed both came up with a couple of big saves to keep a clean sheet.
The Lions came off a game Friday night in Charleston and made two changes to the team starting Harada (after a one game suspension) and Bardsley. Charlotte opened the game with some good offensive pressure trying to capitalize on Dayton’s fatigue. Juan Guzman got the first good chance, but his left-footed shot didn't find the mark. Drew Yates found Stephen Okai on a give-and-go and found himself alone in front of the Dayton goal, but Okai's shot was saved by a sliding Matt Williams. Right after that Yates beat the Dutch Lions offside trap in the 36th minute but his shot was off the mark keeping the game scoreless. The last 10minutes of the first half Dayton took more control and came close t the opening goal when Bardsley had a great cross to Remco Klaasse who’s shot hit the left post out of reach of Reed. Klaasse found the woodwork again in the 45th minute as he controlled the ball on his chest at the box and his volley hit the crossbar. The match headed into the break scoreless.
The Dutch Lions came out strong in the second half as Eli Garner found himself going one on one with Reed but his shot was denied by a sliding Eric Reed. Both teams struggled the majority of the 2nd half to keep possession but the last 10 minutes had some fireworks. First Meza's header off of a Thornton cross hit the crossbar from close range and Thornton was dangerous again when his shot hit the far post. The Lions had the final chance off of a free kick in the 88th minute when the ball was served into the box and a header from 5 yards out was miraculously saved by Eric Reed to come back into the box and the 2nd header just in front of the goal went just over the crossbar keeping the score 0-0.
Line up: Williams, Lord, Presciado, Harada, Granger, DeLass, Khutsidze (Kissinger), Westdijk (Madigan), Bardsley, Klaasse, Garner (Schwartzendruber)
The Lions return back to Ohio and are preparing already for the next trip this week to play the Harrisburgh Islanders on Wednesday before returning at home on Friday to play Antigua.