Dayton Dutch Lions FC misses great chance to qualify for the playoffs
Sunday, August 4, 2013. DAYTON, OH ….. The Dayton Dutch Lions (9-7-7) had a perfect chance to put themselves up for a first ever playoff spot but left the field disappointed after a 0-1 loss despite a late 10 minute attack wave. Wilmington won the match 1-0 on sheer physicality with a header by Hammerhead forward Kyle Greig off a Shawn Nicklaw corner kick in the 57th minute.
Dayton’s road trip seemed to be bothering them as they began the first half flat on their feet, with uncharacteristically troublesome touches when they did got the ball. Wilmington had the better of the play without being dangerous besides some set pieces using all their length and strength. Dayton missed a golden opportunity in the 23rd minute with a brilliant run down the left flank by Eli Garner who threaded a precise cross from the end line that found Hammerhead keeper Phil Tuttle diving too early, and with the ball making a beeline for the right goal pocket Wilmington defender Uriah Bentick stepped just in front of the goal line and sent the ball out, denying Dayton their chance. The teams headed to the locker room with no score on the board.
The second half started with an open chance for Wilmington when a long ball got behind the Dutch Lions defense and Matt Williams coming out but the forward missed. Wilmington used the physical talent they had to muscle the ball toward the Dayton goal more and more and especially with set pieces they sent a lot of size in the box resulting in the game's only goal, when a corner kick was headed in by Greig. After the Hammerhead goal, Dayton shifted their play to match the physicality of the Wilmington team and upped the tempo of the game. Lord came in for Khutsidze and Harada moved into the midfield, resulting in a better play all of a sudden through the midfield. There were several opportunities for a Dayton score, with Garner missing the goal by inches and the biggest one by Gibson Bardsley who got one on one with the goalie but mishit it. he fired off another ball that he goalie miraculously saved from the top right corner. with big man Joe Broekhuizen bringing in a lot of power up front there were a few more scrimmgaes in the box and a Garner shot was saved again keeping the Lions scoreless for the night.
Dayton Coach Patrick Bal acknowledged the Dutch Lions lack of intensity. “There wasn’t a lot of flow in the game,” said Bal. “Their men were really physical and we weren’t able to stay with them in the first 60 minutes of the game.” He noted the adjustment the Dayton team made after the Wilmington goal. “After their score we made it a lot more physical--we played with them a lot tougher. There still wasn’t a lot of flow offensively, although we got a couple of chances by Eli and Gibson’s shot. We just weren’t good enough today.”
With three games left in the schedule, the Dutch Lions are still in a playoff position, the first in the relatively new club’s history. Dayton travels to face Wilmington again in Legion Stadium on Friday August 9th, and then takes on the USL Pro’s current first place team, Richmond Kickers, in their own City Stadium on Saturday August 10. The Dayton team returns home for the final league game of the season against the Harrisburg City Islanders (13-8-2) on Saturday, August 17th, at 7:30.