Dayton Dutch Lions FC probably needs draw or win in last home game to qualify for playoffs
RICHMOND, Va. – The Dayton Dutch Lions FC lost against Conference leader Richmond Kickers on Saturday night in front of a crowd of 4,014. Because Tampa lost against Harrisburg the Lions are depending on Pittsburgh this week to know if they need a draw or win in the last regular season game at home against Harrisburg. In case Pittsburgh beats both Tampa (Sunday) as well as Wilmington (Wednesday) the Lions automatically qualify already.
Looking to rebound after last week’s first loss of the season, the Kickers jumped out to control the game. The Lions came off a game the night before against Wilmington. Richmond took an early lead in the 6th minute when defender Henry Kalungi played a long ball from midfield in the sixth minute into space with Dayton's defense too far apart. At the left edge of the box, Delicate chested the ball down, took a touch around Presciado and slotted a low shot that pinged off the inside of the far post before rolling over the goal line. The Dutch Lions nearly leveled the score in the 15th minute when a build up in the midfield saw Shintaro Harada play a short pass to Irakli Khutsidze, who played the ball wide to an unmarked Taylor Lord on the right wing. The defender served a cross into a swarming box, finding Brandon Swartzendruber in the air who headed the ball back to Khutsidze at the top of the box, only to see his effort soar skyward. The Kickers forced goalkeeper Matt Williams into action three minutes later when Robinson raced to the right touchline to keep the ball in play and fed it through to Joseph Ngwenya. The Zimbabwean international eluded his defender and played the ball back to Robinson who calmly attempted a low driven shot from the top of the box but Williams dove to his right to parry it wide. Keeping up the offensive pressure with Ownby and Delicate both in hot pursuit, the Kickers’ persistence was rewarded just past the half hour mark when defender Sascha Görres played a cross from the left side, picking out a streaking Ownby at the penalty spot who redirected a diving header to the upper corner. However, Dayton pulled a goal back less than two minutes later when Khutsidze delivered a through-ball to an awaiting Garner who powered into the box, beat his defender and rocketed a shot into the back of the net. The flurry of activity did not end there as the Kickers answered back 30 seconds later when Görres’ again made a run down the left wing and lobbed a cross into the mix, this time finding Delicate, who headed the ball just inside the far post from point blank range for his second goal, the Kickers third, of the half leaving the score at halftime at 3-1.
The action picked up where it left off after the restart when Alex Lee swept the ball away in Dayton territory, playing Robinson open at midfield. The swift playmaker turned goalscorer after barreling through the field and burying a shot from just inside the box for 4-1. Hoping to pull a goal back in the 63rd minute, Dayton delivered an inswinging corner into the teeming box from the left side, finding Swartzendruber lurking at the back post. As goalkeeper Andrew Dykstra came out to challenge, Kickers midfielder Mike Callahan saved the day with a clearance off the line. Seconds later, the Dutch Lions got a break when Greg Preciado raced down the right wing, beat his mark and carried the ball into the box before sending a low cross to the back post. Kalungi threw himself in the line of fire in an attempt to clear the ball but it ricocheted backwards for an own goal. But instead of making it a close game again the Kickers recovered from the misfortune in the 68th minute when Robinson steamrolled down the left flank and centered the ball for Ownby stationed 12 yards out who made no mistake for his second goal of the night and the score 5-2.
The team now returns to Dayton awaiting today's and this week's action to see if they need a draw or win against Harrisburg to qualify for the playoffs the first time in it's three year history in USL Pro. The game is Saturday at 7.30pm at Beavercreek High School in Beavercreek.
Line up: GK Matt Williams (Sean Teepen – 62’), Shane Smith (Matt Griffin – 84’), Greg Preciado, Brock Granger (Eddie Hertsenberg – 70’), Taylor Lord, Joel DeLass, Irakli Khutsidze (Ryan Grothaus – 74’), Shintaro Harada, Thomas Garner, Joey Madigan (Nago Mbengue – 62’), Brandon Swartzendruber