Dayton Ohio, May 4 2014 - the Dayton Dutch Lions FC lost their second game in a row. After a good start in the first half Charleston opened the scoring due to a mistake in the back line. In the last minutes (88th) of the game Prince assisted on a corner kick and found the head of the on rushing Omar Salgado. The Dayton Dutch Lions FC played well but created few opportunities.
The Dayton Dutch Lions FC started the first half well on a chilly, overcast night in Beavercreek, OH. The Lions had the majority of possession but struggled to create real chances. In the 8th minute there was an opportunity for forward Ryan Finley, but his shot was blocked by a Charleston defender. Charleston had a few break aways and in the 12th minute forward Mamadou Diouf went one on one with Goalkeeper Matt Williams but his shot went over the crossbar.
“The first half was good and we played very well, just one bad mistake costs us a goal. Defensively we were fine. We have a good team and good players, but we have to score some goals”. Said Dayton goalkeeper Matt Williams.
In the 33th minute, Forward Aaron Schoenfeld had a header on goal for the Lions, but Charleston goalkeeper Odisnel Cooper made the save. One minute later winger Eli Garner had a great shot but Cooper came up big again to deny him. A defensive lapse in he 37th minute allowed Charleston to take the lead, when Haviel Cordoves stole the ball after a bad control of the ball in the back line and put the ball past Dayton keeper Matt Williams for 0-1 lead for Charleston.
Dayton came out the 2nd half the same as in the first half and had majority of the possession but again struggled to create chances. In wasn't until the 67th minute when Eli Garner looked dangerous when he cut inside from the top left corner of the box and shot at goal but again Charleston’s Odisnel Cooper was solid. Matt Williams made a great stop in the 72nd minute on a shot from Abdallah keeping Dayton at 1-0. Coach Sid van Druenen tried to turn things around by putting Cruijff, Hertsenberg and Guilherme in up front but besides a put through ball for Schoenfeld in the box (that he was just short of getting past Cooper), the Lions could not manage to put serious pressure on the Charleston defense. It was the Battery that scored again in the 88th minute, this time from a corner kick. Omar Salgado finished it off with a strong header beating Williams to the ball, making the final score 2-0.
Coach Sid van Druenen said: “It’s a tough loss. I think the first half we dominated the ball possession. We created chances that they didn’t really create. I mean their goal came of a mistake. The second half we went to level up but they played with eleven players behind the ball and they were just looking for a counter attack. Despite the loss we can build on the soccer we played in the first half.”
Dayton Dutch Lions FC line up:
Williams, Matheus, Granger, George, Sweat, DeLass, Finlay (Guilherme), Walker (Hertsenberg), Vickers (Cruijff), Garner, Schoenfeld
The Lions played their final game at Beavercreek High School and are moving to their DOC Stadium at their soccer complex in West Carrollton. The play their next game Saturday May 10 against LA Galaxy II, currently in 2nd position. The game starts at 7pm and has several exciting events, such as the coming of Ruud Gullit, former (2x) Best Player of the World.