Dayton, OH, July 26 2014 -The Dayton Dutch Lions FC (5-13-2) hosted the Oklahoma City Energy FC (6-8-5) for the first time at DOC Stadium on a warm, muggy night. The skies were dark and ominous but the rain held off. Dayton came into tonight’s game looking for that elusive win at home in front of their fans, but they would face tough competition in the OKC Energy FC.
Dayton kicked off the first half and immediately the Lions were under heavy pressure from the Energy. The Lions would come out from under the pressure however and Jesjua Cruyff would put on an offensive display, running down the left side and creating havoc for the OKC defense and keeper as he shot and crossed into waiting Dayton attackers. Guilherme Felix and Matt Walker would take shots but the Energy’s net eluded them. The thirtieth minute found OKC with some beautiful one touch passing through the final third of Dayton’s end, but the Lions defense would hold strong and create an exciting counter attack only to have it called just off sides. Dayton would control the majority of the game until the forty second minute when a long ball down the field by OKC defender Gareth Evans would find Kyle Greig in the middle. Dayton’s Brock Granger would battle but Greig would poke the ball behind Granger and it would give Greig the space he needed to fire a shot into the back of the Dayton net. The Lions would come back with energy trying to finish but they would go into the half with the score, Dayton Dutch Lions FC 0 and the OKC Energy FC 1.
Dayton would come out strong in the second half looking to equalize and would create a corner kick opportunity immediately but they could not capitalize. The Energy would answer back in the forty ninth minute when Paul Wyatt would cross in front of the Lions net. Two OKC players would get a foot on the ball, but it would deflect off a Dayton defender and the Lions were able to clear the ball away. In the fifty first minute Cruyff would again find the head of Felix who would put the ball toward the top right corner of the OKC goal, but keeper Samir Badr would be there. The Energy would come right back in the fifty second minute when Greig would take the ball down the right side and cross on the ground to OKC’s Paul Wyatt running down the left. He would send a hard shot to the right corner of the Dayton goal to put his team up by two. Shortly after, a counter attack would give the Energy a two on one against the Lions. Dayton’s defender Matthew Wiet would block the shot to keep the Lions in the game. Play would go from one side of the field to the other and in the seventy fourth minute Sebastian Thuriere would run in on a corner kick and shoot, but Badr would dive for the save. The Energy would seal the win in the ninety second minute when Michael Thomas would take a free kick from the left at about the thirty yard line. The ball would take a deflection and end up in the back of the Dayton net. The game would end; Dayton Dutch Lions 0 , the Oklahoma City Energy 3.
I think it is a typical game of the season we are having commented Dayton Dutch Lions Coach Sid van Druenen. We created a couple of chances. A couple of calls didn’t go our way. I don’t think that’s the main thing. We played soccer, we dominated at moments. They created three chances and scored three goals. That’s just the season we are having. I think the boys played well. The second half we put more pressure on the ball. All we can do is keep working on it and hopefully turn things around by next week.”
The Dayton Dutch Lions FC (5-14-2) play the Harrisburg City Islanders (5-7-6) at DOC Stadium on August 2nd at 7pm. The Dutch Lions then hit the road to face the Charleston Battery (4-8-6) on Friday August 8th at 7:30pm. They continue their road trip on Saturday August 9th at 7:30pm when they play the Wilmington Hammerheads FC (6-2-7). For season and individual game tickets, visit the Dutch Lions website.
Photo Credit: Todd Friedman
Dayton Dutch Lions FC-Oklahoma City Energy FC 0-3
42’ Greig 0-1
52’ Wyatt, Greig 0-2
92’ Thomas 0-3
Dayton Dutch Lions FC: Williams, Smith (Kissinger), Wiet, Granger, Friedman, DeLass, Thuriere (Hertsenberg), Walker, Cruyff (Broekhuizen), Felix , Vickers (Khutsidze)
OKC Energy FC: Badr, De Doue, Evans, Gunderson, Hedrick, Delgado (Miller), Shiffman, Thomas, Medranda (Villion), Castro, Greig (Perry)