The Dayton Dutch Lions FC welcomed the top rated Michigan Bucks to DOC Stadium on a humid, overcast evening. The Lions came into the game hoping to rebound after a tough loss last week. They did not disappoint beating the Michigan Bucks 1-0.
Dayton came out strong with a game plan to pressure the Bucks for every ball. In the second minute, Eric Lynch slotted a ball through the Michigan defense and Patrick Philippart found it on the other side. As he rounded the Michigan defender, he was brought down in the box. Philippart stepped up for the penalty kick in the third minute, but his shot came bouncing back off the right post and was cleared from danger.
Dayton was on the defensive in the sixteenth minute when Michigan set up Andre Landell for a hard shot in front of the goal. The Lion’s keeper, Paulo Pinto dropped fast to block the shot and then quickly reached forward to secure the ball.
In the twenty seventh minute, Dayton’s Bradley Schluter pushed up on the right and sent a ball forward to Kennedy Nwabia down the side. His first shot was blocked by the Michigan defense and his second swung wide.
The first half saw the Bucks control much of the possession. The Lions defense and keeper held strong however when the ball entered the Dayton final third. As the half progressed, the Dayton midfield applied more and more pressure, keeping play in the Bucks end, not giving Michigan the chances they had found earlier in the half. Both teams continued with pace and physicality as the half came to a scoreles close.
As the second half got underway, Dayton again was on the attack, but the Michigan defense thwarted attempts.
The Buck’s Landell made a run down the right in the forty ninth minute and fired a shot off at the Dayton goal. A diving Pinto blocked the ball with a strong right arm, denying Michigan and keeping the score at zero.
Play flew end to end and speed of play increased with both teams looking for the opening goal.
Dayton capitalized first in the sixtieth minute after a series of passes led Philippart to put a ball in for Tuithof who hammered it towards the far post. Michigan’s keeper put a hand on it, but the ball struck hard, fell behind into the Bucks goal. Dayton took the lead 1-0.
" I knew that I had struck the ball well when it came off my foot, but wasn't sure it was going in after I saw the keeper get his hand on it. I was so happy to see it cross the line," said Tuithof.
The goal sparked shots on both ends as the teams narrowly missed scoring in both directions. Both keepers were put to the test as play continued to be fast and furious.
With four minutes of stoppage time, Michigan pressed down on Dayton, but they held and earned their first win of the season. The final whistle blew and the Dayton Dutch Lions FC beat
the Michigan Bucks 1-0.
Dayton’s Assistant Coach Bruno Lopes had these comments after the game. “I think
we had a really nice start. The penalty kick unfortunately did not go in, but we
kept very good organization. We had also a rough time in the first half, the other
team kept the ball well and we tried to figure out a way to mark, especially in
the midfield because they play in a 4-4-2 diamond. As soon as we got those things
sorted out, we didn’t have a lot of chances but we kept control of the game, kept
control of possession and it was very positive. The second half, the same thing.
We came out very strong and I think better than them. They balanced the game out.
We took our chances, they also had their chances. But it was a very good
performance for the Lions.”
The Dayton Dutch Lions FC (1-1-1 4 points) travel to play their cross town rivals the
Cincinnati Dutch Lions FC (1-2-1 4 points) for a second time on Wednesday, June 8th at
3:00pm EDT at Mason Middle School. Dayton then head to Michigan to play the Bucks
(3-1-0) at Ultimate Soccer Arena on Saturday, June 11 at 7:30pm EDT.
MATCH SUMMARY
Venue: DOC Stadium
Referee: Maggie Shorts
Assistants: Devin Duling, Vernon Benter
Fourth Official: Brando Klqack
Attendance: 268
Weather: Humid overcast evening
SCORING SUMMARY:
60’ Dayton- Anwuar Tuithof 1-0
DISCIPLINARY SUMMARY:
63’ Michigan- Marco Charalabous-yellow
88’ Dayton-Mateus Gama-yellow
90+ Dayton-Kennedy Nwabia-yellow
LINEUPS:
Dayton Dutch Lions FC: Paulo Pinto, Bradley Schluter, Daan de Blank, Michael
Brezovsky, Paul Messerly, John Schwien, Mees Linders (Kershaw 90+), Eric Lynch
(DeRoy 78’), Anwar Tuithof (Kemjika 87’), Patrick Philippart (Gama 82’), Kennedy
Nwabia (Frasca 90+)
Subs: Nathan Jones, Joseph Furry, Christian Kershaw, Samuel De Roy, Mateus Gama,
Michael Frasca, Nduka Kemjika
Michigan Bucks: Drew Shepherd, Zach Bock, Alhassan Abubakar, Taylor Fletcher,
Alexi Souahy, Brad Dunwell, Marco Charalambous, Nick Wysong, Ben Fitzpatrick,
Jordan Shell (Soares 77’), Andre Landell (McWoods 80’)
Subs: Tom Lohmann, Russell Cicerone, Eric McWoods, Goncalo Soares, Tomer
Zloczower, Stephan Philippe, James Todd