USL Orange County SC

Blues Take Second Straight 1-0 Win over Dutch Lions

Published on June 17, 2012 under United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Orange County SC News Release


FULLERTON, Calif. - The Blues registered their second consecutive 1-0 home win over the Dayton Dutch Lions on Sunday behind a 62nd minute game-winner by forward Bright Dike, who also scored the only goal in Friday's contest and has now tallied four times in six appearances with the Blues since joining on loan in early May.

After an uneventful opening half hour, in which both sides appeared keen to preserve their energy in the Southern California heat, the Blues created the first opportunity of the match in the 33rd minute. Former Chivas USA man Maykel Galindo released Dike on the right side of the penalty area and the on-loan Portland Timber rifled a powerful shot high and wide of the frame.

The Dutch Lions had a dangerous look of their own six minutes later, the ball being laid off to Mettin Copier on a free-kick at the top of the box and the 23-year-old firing just over the crossbar. Moments later, it would be the hosts on the attack again, as Ricky Waddell released Carlos Borja with a beautiful through ball into the area and the California native saw his attempted finish whiz just wide of the far post.

The Blues nearly got punished for the missed opportunity in the 42nd minute, defender Erlys recovering heroically to clear the ball off the line after an unfortunate touch past his onrushing goalkeeper Amir Abedzadeh.

The hosts quickly regained their composure after the scare and very nearly took the lead about nine minutes into the second period, Bryan Burke whipping a beautiful right-footed out-swinger to the center of the box, where Dike rose highest and athletically headed back toward the right post, only to see it miss wide by inches.

Three minutes later, the Blues went agonizingly close again, Allan Russell picking out substitute Cheun-Yong Park with a beautiful switch toward the left side of the box and the South Korean hitting a dangerous attempt on the bounce, also narrowly missing the right post.

The Blues finally managed to send the ball inside that same upright in the 62nd minute, Dike delivering his second game-winner in as many matches when he was picked out at the top of the box by fellow striker Matt Fondy and hit a wonderfully placed right-footed curler that left goalkeeper Matt Williams without a chance.

Head Coach Charlie Naimo's men did well to defend their lead in the final half hour of the contest and now hope to build on the back-to-back wins over the Dutch Lions in their June 28 away meeting with the in-form Charlotte Eagles. Meanwhile, Dayton looks to earn its first three points of the campaign when it hosts the Wilmington Hammerheads on June 23.

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