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Dayton Dutch Lions FC Lose at Home against the Harrisburg City

July 12, 2014 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Dayton Dutch Lions News Release


WEST CARROLLTON, OH ...The Dayton Dutch Lions FC (5-11-2) welcomed the Harrisburg City Islanders (4-7-4) to DOC Stadium on a very warm, muggy evening. The Lions were hoping to get their first win at home in front of their cheering fans, but the City Islanders had other ideas and would score two in the first half and one in the third beating the Lions 3-1.

Dayton came out in the first half and was quickly on the defense as a fast, strong Harrisburg team went on the attack. It did not take the City Islanders long to put one in the back of the Lion's net when in the fourth minute Harrisburg's Garret Pettis ended up right in front of Dayton's goal and after some quick passing in the box by his teammates received the ball and put it away giving Harrisburg the quick lead. The Lion's keeper Matt Williams would have to come up with saves in the eleventh and sixteenth minutes as Harrisburg's Jimmy McLaughlin and Garret Pettis would take aim at the Dayton goal. The Lions would organize and create some chances of their own in the twenty sixth minute, but the Harrisburg defense would be there to block the shots. Dayton spent much of the rest of the half trying to keep Harrisburg from scoring but in the thirty ninth minute they would find the back of the net for a second time. Jimmy McLaughlin would make a run down the left and cross into the middle. The Dayton defender would slip and end up on the ground giving McLaughlin the space he needed to fire one in for Harrisburg's second goal of the half.

In the second half Dayton would come out on the attack and take possession in front of Harrisburg's goal. Eli Garner would use his speed and energy to try and create some chances for the Lions. Guilherme Felix would also throw all his effort into the attack but the City Islander defense would stand tall and not allow any shots. Harrisburg would have a good chance at the Lions goal in the fifty fifth minute when Dayton would lose the ball in the middle and a Harrisburg midfielder would pass out left to Garret Pettis making a run, he would beat his defender and turn in and shoot but the ball would go wide right of the Lion's goal. The Lions would come back in the fifty eighth when Garner would get a long ball on the left and cut right taking a long, looping shot to the top right of Harrisburg's goal, but it would go high. Play would go from end to end with passing and pace but neither team could open up their opponent's defense and score. That would change in the seventy fifth minute when a Dayton player would be taken down in the Harrisburg box and the foul would earn the Lions a penalty kick. Granger Brock would step up in the seventy seventh minute and put the ball waist high in the right side of Harrisburg's goal to put Dayton on the board and within one of Harrisburg. Dayton would continue to have chances but could not finish. As the Lions pressed forward in stoppage time to try to tie up the game, a defensive mistake would give Harrisburg's Robbie Derschang the ball and he would easily run for a one on one opportunity against Lion's keeper Williams. Williams would come out but it would be an easy ball into the net for Derschang sealing the win for Harrisburg 3-1 over the Dayton Dutch Lions.

Dayton Dutch Lions Coach Sid van Druenen had this to say about the game. "First of all I think we went down fighting, it's been a critical point for us this year. Today the boys kept believing , they kept working. We just weren't able to create that chance that we were looking for, but that was something that I was happy to see. Losing is part of the game, but if you lose you have to go down putting up a fight and today we did. But we do have some things to think about to improve on to get ready for the next game. It's tough it's not the first game we have lost unnecessarily I mean you have to be a bit unlucky. The second goal they shoot the ball and it hits the back of someone and goes in and the third was a missed clear by one of our defenders and the ball didn't go out of bounds and they were able to take it to the goal and score. Hopefully we can turn the luck our way and give the fans and the supporters a first home game win next week."

The Dayton Dutch Lions FC (5-12-2) will play at home again on Saturday, July 19th as they take on the Charlotte Eagles (5-9-2) at 7pm. They remain at home on Saturday, July 26th to play the OKC Energy FC (5-7-3) at 7pm. For season and individual game tickets, visit the Dutch Lions website.

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