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Dayton Dutch Lions Prey on Phoenix Wolves with 4-3 Win

May 12, 2013 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Dayton Dutch Lions News Release


BEAVERCREEK, OH....The Dayton Dutch Lions (3-2-0) protected their domain against the Phoenix FC Wolves (2-5-2) in a fast-paced battle that saw intense action throughout the match, with Dayton winning 4-3. Phoenix drew first blood with a Thomas Ramos smack to the cross bar which just trickled in on the end line, according to the line judge, surprising the Dutch Lions with an early goal in the sixth minute. Several opportunities later, Dayton's Shintaro Harada skillfully set up Joel DeLass, who rocketed the ball to the far post for the equalizer, now 1-1, and Phoenix frustration manifests in a yellow card award seconds later to the Wolves' José Ramos.

The Wolves' continued their hunt with Diego Faria da Silva sending a high-flying ball to the top corner of the Dutch Lions' goal, but Dayton's Matt Williams punched the near disaster just out of the top corner saving the go-ahead for Phoenix. This was the first of many Williams' athletic saves.

Dayton kept the pressure on the Wolves but was denied several opportunities including a great decision by Wolves' Keeper Andrew Weber whose head ball save in the 40th minute kept Dayton from scoring. Persistence paid off for Dayton in the 45th minute when Dutch Lion's Gibson Bardsley, with four defenders crowding him, shot the ball through traffic to the inside far post for the go-ahead goal. High action continued in stoppage time, and the teams left the field with the Dayton Dutch Lions leading the Phoenix Wolves, 2-1.

As dark clouds crept in for the second half, the Dutch Lions and the Wolves continued their battle for possession with a feverish intensity that matched the ensuing storm. It got a whole lot more cloudy for Phoenix in the 45th minute when Dayton's Garner threaded the cross to Bardsley, who burned past Phoenix for a thunderous goal, with the score now 3-1, Dayton.

At this point, Phoenix Head coach David Robertson changed the rhythm of the game considerably with several forward substitutions, including Aaron King in for mid-fielder José Ramos in the 59th minute and Cameron Vickers in for Faria da Silva. The Wolves began to circle and almost took the Dutch Lions down with their heavily offensive lunge.

The outcome seemed set when, in the 77th minute, Phoenix's Andrew Weber commited a foul in the box, making the way for a successful PK taken by Joel DeLass. Dayton's belly was full with its 4-1 lead, and the energy on the field visibly fell. An unsatisfied Phoenix gnawed on its last bit of opportunity for a 79th minute goal by Aaron King, with Dayton still leading 4-2, followed seconds later by a Vickers corner kick, still in the 79th minute, which found the head of Phoenix's Moer Yhan de Doue. With Dayton still leading 4-3, the fierce brawl took on a different tone. In spite of last minute intensity and drive by the Phoenix Wolves, the Dayton Dutch Lions held on for the 4-3 win.

Dayton Dutch Lions Coach Patrick Bal was visibly shaken at the final: "A couple of crazy minutes and then the goal fell and I expected the worst." When asked about the game, Bal said, "I like the way it was played. It was hard and it was fair. There were no crazy tackles." Bal continued, "Both teams knew what they were playing for. It was a huge win towards making the playoffs."

League play is suspended when, on Tuesday May 14th, Dayton plays in the US Open Cup against Louisville's River City Rovers at 7:00 pm in the Miami Valley Hospital Stadium in Beavercreek. Dayton then travels to Pittsburgh for a league rematch against the Riverhounds (1-4-3) at Pittsburgh's Highmark Stadium on Saturday, May 18th. Dayton's next home game is Sunday, May 26th, at 6:30 pm, again at the Miami Valley Hospital Stadium in Beavercreek. The Dutch Lions face Antigua's Barracuda FC (0-6 -0). For season and individual game tickets, visit the Dutch Lions website.

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