Phoenix FC Rallies Late but Falls Short in Dayton
May 11, 2013 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Phoenix FC News Release
DAYTON, Ohio (May 11, 2013) - Joel DeLass and Eli Garner scored two goals apiece as the Dayton Dutch Lions withstood a strong comeback by Phoenix FC to take a 4-3 victory at Beavercreek Stadium on Saturday night. The win broke a two-game losing streak for the Dutch Lions, and kept the Wolves winless on the road this season.
Phoenix took an early lead in the sixth minute as a close-range effort by Thomas Ramos hit the underside of the crossbar and dropped over the goal line. The Dutch Lions came close to an equalizer as a volley went just over the crossbar in the 13th minute, but they were able to get back on even terms in the 18th minute as an angled pass by Shintaro Harada found Joel DeLass in space on the left, and the midfielder shot low into the right corner of the net.
The game remained open at both ends, Phoenix forcing a good save from Matt Williams to tip an effort over the crossbar. Wolves goalkeeper Andrew Weber also had to be sharp, making a good save from Brandon Swartzendruber in the 26th minute.
Dayton took the lead in the final minute of the first half, with Gibson Bardsley getting a return pass from a throw-in on the left before cutting into the penalty area and shooting into the right corner of the net. Bardsley then added a second three minutes into the second half, latching onto a pass by Eli Garner before shooting low into the left corner from the right side of the penalty area.
Dayton appeared to have put the game away with 13 minutes to play after the Dutch Lions were awarded a penalty for a foul in the penalty area that DeLass shot low into the left side of the net to make it 4-1. Phoenix hit back immediately, however, Aaron King driving home a fierce finish from 12 yards for his second goal in as many games two minutes later.
The Wolves then pulled within a goal a minute later, Peabo Doue heading home from a corner with 10 minutes to go. Phoenix thought it had tied the game off a free kick three minutes later, only for the assistant referee's flag to be raised for offside. The Wolves again went close from a corner in the 89th minute, a header going just over the crossbar, but they were unable to find a fourth goal to earn a point.
United Soccer League Championship Stories from May 11, 2013
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- Phoenix FC Rallies Late but Falls Short in Dayton - Phoenix FC
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