Friday June 29, 2012
DAYTON, Ohio – After a hot morning, and a stormy evening, the Dayton Dutch Lions (1-7-6) came back twice against Orlando City (10-1-3) as the two teams played to a 2-2 draw on Friday night at Miami Valley Stadium. Matt Luzunaris and Anthony Pulis both gave the league-leading Lions the lead, but Joel DeLass and Akeem Priestley's responses earned the Dutch Lions a point.
Orlando opened the scoring in the fourth minute after the Dutch Lions' defense left Luzunaris unmarked at the top of the penalty area. But Dayton responded well, and the Dutch Lions were rewarded as they continued to push forward in the 21st minute when DeLass buried the ball into the back of the net after a poor clearance by Orlando's defense, tying the score.
Orlando aggressively pushed forward, and in the 27th minute, Nixon Dias was called for a handball just outside the penalty area. Adama Mbengue's strike off the restart hit off Mettin Copier’s arm for another handball call, only this time coming in the penalty area. Pulis scored off the penalty kick to put Orlando City up 2-1 in the 29th minute.
But the Lions struck back just two minutes later when a cross from Shane Smith found Priestley at the back post. Priestley easily jumped above his defender and headed the ball into the net to tie the game again.
With five of the six yellow cards shown coming in the second half, the aggressive nature of both teams came out. USL PRO Player of the Week Eli Garner had a long breakaway in the 64th minute, but his shot from the edge of the penalty area was saved by Orlando goalkeeper Miguel Gallardo.
“I think we played really well in the first half and in the second half they had to change their tactics to force us to kick the long ball,” said Coach Ivar Van Dinteren. “We showed the mentality to come back two times. I’m really proud of the Lions to play 2-2 against the frontrunner. We always struggle in the last 30 minutes and this time we did not get a goal against in the final minutes.”
The Dutch Lions next face the Pittsburgh Riverhounds on Wednesday night at 7:30 p.m. at Miami Valley South Stadium before traveling to Rochester Rhinos next Saturday, July 7. Orlando moves on to face the Pittsburgh Riverhounds on Saturday night at Chartiers Valley Stadium at 7 p.m.