Saturday, July 6, 2013
DAYTON, Ohio -- The Richmond Kickers remained undefeated this season as they rallied from a halftime deficit to take a 3-2 victory against the Dayton Dutch Lions on a cool Saturday night at Beavercreek Stadium. Two goals by Luke Vercollone, and another by on-loan D.C. United forward Michael Seaton gave the Kickers victory as the Dutch Lions got goals from goals scored by Dayton’s Brandon Swartzendruber and Gregory Preciado.
The Dutch Lions took the lead in the fourth minute as a steal by Gibson Bardsley was passed forward to Swartzendruber for a beautiful finish to the far post. Eli Garner, Bardsley and Irakli Khutsidze each had opportunities in the first half, but were unable to convert for a second goal, and the Dutch Lions held the lead until the halftime break.
Richmond came out with higher pressure at the start of the second half, causing Dayton to send more balls long as they tried to hit on the counter-attack. Possession began to go back and forth at a fast and furious pace, and Richmond was able to get back on level terms in the 57th minute after a foul by Preciado opened the door for Vercollone to convert from the penalty spot in the 57th minute.
Vercollone struck again two minutes later as a throw-in opportunity near Dayton’s goal set up another score for Vercollone, with Dayton goalkeeper Matt Williams’ punch came to the Kickers’ veteran and gave him the chance to finish. Seaton then added a third goal in the 71st minute as a deflected shot caught Williams off guard in the 71st minute.
Dayton would try to come back, and they pulled a goal back in the 87th minute as Preciado put the ball in off a corner by Garner. The Dutch Lions then pushed forwarrd all 11 players in stoppage time, and a header by Preciado missed by inches as they pursued an equalizer. Time would run out, however, as the Kickers moved within a point of Orlando City at the top of the USL PRO standings.
“I just told the guys, I forgot how it felt to lose, it’s not fun, but I applaud the effort," Dutch Lions coach Patrick Bal said. "We almost came back from 3-1 down, we didn’t lose because the other team was better, we lost because we gave up a couple of goals. We made a couple of mistakes. We should have put it away in the first half, we had a couple of chances. So, we lost because of us, not because of the other team. I told the guys we have to keep our heads up, it’s one game, not the whole season. We will go for three points in Columbus on Wednesday.”
Dayton travels to Columbus to meet the Crew Reserves (2-4-1) at the Crew Stadium on Wednesday night at 7:30 p.m. They return home to Beavercreek Stadium to take on Orlando City (10-2-4) on Sunday, July 14th at 6:30pm. For season and individual game tickets, visit the Dutch Lions website.