USL PRO Game Report
Friday, April 11, 2014
DAYTON, Ohio -- The Dayton Dutch Lions scored in stoppage as a 94th-minute goal by Joe Broekhuizen earned a 1-1 draw with the Rochester Rhinos at Beavercreek Stadium on Friday night. Samuel Petrone had given the Rhinos a first-half lead, but the Dutch Lions grabbed an equalizer to share the points in their home opener.
“There was a moment when the speed of the ball was good, the tempo was high, and there was flares of what we wanted to play," Dayton coach Sid van Druenen said. "But there was too much long ball. The work ethic was fantastic but the soccer we showed today is not the soccer we want to show.”
For most of the game the Rhinos managed to protect their early score, which came in the 28th minute on a cross from Onua Obasi, converted by midfielder Petrone. The ball dipped into the net just out of the reach of Dayton goalkeeper Matt Williams as the Rhinos capitalized on their best opportunity of the half.
Although Dayton controlled possession and tempo early, Rochester responded well, and denied several Dayton scoring opportunities to hold onto their 1-0 lead at the half.
In the second half, Rochester came out of the gate hot, ready to defend their lead with a strong physical presence. Petrone came close to adding a second in the 46th minute, only for Willams to dive hard to make the save. Dayton had a good chance to tie the game just past the hour-mark as Eli Garner broke in on the left side of the penalty area, but on loan New England Revolution goalkeeper Luis Soffner tipped his effort over the crossbar to keep the Rhinos up.
The equalizer would arrive late in five minutes of stoppage time, however, as Broekhuizen was able to get to a looped ball into the penalty area as he challenged Soffner at the top of the penalty area, and then put the finish away as the referee ruled his challenge on the goalkeeper a clean one.
Dayton will hit the road for its next contest as it visits the Harrisburg City Islanders (0-1-0) on Saturday, April 19 at the Skyline Sports Complex. The Rhinos will complete their three-game season-opening road trip to start the season on Monday, April 21 as they visit the Chicago Fire Reserves at 12 p.m. ET at Toyota Park.