PDL Game Report
Friday, May 9, 2014
CINCINNATI, Ohio -- The Cincinnati Dutch Lions FC twice came back from two-goal deficits to claim a 3-3 draw against the River City Rovers in the club's inaugural PDL contest at the Xavier University Soccer Complex on Friday night. Jordan Grant scored twice for Cincinnati, and Dylan Terry twice for the Rovers, but it was Jeff McClure's finish with 10 minutes to go that earned the Dutch Lions a point.
The Dutch Lions came out positively with good passing and held the majority of possession in the first half. A pass from Cincinnati's Chris Harmon in the sixth minute to McClure led to a long touch and a quick pick up by Rovers goalie Christian Carey.
The Rovers came right back when in the seventh minute Peter May put a chip over the Dutch Lions defense, which found the foot of Terry, who did not hesitate to put the ball past the Dutch Lions goalkeeper to the right corner of the goal for an early advantage.
The Lions were undeterred however and went right back to playing their Dutch possession style game. The ninth minute saw a shot on goal by McClure, but Rovers goalkeeper Christian Carey saved well. Not to be outdone, the Rovers' Ace Gonya made some runs to the goal, followed by hard shots that just missed wide and high.
The Rovers doubled their lead after they forced a turnover by the Dutch Lions in the midfield, which caused Cincinnati keeper, Eric Osswald to have to come out to challenge Terry, but he was unable to get a grip on the ball which allowed Terry to put away his second of the night.
The Dutch Lions quickly hit back at the start of the second half. A build-up from the back allowed the Dutch Lions' Rowin Van Zaanen to find Harmon, who passed out to Grant on the right side for a brilliant shot on the ground to the far-left post and the back of the net in the 48th minute.
River City restored its two-goal advantage five minutes later as Gonya gently chipped the ball over Oswald after breaking in on goal. Grant would get his second in the 67th minute, however, as he received a pass from Van Zaanen and took it to the goal for a well-placed finish into the right corner of the net.
The game became a battle of attrition in the midfield for the next 10 minutes, but the Dutch Lions were able to get on even terms in the 80th minute as McClure dribbled to the goal and fired one into the back of the net. River City wasted no time getting down to the other end and M’fera blasted one just over and left of the Cincinnati goal as the visitors pushed to regain the lead, but neither side was able to put away a late chance as each took a point.
“What I liked is the way we fought back," Dutch Lions coach Terry Nicholl said. "We made a few subtle changes and I think we put value in. I think we played well enough in the second half to consider it a decent performance. Because the ball was up and down the field, it was a fun and exciting game for the fans to watch.”
Cincinnati (0-0-1) travels to take on the River City Rovers (0-0-1) again on Friday, May 16 at 7:30pm in Louisville at Woehrle Field. The Dutch Lions remain on the road on Saturday, May 24th as the side visits the Southern West Virginia King's Warriors at East River Soccer Complex before they return home to the Xavier University Soccer Complex on Friday, May 30th at 7 p.m. to play the West Virginia Chaos. For season and individual game tickets, visit the Dutch Lions website.