PDL Game Report
Friday, May 16, 2014
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Cincinnati Dutch Lions took a 2-0 victory against the River City Rovers on Friday night, spoiling the Rovers' home debut at Jeffersonville’s new Woehrle Athletic Complex.
A rematch of a thrilling 3-3 draw a week ago in Cincinnati, the match was quite the opposite, starved of action and goal-scoring chances. It was also physical affair; with the teams amassing a total of 22 fouls combined, compared to a mere seven in the previous tilt.
Windy and wet conditions played a part in the first half as rain slickened the pitch preventing either team from being comfortable in possession. The first real chance of the game saw the visitors take the lead after a Rovers turnover in the midfield led to a 3-on-2 break for the Dutch Lions. Rowin Vanzaanen played Chris Harmon in alone and the forward tucked the ball home into the lower right corner.
The Rovers struggled with patience and maintaining their possession oriented style throughout the half, resorting to long side-to-side switches and more direct service than they usually display.
“We didn’t keep our shape very well at all,” said Rovers head coach Tyrone Marshall. “I thought we were very disjointed in the midfield and that showed in our lack of ability to keep the ball and how easily they countered on us.”
River City’s best chance of the half came in the 39th minute when midfielder Lindo M’feka dispossessed a Dutch Lions defender at midfield and streaked into goal alone. Unfortunately for the University of South Florida standout, defensive pressure caught up in time and his shot found the hands of Cincinnati keeper Eric Osswald, who dove to his left to gather the shot.
The second half saw more of the same, with neither team doing much to establish itself. The Rovers did increase the pressure on the Dutch Lions defense but were unable to create any significant chances.
Ace Gonya and M’feka took turns making Osswald work, forcing him into two diving stops to his left on separate long distant shots.
Cincinnati added some cushion for the final margin in the 82nd minute when Kyle Smith got on the end of a through ball in the box and played a ball across the goal, past on-rushing Rovers goalkeeper Dalyan Hawes and onto the head of Jeff McClure who nudged it home.
The Rovers will look to regroup during a week of training next week and then hit the road for a two game set in Columbia, S.C. and Greensboro, N.C. against the South Carolina Bantams and Carolina Dynamo on May 29 and 30.
“I saw some bright spots out there tonight despite the disappointing result,” said Marshall. “This next week and a half will give us quality time to adjust and improve the things that we need to.”
The next home game for the River City outfit will be on June 5 against Southern West Virginia King’s Warriors at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $5 in advance and $7 at the gate.