FINAL: Riverhounds SC 3, Dayton Dutch Lions 0, US Open Cup, 2nd Round
GAME SUMMARY
After 50 minutes, it appeared the Dayton Dutch Lions were making a serious bid to keep its all-time unbeaten record at Highmark Stadium intact.
Things turned sour quickly for Dayton though, as Neco Brett scored twice in an 12-minute span in the second half and Anthony Velarde added an assist and a late goal to spoil the USL League Two club’s upset bid, as the Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC turned things up a notch to defeat Dayton, 3-0, in the second round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup match.
Hounds ride strong second half to 3-0 Open Cup win over Dayton
First though, things got a little dicey for the Hounds.
In the 52nd and 53rd minutes, Dayton had back-to-back chances to take the lead.
Tate Robertson, who scored the game winner last week in Erie in the second half, put his play making abilities on display in his return to Pennsylvania.
In the first chance, he broke through on left side to send a very dangerous ball right at the six yard spot for Gabriel Pewu but the big forward just missed on connecting.
A minute later, Robertson took one himself from the left edge of the box that forced Riverhounds goalkeeper Austin Pack into going to his left to keep the match scoreless.
“Certainly a nervy moment. A couple of those could have gone in for them, and it would have been a completely different game,” Visser added.
“The scoreline was 3-0, but we gave a very good account for ourselves tonight. Obviously, they’re (Riverhounds) a professional team, and they do a lot of things really well. Our players showed they’re very technical, but fitness really showed in the second half though.”
With the win, the Riverhounds advance to the third round of the long-running competition, where they’ll host the winner of the Lansing United-Indy Eleven match which will be played on Wednesday.
Look for a more detailed game report and more post-game reaction later and/or early Wednesday.
Post game with @RiverhoundsSC's
Anthony Velarde talks about playing a full 90, scoring a goal and picking up an assist#USOC2019 pic.twitter.com/JlGPa2mfc4— John Krysinsky (@PghSoccerScribe) May 15, 2019
Game Highlights:
@RiverhoundsSC took care of business and won 3-0 over @DaytonDutchLion. Hounds will host winner of @IndyEleven and @lansingignite #USOC2019 pic.twitter.com/ngCDg2ij6e
— U.S. Open Cup (@opencup) May 15, 2019
Lineups:
Riverhounds SC – Austin Pack – Noah Franke, Uchenna Uzo, Thomas Vancaeyezeele, Tobi Adewole, Dani Rovira (Kenardo Forbes 90′) – Sammy Kahsai, Ryan James – Robbie Mertz (Jordan Dover 81′), Anthony Velarde – Neco Brett (Steevan Dos Santos 81′)
Subs not used: Kyle Morton, Joe Greenspan, Kevin Kerr, Christian Volesky
Dayton Dutch Lions – Federico Barrios – Abdul Kooistra, Eric Hutton, Jake Stovall (Tristan Lyle 81′), Gerogios Charkoutsakis – Harvey Slade, Zachary Buescher – Jackson Dietrich, Tate Robertson Keir, Jonas Fjellberg (Tomás Bernedo 42′) – Gabriel Pewu (Donovan Segree 69′)
Subs not used: Jack Steele, Jasminko Dizdarevic, Austin Kinley, James Lamb
Scoring Summary:
PIT – Neco Brett 57′ (penalty)
PIT – Neco Brett 69′ (Anthony Velarde)
PIT – Anthony Velarde 90’+2 (Jordan Dover)
GAME DAY UPDATES
8:41 – Hounds bring in Steevan Dos Santos and Jordan Dover for Robbie Mertz and Neco Brett
Here’s the second goal…
69' | Neco Brett is making it look easy here with his 2nd goal for @RiverhoundsSC against @DaytonDutchLion
2-0 | #USOC2019 pic.twitter.com/HYdEwDuJlD— U.S. Open Cup (@opencup) May 15, 2019
8:30 – GOAL – PGH – Neco Brett
8:25 – Mertz from top of box — shot is saved!
8:23 – Dayton almost responds!
8:19 – GOAL – PGH now leads 1-0 – Neco Brett
Hounds’ Neco Brett pulled down as through ball played to him on left side of box.
8:15 -Now it’s the Hounds turn.
8:09 – Dayton gets a free kick chance, and Jackson Dietrich takes it — forcing Hounds GK Pack to make save
8:01 – Halftime stats of note…
7:51 – Half comes to a close.
Hounds with possession edge, but in and around the final third they’re not playing with a great sense of urgency. Well, I take that back — Robbie Mertz certainly is.
7:45 –
Hounds are playing 5-4-1 tonight, while Dayton in a 4-4-1-1.
7:25 – Dayton showing that as long as Hounds let them play, they’ll possess it and have some build-up.
7:15 – after lot of passing around the box — Brett’s bouncing shot attempt pings off left post and goes out. 10′
7:11 – Robbie Mertz getting in attack early. A free kick forced keeper Barrios off line in first minute, then just got into box with a decent shot from 16 yds. Barrios with save.
7:06 – early free kick (from Robbie Mertz) after Dayton handball about 35 yds from Hounds goal. Mertz send it to right side of goal area, but cleared away by Dayton
7:05 – kickoff
Riverhounds SC Starting XI
GK – Austin Pack (23)
Tobi Adewole (2), Ryan James (7), Daniel Rovira (4), Uchenna Uzo (3)
Thomas Vancaeyezeele (17), Anthony Velarde (15), Sam Kahsai (6), Noah Franke (14), Robbie Mertz (24),
Neco Brett (9)
Reserves:
Jordan Dover (5), Kenardo Forbes (11), Steevan Dos Santos (8), Joe Greenspan (20), Kevin Kerr (10), Christian Volesky (12), Kyle Morton (GK- 1)
Dayton Starting XI
Barrios (16), Buescher (2), Charkooutsakis (15), Deitrich (8), Fjeldberg (14), Hutton (5), Kooistra (12), Pewu (11), Robertson (10), Slade (7), Stovall (4)
Reserves:
Bendedo (9), Dizdarevic (17), Kinley (18), Lamb (20), Lyle (3), Segree (6)
530 time to walk the field !!! pic.twitter.com/7tD8sP35LS
— Dayton Dutch Lions (@DaytonDutchLion) May 14, 2019
We also now know who the winner of tonight’s match will face:
Winner of tonight's @RiverhoundsSC v @DaytonDutchLion #USOC2019 match will host the winner of Indy Eleven and Lansing Ignite on Wednesday, May 29. https://t.co/VbX4YQ0WAv
— John Krysinsky (@PghSoccerScribe) May 14, 2019
It seems like ages ago, but the last Open Cup victory at home for the Hounds came in 2015 against the Tampa Bay Rowdies.
Riverhounds advance in U.S. Open Cup; Will face D.C. United in fourth round
GAME INFO
Tuesday, May 14 | 7 p.m.
Highmark Stadium, Pittsburgh, PA
Streaming: ESPN+
Live Updates: Twitter at: @RiverhoundsSC and #USOC2019
For Full U.S. Open Cup coverage visit: https://thecup.us/
WHO ARE THESE DAYTON DUTCH LIONS?
The Dayton Dutch Lions. also founded in 2009, were part of the USL Pro (now USL Championship) from the start of the league’s modern era in 2011 through 2014. During that time, DDL and the Riverhounds were regular league foes, as Dayton holds the all-time edge in series history between the clubs (4-3-2). The Hounds have never defeated Dayton at home since moving to Highmark Stadium in 2013. With an overall record of 0-1-1 in two meetings against the Dutch Lions along the Monongahela River,
After its last season in USL Pro in 2014, the DDL dropped into the USL’s Fourth Division league, formally the PDL, and now USL League Two, where after a number of mediocre seasons — they had a very successful 2018, including winning the Great Lakes Conference championship which earned them a spot in this year’s U.S. Open Cup.
This year’s group arrives in the second round after defeating Erie Commodores FC, 2-1, on Wednesday, May 8 for its first win in the Open Cup since 2014.
Dayton Dutch Lions blow past Erie Commodores, 2-1, to advance in Open Cup
Some of the Dutch Lions club’s most glorious moments came during those years when they played the Hounds.
In 2012, the Lions had an impressive run in the Open Cup, reaching the Quarterfinals after defeating MLS’ Columbus Crew 2–1 in the third round. The Lions were eventually knocked out of the tournament in the quarterfinals by eventual champions Sporting Kansas City 3–0 in front of an away record 15,167 fans.
In 2013, the Lions reached the USL Pro Playoffs for the first time with a record of 10 Wins, 7 Ties and 9 Losses. They lost to the Richmond Kickers 1–0 in the quarter-finals. Gibson Bardsley received Second Team All-League Honors with 9 goals and 7 assists.
Turning the page to 2019 edition of the club, Dayton Head Coach Dan Griest is already building upon last year’s success with a big win last week to start the season and its Open Cup run.
“I am optimistic we can win a match or two and begin to turn some heads on the national stage,” Griest said. “I believe the talent is here to not only make a noticeable run in the US Open Cup, and repeat as Great Lakes Division Champions, but win a Midwestern title and challenge for a national crown.”
In an interview in February, Griest spoke about this year’s edition of the Dutch Lions will play ‘quick and tenacious attacking style of soccer’ with a roster made up of a lot of players from local programs at Wright State University and University of Dayton.
The Great Lakes champions were led by midfielder Tate Robertson (who was named USL PDL National Player of the Week) and forward J.J. Williams who was drafted by Columbus Crew, and is now playing on loan with the Birmingham Legion in USL Championship, where he recently scored two goals in his lone appearance.
The Hounds may want to take note of where Robertson will be as he was the most dangerous player on the windy field in Erie last week. Robertson returns to the Dutch Lions this season after a stellar career at Bowling Green University, where he posted four goals and 11 assists in his senior campaign.
He also scored the go-ahead goal for the Dutch Lions in the 73rd minute to take the lead over the Commodores.
GOAL! 🚨 @DaytonDutchLion regain the lead thanks to Tate Robertson Keir. The Dutch Lions winger cuts inside, beats his man and lets loose with a daisy cutter that finds the far post side netting. 2-1!#USOC2019 pic.twitter.com/DuQS6o5aNi
— U.S. Open Cup (@opencup) May 9, 2019
Projected starting line-ups:
Dayton Dutch Lions starting XI
10- Tate Robinson (c)
1- (GK) -Fedrico Barrios
11 -Jonas Fjeldberg
8 -Jackson Dietrich
7 – Sam Deroy
4- Harvey Slade
27 – Peyton Mowery
12 – Abdul Kooistra
5 – Eric Hutton
20 – Jake Stovall
15 – Georgios Charkoutsakis
Reserves
11 – Tristen Lyle
9 – Alex Frank
13 – Jack Steele
17 – Jazminko Dizdervic
18 – Austin Kinley
19 – James Lamb