After a way of try-outs and a couple of good practices our Florida Gulf Coast Dutch Lions Men team played yesterday their first game!
The team traveled to Miami with 24 players. The First half the starting 11 were Klaas Boersma, Steven Schwaab, Jesse Owens (Matthew de Sanctis ’35), Danilo A. Cortes (C), Daniel Soto, Wilfredo Alvarez, George Olivier Benedict, David Cano, Kyle Lynch, Davian Cranston and Daniel Medina. The first half was just started and FC Miami City already got a Penalty Kick. Their left forward gave a cross and after the ball bounced on the ground Daniel Soto touched the ball with his hand in the box. The penalty went in. 1-0 for FC Miami City. In the 16th minute the Dutch Lions got a goal kick. The opponent locked the team up, so Klaas Boersma decided to kick the ball long. He saw Davian was sharp and ready to run up to the goal. The ball went over the defense, Davian ran 1 on 1 to the goalkeeper and finished the ball through the legs of their goalkeeper. 1-1, Goal Davian Cranston, assisted by Klaas Boersma! The Lions kept on fighting, but were unlucky. 15 minutes before rest Miami City got a free kick on the side of the Dutch Lions box. The free kick was taken, 2 players from Miami City ran back from their defender, headed the ball back to a teammate, who headed the ball in. 2-1, which was also the score at halftime.
The second half the lineup was: Klaas Boersma (Jahdea Gildin ’60), Andre Blanco, Miles Morris, Matthew de Sanctis, Koulton Mudick (Jouko Gorissen ’70), John Teeter, Menno Vermeer (C), Alvis Ortega, Oscar Camacho, Roy Kemna, Daniel Anderson. The second half was as though as the first half. Big difference with the first half, was that the defensive organization was much better in the second half than the first half. The lines were close to each other, the space were small, there was good pressure and the team was defending the part of the field that coach Ronald asked from them. Miami City was as strong as the first half, but because of the very good defensive organization they didn’t create a real chance the second half. The Lions got one really big chance. The newest striker from the Netherlands (Roy Kemna) got a big chance, but couldn't finish. The match ended in a 2-1 win for Miami City. In the end a good result for our first match against a PDL team.