This past Saturday evening the Houston Dutch Lions FC continued their strong start to the inaugural TPSL season with a 3-1 win over Regals SCA at Maya Park in Houston. Playing their second game of the season and second consecutive road match, the Lions used an effective passing game coupled with the speed of their front line to ensure another week at the top of the table.
From the opening kick it was apparent that Coach Marco Pruis wanted his squad to be patient and use a strong possession game to create scoring chances with a 4-3-3 formation. It was also apparent early on that this would be a physical match up for the Lions. The Lions used this game plan to generate several chances early in the first half. On a number of occasions the Lions looked ready to break through, but six offside calls slowed the attack. Finally in the 25th minute the boys in orange were able to get on the board. Javier Vazquez gained possession at midfield and was able to play a great ball into forward David Otoya, who was cutting in from the left side. Otoya had a nice first touch and was able to slot the ball past the Regals keeper. After they took the 1-0 lead, the Lions continued to keep up the pressure a had several chances go just wide. Defensively the back four of Lozoya, Mandujano, Segovia and team captain Keogh played an exceptionally strong back line. Between the play of the back four and four first half saves by Lions keeper Dylan Meeker, the Lions were able to keep a clean sheet and head in to the halftime break with their 1-0 lead.
Following the break Coach Pruis and the Lions made one change, bringing in Erick Suarez for Douglas Membreno to bring some fresh legs to the front of their attack. The visitors picked up where they had left off the first half and immediately went looking to add to the their lead. Finally, in the 52nd minute the Lions added to their lead to go up 2-0 over the Regals. Halftime substitute Erick Suarez fed a nice ball to Otoya, who was able to strike the ball home for his second goal of the evening. With the two goal lead the Lions looked to bring in some support from their bench to close out the match. Olivier Fillion was brought in for Juan Lozoya in the 63rd minute after Lozoya had done an excellent job all night covering one of the faster Regals players on the pitch. Shortly after the substitution the Lions were awarded a penalty kick when their forward was taken down in the box. Javier Vazquez calmly stepped to the spot and buried the third goal of the night for the HDLFC. At the restart after the PK Coach Pruis brought Cesar Arellano in for David Otoya, who had been playing through some cramping, in the 65th minute. In the 69th minute the Regals were able to sneak a shot past Meeker and cut the Lions lead to 3-1. The Regals goal would be last of the evening as the Lions were able to play solid possession soccer to close out the game and seal the victory.
With the win the Lions now sit on top of the TPSL table with 6 points. This coming weekend the team takes a break from league play and has no game. The Lions will return to action October 19th as they play their first home game of the season. They will take on the Galveston Pirate at 7 pm at the club’s newly completed soccer complex.
