Miami, May 22, 2022
Miami Dutch Lions FC went on the road to Magia FC in Miami on a hot night for the opening match of the 2022 NPSL campaign. The Lions came home with the first win of the season getting off to a great start.
The first half was a hard fought game by both sides with a lot of midfield play and a couple chances for each side. The Lions threatened with good possession and wide play but couldn’t convert their chances in the first half leaving the match tied 0-0 at half time.
In the second half the Lions made two substitutions bringing in fresh legs and new energy. The Lions had the majority of possession at the start of the second half and threatened by getting into the final third with searching crosses and through balls. Magia FC enjoyed their own spell possession in the second part of the second half and were close to a goal with one very good shot headed towards the low near corner that was saved by goalkeeper Michael Serdynski. Substitute Giuliano Roberts was able to score the first goal of the season when he made a darting run from central wide and connected with a perfectly weighted pass, then took a touch and slotted his shot into the far corner. His goal proved to be the game-winning goal.
The Lions defending effort was equal to the Magia FC attack, earning a clean sheet. After the match coach Rob Stoutenburg shared his thoughts on the game: "I am really happy with the the effort that the boys put in today. We knew coming in this game it was going be tough only having a week to prepare and Magia already playing two games. But it was really good to see that the guys are trying to implement what we’ve been going over in our training sessions. I’m really happy with the boys that came in and they did their part. Especially Guiliano Roberts coming in and scoring the game-winning goal is fantastic. We need to be al little bit more of that clinical in order to finish the chances that we create. But the boys are really buying into what we were trying to do, so all in all I am really happy with the results and even more happy with the effort the boys put in today”.
The Lions are back in action on Wednesday May 25 when they play Central Florida Panthers SC on the road at 7pm. The return home on Sunday vs Naples United FC at Milander Park at 4pm.