River Light FC outlasted a Chicago Dutch Lions side that looked to cause some trouble in the closing stages of the schedule. Defeating the Lions 3-1, River Light winger Max Viera was instrumental in securing the Lights sixth victory of the season with his involvement in all three goals.
“The Dutch Lions came out with a lot of energy, it's a Derby so it's always a lot of physicality, but we stuck to our game plan,” Viera said. “We were calm, we knew what we were capable of and we had amazing players.”
That added Derby day intensity was evident in the opening minutes as the Dutch Lions used their physicality to stun any early River Light pressure. In the 8th minute, River Light broke through the pressure as the Dutch Lions lost the ball in the midfield resulting in a quick build-up plan for the Lights.
On the prowl, Blaine Mabie reached the edge of the box and passed it to an open Viera, who then gave it back to Mabie for an easy goal at the roof of the oppositions net.
“Great communication, he just said cut back and we have that chemistry coming from the same school so I knew he was ready,” Viera said.
With all the momentum, River Light developed a quick counter attack that started with a long Viera pass up the field and ended with a simple diagonal pass from Luke Van Huekelum to Michael Rossi for the Lights second of the night.
The scoring wouldn’t stop there as more good communication resulted in River Light’s third of the match. As the Lights received a free kick in a good position, the Dutch Lions prioritized in building up their wall, anticipating a direct attempt from Viera. However, Viera didn’t go straight on goal and instead decided for a smooth ground pass to a lingering Rossi who shot with power and into the bottom corner for the Lights third.
“I mean, they were all saying play to Mac [Rossi] and he's the biggest guy in the box, even the other team was expecting me to find mac. So I just slipped through because they weren't ready, they were sleeping and I took advantage of that,” Viera said.
In the 34th minute, the Dutch Lions scored their only goal of the match after a cross reached a Lions attacking player for a headed effort. River Light finished the half with four shots on target compared to the Dutch Lions only effort that resulted in a goal.
After a flurry of changes to start the second half, River Light generated many chances but were unable to do anymore damage.
“At this level as we go, score two or three quick [goals] and then we kind of take our foot off the gas, some of that is fitness concerns, but we're really pleased to kind of get three early ones [because] it makes life a little bit easier for everybody,” River Light head coach Charlie Latshaw said.
Despite having five shots on target in the second half, the Dutch Lions shot-stopper kept the second half clean sheet with some incredible saves that halted the Lights insistence for a fourth.
“The second half, we just wanted to make sure we got our guys on [the field]. Obviously I made three changes at halftime and that's not typical,” Latshaw said. “We wanted to make sure we got the guys minutes.”
With another three points secured, a battle against Chicago City SC is in the cards for the Lights this Saturday at 7 p.m. at Spartan Athletic Park. Come on out and support the Lights in their final home game of the season!
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