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Parting gift from Dutch Lions striker leads to victory

Geert den Ouden scores one goal, sets up another before taking family leave.

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By David DiCenzo, Contributing Writer 12:18 AM Sunday, June 27, 2010

BELLBROOK — Geert den Ouden gave his Dayton Dutch Lions teammates a gift before saying goodbye

He scored once and set up an 89th-minute goal by George Davis IV to lift DDL to a critical 2-1 win over the Great Lakes Division-leading Chicago Fire on Saturday, June 26.

The tall striker has to fly home to Rotterdam for a family matter, leaving a gaping hole in Dayton’s attack.

“We shall miss him,” said coach Sonny Silooy. “Geert is a good person.

“But private matters come first. We are human beings.”

Den Ouden scored the first goal of the match, a beautifully timed header off a perfect Bas Ent cross in the 55th minute that goalkeeper Alex Riggs couldn’t get to.

He then set up Davis, which proved critical as a late Chicago push produced a stoppage-time goal by Richard Balchan.

Chicago’s defense had conceded just five times all season before den Ouden buried his team-best eighth, and third this week.

“I know as a striker, my chances will come,” said den Ouden, noting his constant communication with Ent is key to their success. “My task is scoring goals, and I have belief in myself.”

Den Ouden is uncertain how long he will be gone, estimating it could be up to a few weeks.

Red-hot Fire striker Tom Oatley (four goals in the last two matches) almost opened the scoring in the 39th minute. Oatley broke in alone and tried to chip a ball over DDL goalkeeper Oscar Moens, but it rang off the crossbar, allowing a defender to clear it for a Chicago corner.

Silooy was upset with his team’s flat play in the first half.

“The result was OK but the performance in the first half was bad,” he said. “I spoke to them in the locker room and they picked it up in the second half.”

DDL trails Chicago by two points with five PDL matches remaining.