Saturday, the Cincinnati Dutch Lions FC and FC Cincinnati get together for the first of two soccer events.
The Cincinnati Dutch Lions host the Derby City Rovers at University of Cincinnati’s Gettler Stadium. Following the CDLFC match, FC Cincinnati will be playing Charleston Battery at Nippert Stadium, kickoff at 7 p.m.
Season tickets and individual game tickets to Saturday’s matchup will get you admission to the 4 p.m. CDLFC match.
Ryan Melink celebrates game winning goal on Sat. June 6 (Photo by Joe Craven)
Season Update
A back-and-forth season has the Cincinnati Dutch Lions at 2-4-0 (W-L- D). Recently, the Dutch Lions dropped two games against the 2016 and 2015 PDL champions. Local product, Ryan Melink (Loveland/UC), earned PDL Team of the Week Honorable Mention honors during his first start and game-winning goal against the St. Louis Lions. Saturday’s matchup is the half-way mark of the 14-game season where CDLFC aim to get back on track for a postseason berth and 2018 US Open Cup qualifying contention.
Founded in 2013, the Cincinnati Dutch Lions were purchased by Hans Philippo and Bob Rack. Under this new ownership group, the Club’s new vision includes player apartments, team bus, new playing and training venue at Northern Kentucky University, and a new style of play.
The Premier Development League (PDL) is the highest level of amateur soccer in the United States. There are 72 teams spread across the United States and Canada that compete from May to August. The PDL is a step in the professional soccer developmental pathway as 70 percent of Major League Soccer players have come through the PDL since 2010. Five former CDLFC players have signed professional soccer contracts in the last three years.
Tickets are available online at cdlfc.com/shop/ or can be purchased at the gate. Adult (21+) tickets are $8 and student (7-20) tickets are $6, children 6 and under get in free.
