FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TORONTO
LYNX GAME REPORT
presented
by Heineken
Lynx
Sweep Puerto Rico Back to the Island
Lynx edge
valiant Islanders in front of sold-out School Day crowd
Date:
Wednesday, June 9, 2004
Attendance: 4,950
Kick off Time: 11:00 AM
Final Score:
Puerto Rico 2 Toronto
3
Match Summary:
The
Toronto Lynx sent their nearly 5,000 young School Day fans home happy with a
thrilling 3-2 victory over the visiting Puerto Rico Islanders on a hot afternoon
at Centennial Park Stadium. The win, the Lynx' second in a row, raises
their record to 4-6-0 (12 points) and moved them into fifth place in the Eastern
Conference, just four points behind the Atlanta Silverbacks and the final
playoff spot in the conference. The Lynx and Silverbacks will meet on
Sunday at Centennial Park. The Islanders failed once again to claim their
maiden victory in their inaugural A-League season, dropping their record to
0-9-3 (3 points). The huge crowd was the largest for the Lynx since their
move to Centennial Park Stadium in 2002. Toronto swept the season series
between the clubs 3-0, outscoring the Islanders 9-3 in the process.
The thousands
of young fans were treated to an exciting afternoon of soccer and entertainment.
The WIllowdale Middle School band and the Islington Public School provided
musical performances to warm up the crowd prior to the kick-off. OFSAA
Executive Director Colin Hood performed the ceromonial kick-off, as the game was
part of a double header with the OFSAA Girls AAAA/AAA Girls Final to be played
following the Lynx/Islanders match, between Birchmount Park CI
(Scarborough) and Catholic Central HS (London).
The
Islanders, bolstered by the return to the lineup of Mario Zapata, who missed the
first Toronto/Puerto Rico match on Sunday, came out of the blocks strong,
playing inspired soccer. They dominated the early part of the match, and
were rewarded for their efforts when Raul Arce-Diaz, a former MLS star, headed
home a powerful free kick from Zapata. The Islanders continued to press
for much of the half, as the Lynx appeared listless in the humid conditions.
The Lynx came to life just prior to the half with two quick strikes from their
star striker, Ali Gerba, his fourth and fifth goals in the club's past two
games. The first goal saw Puerto Rico 'keeper Eduardo Memendi make an
incredible diving save off a powerful strike from Adrian Serioux from near the
top of the penatly area, but he was unable to hang on to the ball, and the
ever-dangerous Gerba made an alert move to dash in and push the ball past the
supine keeper. In injury time, two minutes later, Gerba was left all alone
near midfield, and he eluded a charging Memendi to score his seventh goal of the
young season, giving the Lynx the lead going into the lockerroom. Memendi
appeared shaken up on the play, but did not leave the game.
The
second half was a wide-open affair, with both teams taking turns carrying the
play. Puerto Rico levelled the score after Diaz-Arce scored his second
goal of the afternoon, converting a penatly after Joe Mattacchione was called
for handling the ball inside the box in the 61st minute. Eleven
minutes later, midfielder Jamie Dodds gave the Lynx the lead for good with a
stunning goal. After picking up the ball following a scramble in the
Islander's box, he juggled it over the head of a stunned defender, turned, and
blasted a shot just inside the far post, past a limping Memendi, eliciting a
deafening roar from the huge throng, giving the Lynx their fourth win of the
year.
The
Lynx return to action Sunday in an important Eastern Conference clash with the
Atlanta Silverbacks, with kick-off scheduled for 6:00 pm at Centennial Park
Stadium.
Highlights:
1st Half
15th
Minute: Zapata free kick from top of 18-yard box is corralled
by Goddard.
16th
Minute: Gerba battles free deep inside the Puerto Rico penalty
area and is brought down, but instead receives a yellow card.
18th
Minute: Powerful Serioux strike from 20 yards out sails
dangerously over the Islander net.
20th
Minute: Zapata free kick from near sideline, 30 yards out is
headed home by Diaz-Arce after a scramble in the Lynx box. Puerto
Rico 1, Lynx 0
29th
Minute: DiPlacido plays precision strike into the box, but
Nusum is unable to control it with his head and it is cleared to safety by the
Puerto Rico defense.
33rd
Minute: Garay receives through ball between two defenders 10
yards in front of the Lynx net, but is unable to beat Goddard who makes the big
save.
36th
Minute: Zapata dribbles deep into Lynx penalty area, and
crosses back to Maliza at the top of the box, who slams the ball narrowly by the
far crossbar.
41st
Minute: Another Zapata free kick from the near sideline is
firmly redirected towards goal by Garay from the top of the box, but Goddard
makes an easy save.
43rd
Minute: Serioux takes a ferocious shot from the top of the
box, and Memendi makes a diving save. However, he is unable to hold on to
the ball, and an alert Gerba rushes to the ball and knocks the ball home to
level the score. Lynx 1, Puerto RIco 1.
45th
Minute: Dodds dribbles deep into the box near the far corner
and crosses to Nusum, who redirects it to goal. The ball is blocked and
cleared by the Islanders defense back to Baxter, who then rips a shot just over
the Puerto Rico net.
45th
Minute: Gerba receives pass all alone near midfield and races
towards the net on a breakaway accompanied by Munthali. Memendi charges
out towards Gerba to try and strip the ball from him, but Gerba eludes him 35
yards in front of the net and slams the ball into the empty net from 20 yards
away. Lynx 2, Puerto Rico 1
2nd Half
46th
Minute: Baxter brought down near penalty area on far side of
field. Prostrans's ensuing free kick is headed to safety by the
Puerto Rican defense.
51st
Minute: Diaz bends a free kick towards the Lynx net, but it
soars harmlessly over the cross bar.
56th
Minute: Nusum receives a precision pass and dribbles into the
Islanders box, but his left-footed strike flys just past the far post.
59th
Minute: Garay lifts a harmless looking shot towards the Lynx
goal, but it eludes Goddard. However, the ball carrroms off the near post
to preserve the Lynx lead.
61st
Minute: Astonda plays the ball towards the Lynx net from the
top of the penalty area, and it strikes Mattacchione in the hand inside the box.
Puerto Rico is awarded a penatly kick. Diaz Arce buries the kick to tie
the match. Lynx 2, Puerto Rico 2.
63rd
Minute: Dodds reins in a loose ball after a scramble following
a Lynx corner but his shot strikes a Islander defender and it is cleared for
another corner kick. Prostran bends the second corner dangerously towards
the goal but a limping Memendi grabs the ball and clears it to safety.
72nd
Minute: In an incredible individual effort, Dodds picks up a
loose ball at the top of the Lynx penalty area, juggles it over the head of an
Islander defender, turns, and strikes the ball past a helpless Memendi to give
the Lynx back the lead. Lynx 3, Puerto Rico 2.
73rd
minute: Gerba receives a pass on the fly and dribbles at full
speed towards the Islanders net. His powerful shot sails just inches over
the Islanders net.
77th
Minute: Zuleta receives a Zapata free kick 2 yards from the
Lynx net and hammers it towards goa with his headl. Goddard makes a
brilliant leaping save and punches it mere inches over the crossbar to preserve
the Lynx lead.
86th
Minute: Goddard beats a charging Islanders forward to the ball
and reels in a strong Garay cross.
Final Score: Toronto 3
Puerto Rico 2
Lineups:
Puerto
Rico: Memendi,
Gores, Zuleta, Ortiz, A. Rivera, Deering (H. Rivera, 21), Zapata,
Maliza (Toal, 76), Alcero (Astondoa, 45), Garay (Nieves, 88), Diaz
Toronto: Goddard, Steele (Prostran, 45), Mattacchione, Hughes,
Baxter, Serioux, Nusum (Pavic, 67), DiPlacido (Dodds 38), Bartolomeu (Blois,
45), Gerba (Arango, 76), Munthali
Cautions: Puerto Rico: Zapata (31)
Tor: Gerba (16), Mattacchione (70)
Ejections: Blois (75)
Shots: PR: 11 Tor:
13
Saves: PR: 4 Tor:
4
Fouls: PR: 14
Tor: 18
Offsides: PR: 2 Tor:
9
Corners: PR: 4 Tor: 2
Scorers: Tor: Gerba 2 (43,45), Dodds (72)
Puerto Rico: Diaz 2 (20, 60-PK)
Assists: Tor: Munthali (45) PR:
Zapata (20)
The
Lynx next home game is Sunday, June 13th at 6:00 pm versus the Atlanta
Silverbacks.
FOR
MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
DAVID
NUTT, MEDIA RELATIONS
416-251-4625
ext. 30