Lynx tie Mariners 1-1
Date: August 28, 2005
Venue: Centennial Stadium, Toronto, Ontario, CANADA
Attendance: 1,832
Kick Off Time: 6:00 PM EST
Final Score: Toronto 1, Virginia Beach 1
Match Summary:
The Toronto Lynx battled to a 1-1 draw with the Virginia Beach Mariners in front of 1,832 fans at Toronto’s Centennial Park Stadium in a match that featured the two teams at the bottom of the USL First Division table.
Both teams failed to produce much offense for most of the first half as much of the play stayed in the midfield. Toronto generated the first good chance of the game in the 26th minute when Said Ali’s shot from the edge of the penalty area sailed just wide of the right post.
The Lynx finally broke through with the game’s first goal on a well-executed play just before the end of the first half. Defender Abraham Francois leapt over his Virginia Beach marker at the edge of the goal crease to head in a perfect corner cross from Jamie Dodds.
The goal was the first of the season for the former Montreal Impact defender, who came to Toronto in a trade with that saw striker Ali Gerba join the Impact.
The lack of offense that marked the first half continued for much of the second half as the teams battled in the midfield, before Virginia Beach substitute forward Jakob Fenger tied the game in the 83rd minute. Fenger took a pass from Mariners defender Steve Shak and headed a slow bouncer past Zagar.
The goal sparked the Mariners’ as they dominated the last eight minutes of the game. Their pressure almost paid off in the 90th minute when Lynx goalie Theo Zagar stole the winning goal by reaching around the goalpost to prevent a deflection off Ptah Myers from finding the net.
The tie stretched Toronto’s winless streak to eight games. Toronto’s last victory came in a 2-1 victory over the Atlanta Silverbacks at Centennial Stadium back on July 20.
Notes: Toronto entered tonight's match in last place in the USL First Division with a record of 3-13-7. Virginia Beach was in 11th with a record of 5-13-6. Toronto’s all-time record against Virginia Beach is 4-5-2. Both clubs drew 1-1 in Virginia Beach, Virginia back in May.
Highlights:
TOR: 26 min. Said Ali’s shanked a left-footed shot from the edge of the penalty, off a pass from Jamie Dodds, went wide right of the net.
TOR: 30 min. Rumba Munthali’s left-footed drive from inside the corner of the penalty area sails to the right of the net.
VB: 33 min. John Nusum’s slow rolling bouncer eludes a fallen Zagar, but hits the left goal post.
TOR: 44th min. Abraham Francois heads in a corner cross from Jamie Dodds past Nelson and a couple of defenders on the goal line. Toronto 1, Virginia Beach 0.
VB: 63rd min. Jakob Fenger’s low hard shot to the right is saved by a diving Theo Zagar.
TOR: 70th min. Andres Arango heads a corner from Jamie Dodds over the net from 10 yards out.
VB: 83 min Half-time substitute Jakob Fenger takes a pass from Steve Shak at the edge of the goal crease and heads a slow bouncer into the net. Virginia Beach 1, Toronto 1.
VB: 90th Zagar tipped a deflection off Mariners MF Ptah Myers out of the net while standing out of bounds outside the goalpost.
Final Score: Toronto 1, Virginia Beach 1
Lineups:
Toronto: GK Theo Zagar, D Andres Arango, D Abraham Francois, D Rumba Munthali, D Rick Titus, MF Robbie Aristodemo (F Huffman Eja-Tabe, 72), MF Niels Dekker (MF Sita-Taty Matondo, 45), MF Jamie Dodds, MF Joe Mattacchione, MF Chris Williams (F Dave Simpson, 83), F Said Ali (F Sean Fraser, 45)
Virginia Beach: GK Matt Nelson, D Steve Danbusky, D Russell Hutchinson, D Tim O’Neill (MF Ptah Myers, 45), MF Jeff Bilyk, MF Felix Brillant (D Josh Nolz, 81), MF Steve Shak, F Hamisi Amani-Dove (F David Castellanos, 45), F Darren Caskey, F John Nusum (MF Jakob Fenger, 45)
Cautions: VB: Bilyk (41st min.), O’Neill (45th min.)
Ejections: None
Shots: Toronto 10, Virginia Beach 9
Saves: Toronto 4, Virginia Beach 3
Fouls: Toronto 10, Virginia Beach 16
Corners: Toronto 3, Virginia Beach 3
Offsides: Toronto 5, Virginia Beach 2
Scorers:
TOR: Francois 44th min. (Dodds), VB: Fenger 83rd min. (Shak)
The Toronto Lynx next game is at home against the Vancouver Whitecaps on
September 2 at 8:00 PM and will be aired live on Fox Sports World Canada.