For Immediate Release

 

Toronto Lynx Game Report

Presented by Carlsberg

 

Lynx Earn Second Win

 

 

 

Date: July 16, 2005

 

Venue: Centennial Park Stadium, Toronto, Ontario

 

Attendance: 1 811

 

Kick Off Time: 7:30 PM

 

Final Score: Toronto 2 Seattle 1 

 

Match Summary:

 

The Toronto Lynx defeated the Seattle Sounders 2-1 this evening in front of 1 811 fans at Centennial Park Stadium in their annual Carib Fest match presented by our media partner, the Jamaican Weekly Gleaner.

 

Toronto started the first half well, applying pressure to Seattle's goal early on despite the slippery surface left behind by rain from earlier in the evening.  Toronto came close to opening scoring in the 11th minute when Sean Fraser picked up a loose ball inside the area.   His shot beat Seattle goalkeeper Preston Burpo, but not the crossbar, and it remained 0-0. 

 

Toronto went ahead in the 21st minute when newly resigned striker Charles Gbeke controlled Jamie Dodds' pass inside the area, and slotted the ball through Burpo's legs, making it 1-0.  Toronto came close to adding one more in the 39th minute when Jamie Dodds' first time shot was barely tipped over the bar by Burpo.  

 

Toronto had a few more chances before halftime, but it remained 1-0 after a first half in which Toronto outshot Seattle 11-2.

 

The second half picked up where the first left off, with Toronto creating many chances and controling the ball.  Toronto earned a penalty kick in the 69th minute when Said Ali was brought down inside the area.  Nigel Henry took the spot kick, but his low shot was stopped by Burpo.  Toronto added another in the 80th minute, when second half substitute Wyn Belotte picked up a pass and ran by two defenders before slotting the ball past an on-coming Burpo.

 

Seattle grabbed one back right before full time, when Welton Melo's shot from just inside the area beat Zagar on the near side.  It was 2-1 to Toronto as full time sounded.  Toronto outshot Seattle 18-9 through 90 minutes and earned their first home win of the season. 

 

Tonight's result improved Toronto's record to 2-8-5, and extended their unbeaten record to three games.  Toronto's next game is at home on Wednesday July 20th at 12:00 noon when the face the Atlanta Silverbacks for the Lynx' annual Youth Day presented by Pizza Pizza and City Parent / News 4 Kids.    

 

 

Notes:  Toronto entered tonight's match with a record of 1-8-5. Seattle was 7-2-6.  Toronto sat in 12th place in the USL First Division, while Seattle was 5th.  Toronto were unbeaten in their last two games, while Seattle were unbeaten in their last three matches.  Seattle played to a 1-1 draw in Rochester on Friday night. Tonight's match was the first encounter between both clubs this season.  Toronto had played Seattle only twice before tonight's match, with both games ending is Seattle's favour. The last match between both teams, in July of 2002, ended 1-0 in Seattle.   

 

Events:

 

4th min.  Aristodemo's shot from 40 yards out is straight at Burpo, who makes the stop.

 

5th min.  Jamie Dodds makes a run down the right, but shoots into the side netting from just inside the area.

 

11th min.  Toronto come close to taking the lead.  Sean Fraser picks up a loose ball inside the area and shoots, but his effort comes off the crossbar.

 

12th min.  Toronto earns a free kick.  Burpo makes the stop and sends Levesque down the other way, who's shot is stopped by Zagar.

 

18th min.  Levesque sends in a cross in front of goal, but nobody is there to connect.

 

21st min.  Goal!  Dodd sends in a cross from the left side, which Charles Gbeke controls before firing past Burpo from close range.

 

23rd min.  Toronto's Matondo is shown a yellow card.

 

29th min. Matondo shoots from just inside the area, but his shot hits the right side netting.

 

31st min.  Sean Fraser sends in a through ball that Charles Gbeke runs onto.  Burpo comes off his line and steals the ball.

 

39th min.  Jamie Dodds hits a pass first time from just outside the area, that Burpo tips over the bar.

 

45th min.  Matondo's shot from 25 yards out is tipped over the bar by Burpo.

 

45th min.  Rick Titus heads Dodds' corner, but Burpo makes the stop.  

 

52nd min.  Sean Faser's shot from close range is stopped by Burpo.

 

53rd min.  Sean Fraser makes a run down the centre of the field, but his shot is straight at Burpo who holds onto the ball.

 

64th min.  Seattle's Kevin Sakuda runs onto a through ball, but his shot is well over the goal.

 

69th min.  Toronto earn a penalty kick after Said Ali was brought down inside the area.  Nigel Henry takes it, but his low shot is stopped by Burpo.

 

80th min.  Goal!  Toronto make it 2-0.  Wyn Belotte picks up a pass just outside the area, and works past two defenders before slotting the ball by an oncoming Burpo.  Belotte picks up a yellow for his post-goal celebration.

 

85th min.  Seattle's Roger Levesque is shown a yellow card.

 

90th min.  Goal!  Seattle draw one back. Welton Melo makes a run down the left side, and fires from just inside the area.  His shot beats Zagar on the near side.  

 

 

Final Score: Toronto 2 Seattle 1  

 

Lineups:

 

Toronto: Zagar, Titus, Henry, Arango, Dodds, Diplacido, Aristedemo, Munthali, Matondo (Ali 56), Fraser (Mattacione 82), Gbeke (Belotte 72) 

 

Seattle: Burpo, Sleeth (Sagares 45), Graham, Edwards, Scott, Klaas, Sakuda, Gregor (Sturn 78), Somoza (Whitfield 45), Levesque, Melo 

 

Cautions: Toronto: Matondo 23, Belotte 81  Seattle:  Gregor 69, Levesque 85  

 

Ejections: None

 

Shots: Toronto 18 , Seattle 9 

 

Saves: Toronto 3, Seattle 8 

 

Fouls: Toronto 16, Seattle 12 

 

Scorers: Toronto: Gbeke (Dodds) 21, Belotte (unassisted) 83  Seattle:  Melo (unassisted) 90

 

 

The Toronto Lynx next game is at home against the Atlanta Silverbacks on Wednesday July 20th at 12:00 PM.

 

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

DAVID NUTT, MEDIA RELATIONS

416-251-4625 ext. 30