For Immediate Release
 
Toronto Lynx Game Report
Presented by Carlsberg
 
Lynx Battle to Goalless Draw
 
Date: July 31, 2005
 
Venue: Centennial Park Stadium, Toronto, Ontario
 
Attendance: 1 946
 
Kick Off Time: 6:00 PM EST
 
Final Score: Toronto 0 Richmond 0 
 
Match Summary:
 
The Toronto Lynx earned a point this evening playing to a goalless draw with the Richmond Kickers at Centennial Park Stadium. A crowd of 1,946 were thrilled by a performance by the Samba Squad.
 
With drum beats pushing them forward, the first half started with Lynx fans getting a rare opportunity to see their team in Toronto's all black kits. Richmond came close to taking the lead in the 19th minute when striker Kevin Jeffrey hit McColm Cephas' cross first time.  His effort beat Toronto goalkeeper Richard Goddard but not the crossbar, and the game remained scoreless.  Toronto came close to taking the lead five minutes later when Sita Taty Matondo caught Richmond goalkeeper Ronnie Pascale out of his goal, but his effort sailed just over the bar.
 
Toronto came close again in the 43rd minute, when Said Ali ran onto a longball.  He fired from just inside the area, but is effort was straight at Pascale who was well placed to make the stop after running out of his goal to cut down the angle.
 
There were no goals after 45 minutes in an evenly contested first half which saw Toronto record 7 shots, and Richmond 8.  Richmond's front line was particularly active, with all three strikers combining for all of Richmond's shots.   
 
At the half, Lynx Head Coach Hubert Busby Jr. substituted both his strikers, bringing on Sean Fraser and Dave Simpson for Said Ali and Charles Gbeke.  This change produced a substantial change in Toronto's play, with Sean Fraser making impressive runs at Richmond's goal.  Both strikers combined in the 75th minute to create one of Toronto's best chances.  Dave Simpson crossed to Sean Fraser who found himself unmarked, but his header was just wide of the goal.
 
Richmond came close to taking the lead in the 86th minute when Matt Pauls sent in a cross to Robert Ssejjemba who struck first time, only to be denied by an exceptional stop by Richard Goddard.  
 
Toronto applied considerable pressure in the latter stages of the match, and almost snatched a win in injury time when Dave Diplacido's shot from just outside the area came off the right post.  That was the last substantial chance of the game, and it was 0-0 as full time sounded.
 
Tonight's result leaves Toronto in the 12th place of the USL First Division with 15 points and a record of 3-11-6.  Richmond is now 10-6-5 after their second straight goalless draw in 24 hours.
 
Toronto next game is on the road when they face the Rochester Raging Rhinos on August 12th at 7:30 PM. They return home on Sunday, August 14th at 6:00pm when they welcome Rochester in the second half of a home and home series.      
 

Notes:  Toronto entered tonight's match in 12th place of the USL First Division with a record of 3-11-5.  Richmond was in 3rd with a record of 10-6-4.  Both clubs faced each other once this season, with Toronto losing 2-1 in Richmond in April.  Toronto had an all-time record of 1-9-2 against Richmond before tonight's encounter.  

 
Highlights:  
 
4th min.  Toronto's Matondo shot from just inside the area is well wide.
 
9th min.  Toronto's Rumba Munthali receives a yellow card.
 
14th min.  Chris Carrieri's shot from close range is straight at Goddard who controls.
 
19th min.  Richmond's Cephas crosses to Jeffrey who's acrobatic effort comes off the crossbar.
 
24th min.  Matondo's effort from 25 yards out is just over Pascale's goal.
 
32nd min.  Kevin Jeffrey's shot from 20 yards out is just over the goal.
 
39th min.  Diplacido's shot from just outside the area is well wide of the goal.
 
42nd min.  Jeffrey's shot from close range is stopped by Goddard.
 
43rd min.  Said Ali receives a long ball and shoots, but Pascale is well placed, after running out of his goal, to make the stop.
 
50th min.  Jamie Dodds gets around his marker and fires from just inside the area, but his effort is straight at Pascale who controls.
 
57th min.  Sean Fraser's impressive run down the left side ends with Toronto earning a corner.
 
64th min.  Sean Fraser receives a yellow card.
 
69th min.  Toronto earn a free kick 20 yards from goal.  Dodds takes it but his effort is well wide if the goal.
 
75th min.  Toronto come close to taking the lead.  Dave Simpson sends in a cross that Sean Fraser gets a head on, but his effort is just wide.
 
78th min.  After a corner, the ball bounces dangerously in Toronto's area, before going out for a goal kick.
 
81st min.  McColm Cephas finds himself alone on front of the goal, but his effort is over the goal.
 
84th min.  Toronto come close.  Dave Simpson's shot from just outside the area is just wide.
 
86th min.  Matt Pauls sends in a cross that Ssejjemba hits, but Goddard is well placed to make an exceptional stop.
 
88th min.  Chris Williams sends in a cross that Jamie Dodds hits first time, but his effort hits the side netting.
 
90th min.  Toronto come close.  Dave Diplacido's shot from just outside the area comes of the right post.      
 
 
Final Score: Toronto 0 Richmond 0
 
Lineups:
 
Toronto: Goddard, Munthali, Francois, Arango (Mattacchione 73), Aristedemo, Diplacido, Dodds, Matondo (Williams 51), Titus, Gbeke (Simpson 45), Ali (Fraser 45)  
 
Richmond: Pascale, Fox, Knight, Luzak, Williams, Bobo, Burke, Gorres (Pauls 60), Carrieri (Kofi 56), Cephas (Ssejjemba 81), Jeffrey (Delicate 86) 
 
Cautions: Toronto: Munthali 9, Fraser 63
 
Ejections: None
 
Shots: Toronto  20 Richmond 14
 
Saves: Toronto 5 Richmond 4 
 
Fouls: Toronto 10 Richmond 13
 
Scorers: None
 
 
 
The Toronto Lynx' next game is in Rochester against the Rhinos on August 12th at 7:30 PM.
 
There next home match is Sunday, August 14th at 6pm versus the Rochester Raging Rhinos
 
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
DAVID NUTT, MEDIA RELATIONS
416-251-4625 ext. 30