Lynx Earn Tie in Eight Goal
Thriller
Date: May 28, 2005
Venue: Centennial
Stadium, Toronto, Ontario
Attendance: 1 275
Kick Off Time: 7:30 EST
Final Score:
Toronto 4 Puerto Rico 4
Match Summary:
The Toronto Lynx continued their USL First Division campaign this
afternoon, hosting the Puerto Rico Islanders. Puerto Rico entered
today's encounter with a 2-2-1 record, while Toronto brought a
record of 0-5-2 to Centennial Park Stadium. The Lynx had
experienced much success against Puerto Rico since their inception
in 2004, winning all three of the matches between the two clubs.
The last match between both clubs at Centennial ended 3-2 for the
Lynx. On that day, Ali Gerba (who just last week was traded to
Montreal) scored twice. In fact, Gerba scored five times over two
games against the Islanders. In his place, Toronto looked
to striker Sita-Taty Matondo and defender Francois Abraham, acquired
in exchange for Gerba, who each made their debut in the starting
lineup today. Josue Mayard was out of today's Lynx team serving a
one match ban after receiving a red card versus Montreal. Head Coach
Hugo Maradonna's Puerto Rico team were in the 6th place coming into
today's match, while Hubert Busby Jr.'s Lynx were 12th. Puerto
Rico's last match ended in victory against Rochester two weeks ago,
while Toronto's last match ended in a loss to defending champions
Montreal. Toronto started well, but it was Puerto Rico who scored
first against the run of play in the 19th minute. Johanes Maliza
chipped a ball into the box which Corey Woolfolk nodded past Theo
Zagar. Toronto equalized 4 minutes later. Lynx newcomer Sita-Taty
Matondo's impressive run down the left flank ended with a smart
pass to Conrad Smith who fired past Puerto Rico goalkeeper Dan
Kennedy. Puerto Rico retook the lead two minutes later through an
impressive scissor-kick from Mauricio Salles off of Alexis Rivera's
cross. It was 3-1 to the visitors in the 44th minute when Jamie
Dodds brought down a Puerto Rico defender inside the area. Referee
Lavergne awarded a penalty and Mauricio Salles made no mistake from
the spot. It was 3-1 to Puerto Rico after the first interval.
Toronto played well and created many nice plays, but were punished
by a few lapses in concentration. It took Toronto ten minutes to
make it a one goal margin. Conrad Smith rose to meet Dodds' corner
and sent his header past Kennedy. Lynx 'keeper, Theo Zagar did well
to stop another Puerto Rico goal in the 65th minute when he stopped
Woolfolk's dangerous attempt from in close. Toronto equalized in
the 68th minute off a free kick. Jamie Dodds strike from 20 yards
out sailed past Kennedy and into the top right of the goal.
Toronto, not content with a draw, continued to press, and came
close off the feet of Dave Simpson and Sean Fraser.
Toronto capped their dramatic comeback by taking the lead in injury
time. Dodds was the provider again, sending in a cross that Simpson
hit first time past Kennedy. Toronto's euphoria was short lived, as
Puerto Rico equalized on the next play. Zagar made a stop off of
quick shot, but the rebound fell to substitute Da Silva who hammered
the ball into the empty goal. 4-4, as the final whistle sounded,
ending an incredible night of will, determination, and skill at
Centennial Park Stadium. Toronto's Dave Simpson was in fine form,
scoring twice, the first 2 goals of his USL First Division career.
Toronto debutant Sita-Taty Matondo was impressive in midfield, but
it was Jamie Dodds who was Toronto's greatest provider all evening,
scoring once, and assisting on two others. Puerto Rico's Mauricio
Salles was most impressive for his side, scoring twice. Toronto
earned a point from this evening's draw, but continue to look for
their first win of the season. Toronto's next match is this
Tuesday, when they take on the Rochester Raging Rhinos at 11:00 AM
for a special early match for the Lynx' annual School
Day.
Highlights:
1st min. Referee Jonathan Lavergne begins play. Puerto Rico in all
blue attacks to the left. Toronto, in yellow and black, attacks to
the right.
3rd min. Toronto's Rumba Munthali volley is well over the bar.
10th min. Puerto Rico's Mauricio Salles shoots inside the area but
Lynx 'keeper Theo Zagar collects easily.
11th min. Toronto's Jeremie Piette picks up a loose ball on the
right flank, runs in a send a low, hard cross. Nobody is there to
connect and the ball skips out of danger.
15th min. Toronto earn a free kick just outside the area. Jamie
Dodds floats in a cross that bounces around Puerto Rico's area
before going out for a corner. The corner produces a goal that is
called off for offside.
19th min. Goal! Puerto Rico score against the run of play.
Johanes Maliza chips a ball into the Toronto box. Corey Woolfolk
header is enough to tuck the ball past Zagar.
23rd min. Goal! Toronto equalizes. After an impressive run by
newcomer Sita-Taty Matondo down the left flank, Matondo sends in a
pass that Conrad Smith hits first time low and hard past Puerto Rico
'keeper Dan Kennedy.
25th min. Goal! Puerto Rico retake the lead. Alexis Rivera sends
in a a cross from close to the corner flag. Mauricio Salles
scores via a spectacular scissor-kick from 10 yards out that is no
match for Zagar.
35th min. Toronto earn a corner. After a flury of shots
by Toronto, the ball is cleared.
39th min. Toronto continue to search for the equalizer. Conrad
Smith runs onto Diplacido's through ball and runs past his marker.
His hard, low shot is stopped by Kennedy.
41st min. Toronto's Matondo is shown a yellow card.
44th min. Jamie Dodd's brings down a Puerto Rico attacker inside
the area, giveing Puerto Rico a penalty and himself a yellow.
Mauricio Salles takes it and sends a low, hard shot past Zagar into
the bottom left of the goal.
55th min. Goal! Toronto make it a one goal defecit. Jamie Dodds
sends in a corner that is met perfectly by Lynx striker Conrad Smith
who rises and heads the ball into the back of the net.
65th min. Puerto Rico's Corey Woolfolk elludes his marker and sends
in a dangerous shot full of pace which Zagar saves.
68th min. Goal! Toronto equalizes. Toronto earn a free kick 20
yards out. Jamie Dodds hits it perfectly and sends it past Kennedy
into the top-right of the goal.
69th min. Puerto Rico come close to regaining the lead. Mauricio
Salles' header from in close is a dangerous one. Zagar streches
and makes an acrobatic save which keeps the game 3-3.
75th min. Toronto come close to taking the lead for the first
time. Dave Simpson muscles away from his marker and has only
Kennedy in front of him, but shoots right at the Puerto Rico
goalkeeper.
82nd min. Puerto Rico earn a corner. Mauricio Salles hits it first
time but his effort is wide of the mark.
88th min. Lynx substitute striker Sean Fraser outruns his marker
and has a break on goal. Kennedy runs out to meet him forcing
Fraser to shoot early and right into Kennedy's legs.
90th min Goal! Lynx take the lead for the first time. Jamie Dodds
sends in a cross from the left flank which sails over two Puerto
Rico defenders. Dave Simpson hits it first time past Kennedy.
90th min. Goal! Puerto Rico tie on the first play after the
restart. Drew Mcarthy's shot is saved by Zagar, but the rebound is
hit home by substitute Juninho Dasilva. 4-4 as the full-time
whistle sounds.
Final Score:
Toronto 4 Puerto Rico 4
Lineups:
Toronto: Zagar, Titus, Piette (Eja-Tabe
45), Francois, Munthali, Diplacido, Dodds, Matondo, Dekker (Hart
45), Smith (Fraser 77), Simpson
Puerto Rico: Kennedy, Zuleta, Gores,
Ortiz (Gonzalez 20), Velez, Rivera, Villeqas (Da Silva), Maliza,
Delgado, Woolfolk (McAthy 82), Salles
Cautions: Toronto:
Matondo 41, Dodds 43, Eja-Tabe 69 Puerto Rico: Delgado 81
Ejections: None
Shots: Toronto 13
Puerto Rico 15
Saves: Toronto 6
Puerto Rico 4
Fouls: Toronto 11
Puerto Rico 15
Scorers: Toronto: Smith
(Matondo) 23, Simpson (Dodds), 55, Dodds (unassisted) 68, Simpson (Dodds)
90 Puerto Rico: Wollfolk (Maliza) 19, Salles (Rivera) 25, Salles
(PK) 44, Da Silva 90
The Toronto Lynx next game is at
home against the Rochester Raging Rhinos on May 31, 2005.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
DAVID NUTT, MEDIA RELATIONS
416-251-4625 ext. 30