Date: May 6, 2005

 

Venue: Blackbaud Stadium, Charleston, South Carolina

 

Attendance: 2 774

 

Kick Off Time: 7:30 EST

 

Final Score: Charleston  3     Toronto  1

 

Match Summary:

 

The Toronto Lynx continued their six game away schedule in Charleston against the Battery this evening.  Both teams were hoping to pick up their first wins of the season. The Lynx entered tonight's contest with a record of 0-2-2, while their hosts were 0-1-2 through three games.  Both teams had scored 2 goals each coming into tonight's encounter, and hoped to create some offense.  Toronto looked to 2004 Lynx MVP and Top Scorer Ali Gerba, who found the target against Richmond, and newly acquired Jamaican international Winston Grifiths who netted his first goal in Lynx colours against Virginia Beach. Former Charleston midfielder Rick Titus returned to Blackbaud, this time lacing up for the Lynx.  Lynx and Trinidad and Tobago striker Conrad Smith was serving a suspension as a result of his red card last weekend in Virginia Beach.  Injuries kept Shawn Faria and Joe Mattacchione from tonight's Ly nx squad.  Charleston were strengthened by newly signed striker Usiel Vasquez. Blackbaud Stadium has never been kind to the Lynx, with all six matches between the clubs in Charleston ending in favour of the Battery.  The Lynx have traditionally struggled against Charleston, with an all-time record of 2-9-0 against them.  The last meeting between the two in Charleston ended 3-1 in the Battery's favour.  The Lynx opened scoring through veteran Dave Diplacido's first goal of the season.  Diplacido struck from just outside the area beating Battery goalkeeper Mike Behonick after a quarter of an hour.  Charleston equalized through a similar play after Greg Simmonds struck from outside the box in the 39th minute.  Both teams went to the dressing with a goal each at the break.  It was Simmonds again just after the hour.  Simmonds connected with Lazo Alvanja's pass inside the area, beating Lyn x keeper Zagar to give Charleston the lead in the 66th minute.  Simmonds was substituted in the 67th minute and it was his replacement that sealed the night for Charleston.  Alon Lubezky headed in Chris Goos' corner to make it 3-1 in the 80th minute.  Final score after 90 minutes was Charleston 3, Toronto 1.  Toronto Lynx Head Coach Hubert Busby Jr. Spoke with lynxsoccer.com after the game.  "We started strong but strayed from our plan.  We made school-boy errors that led to tonight's result.  We need to eliminate mistakes and mental breakdowns before we start getting results.  We'll keep plugging away."  Tonight's result left the Lynx in 8th position, and the Battery in 4th.  Lynx next match is in Atlanta on May 7th at 6:30 EST.       

  

 

Final Score: Charleston   3   Toronto   1 

 

Lineups:

 

Toronto: Theo Zagar, Andres Arango, Josue Mayard, Jeremie Piette, Robin Hart (Jaime Dodds 55), Sean Fraser, Nils Dekker (Dave Simpson 70), Rumba Munthali, Winston Griffiths, Dave Diplacido (Eltabe Huffman 83), Ali Gerba

 

Charleston: Michael Behonick, Jason Kutney, Alan Woods, Tim Karalexis, Ted Chronopoulos, Justin Evans, Lazo Alavanja, Josh Smith (Kevin Jackson 83), Andres Perez (Chris Goos 67), Greg Simmonds (Alon Lubezky 67), Thabiso Khumalo (Jesus Martinez 81)

 

Cautions: Charleston: Perez 2, Karalexis 34,   Toronto: Munthali 52

 

Ejections: None

 

Shots: Charleston 26,   Toronto  7 

 

Saves: Charleston  0, Toronto  6 

 

Fouls: Charleston  8, Toronto  12 

 

Scorers: Charleston:  Simmonds 39, 66 (Alvanja), Lubezky (Goos) 80   Toronto: Diplacido 15

 

 

 

The Toronto Lynx next game is in Atlanta against the Silverbacks on May 7, 2005.

 

Lynx home opener is on May 15th against the Montreal Impact at Centennial Park Stadium at 4:00 PM.

 

  

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

DAVID NUTT, MEDIA RELATIONS

416-251-4625 ext. 30