Another Stalemate for the Lynx and the Rhinos    

 
Date:               Sunday, August 20, 2006
 

Venue:          Centennial Park Stadium, Toronto, ON

Attendance:     1054
 

Time:               6:00 p.m. EST
 
Final score:     Toronto 1, Rochester 1
 
 By Vijay Setlur
 
TORONTO - Despite playing a man short for most of the game, the Toronto Lynx hung on for a 1-1 draw with archrival Rochester on Sunday evening.  The game was the second of a home-and-home set, with the first also ending in a 1-1 draw on Friday in Rochester. The tie marked the third straight 1-1 draw between the two clubs.  Midfielder Kevin Jeffrey scored for the Lynx, which improved to 5-12-6 and 21 points, while midfielder Aaran Lines replied with his first of the season for the Rhinos (10-4-9, 39 points). The draw stretched the Lynx's winless streak to four after a run of five games without a loss. It also moved the Rhinos into sole possession of second place just four points behind the Montreal Impact, which has two games in hand.

Toronto put itself in an early hole just five minutes into the match when midfielder Gordon Chin was sent off for headbutting Lines near midfield. Despite the disadvantage, the Lynx took the play to the Rhinos in the first half, creating solid scoring chances and testing Rhinos goalkeeper Scott Vallow. The Lynx were rewarded for their strong play in the 21^st minute when it opened the scoring on Jeffrey's goal.  Matt Palleschi sent a pass to a streaking Jeffrey, who took the pass on the right side and deposited a low shot by Rhinos goalkeeper Scott Vallow for his fifth goal of the season.  The goal put Jeffrey into a tie with midfielder Jamie Dodds for the team lead in goals.  It also continued a hot run of late for Jeffrey, who has scored all of his goals in the last eight games.      

Rochester came out of the halftime break a different team. The Rhinos raised their pace and created a flurry of quality scoring chances, especially between the 50^th and 60^th minute mark. They capitalized in the 57^th minute and evened the score on Lines' goal.  Lines got his revenge on the Lynx when he took a loose ball from a goal area scramble and found the back of the net with a low shot through a maze of defenders.

 
Both teams made substitutions down the stretch to push for the go-ahead goal, but both Vallow and Toronto Lynx goalkeeper Theo Zagar stepped up with great saves to preserve the tie.

The Lynx play four of their final five games at home with the next one at home this Wednesday evening against the league-leading Montreal Impact.

GAME HIGHLIGHTS
 
5^th min. - Lines issued yellow card and Toronto's Gregory chin issued red card for headbutting Lines.
 
14^th min. - Vallow saves Arango's header off a free kick cross
 
21^st min. - A streaking Kevin Jeffrey scores his fifth goal of the season after taking a pass from Matt Palleschi on the right flank and depositing a low shot by Vallow.  ROCHESTER 0, TORONTO 1.
 
38^th min. - Bedenikovic's free kick from 15 yards out sails over cross bar.
 
48^th min. - Vallow's save off an initial shot deflects off Kevin Jeffrey's leg and rolls jut by the left post.
 
52^nd min. - Bagley's shot from inside penalty area deflected just wide of goal.
 
56^th min. - Ambersley's shot from 25 yards out saved by Zagar.
 
57^th min. - Lines scores off a loose ball just outside the goal crease.  ROCHESTER 1, TORONTO 1
 
74^th min. -  Bagley's header in goal crease off crossing pass saved by diving Zagar
 
80^th min. - Menezes' header off cross saved by Vallow.

 Lineups:  
 
Rochester:  GK - Scott Vallow, D - Frankie Sanfilippo, D - Kenney Bertz, D - Scott Palguta, D - Nate Craft, MF - John Ball, MF- Aaran Lines, MF - Tenywa Bonseu, MF - Michael Ambersley, F - Gregory Howes, F - Chris Bagley
 
Toronto:  GK - Theo Zagar, D - Rick Titus, D - Andres Arango, D - Marco Bedenikovic, D - Chris Williams, MF - David DiPlacido, MF - Robbie Aristodemo, MF - Jamie Dodds, MF - Gregory Chin, MF - Kevin Jeffrey, F - Matt Palleschi
 
 
MATCH STATISTICS
 
Goals:              Rochester - Lines, 57^th min.(unassisted)
                        Toronto - Jeffrey, 21^st min. (Palleschi)
 
Shots:              Rochester 13, Toronto 12
 
Saves:             Rochester 3, Toronto 2
 
Fouls:              Rochester 16, Toronto 5
 
Corners:          Rochester 5, Toronto 6
 
Cautions:         Rochester 1 (Lines, 5^th min.)
                        Toronto 2 (Arango, 47^th min.; Dodds, 87^th min)
 
Ejections:        Toronto 1 (Chin, 5^th min.)
 
Substitutions:  Rochester -      Bonseu (Matthew Delicate, 51^st min.)
                                                Ambersley (Connally Edozien, 75^th min.)
                                                Bagley (Charles Gbeke, 75^th min.)
 
                        Toronto -         Palleschi (Damien Pottinger, 63^rd. min.)
                                                Aristodemo (Shawn Faria, 63^rd min.)
                                                DiPlacido, (Osni Neto, 68^th min.)
                                                Bedenikovic (Edgar Bartolomeu, 68^th min.)
                                                Jeffrey (Tony Menezes, 79^th min.)

The Toronto Lynx' next game is at home versus the Montreal Impact on Wednesday August 27 at 7:30 PM.
 

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

ROB IRWIN, MEDIA RELATIONS

416-251-4625 ext. 23