Jarrek Posted July 23, 2003 Share Posted July 23, 2003 LYNX MANAGE BIG WIN AT HOME! TORONTO STORMS BACK TO BEAT ATLANTA AND KEEP PLAYOFF HOPES ALIVE Date: Wednesday, July 23, 2003 Venue: Centennial Park Stadium, Etobicoke, ON Attendance: 3,530 Kick off Time: 12:00 PM Final Score: Atlanta 1 Toronto 2 Match Summary: Riding the momentum of a come-from-behind victory in Montreal last week, the Toronto Lynx weathered an early Atlanta goal and responded with 2 unanswered for a 2-1 victory in front of 3,530 excited young fans on National Sports Youth Day at Centennial Park Stadium. The day started off with some fabulous entertainment from the Flygirl Cheerleaders and the huge crowd of summer camps and schools provided a great atmosphere for the match. Unfortunately, the Lynx where slow to respond and Mac Cozier put the Silverbacks in front in the 1st minute beating Keeper Theo Zagar from just inside the box for a 1-nil lead. That proved to be a wake-up call for the Lynx as Nikki Vignjevic's blast in the 3rd minute headed for the top left corner was stopped by Silverbacks Keeper Bryheem Hancock. The Lynx continued to pressure and striker Sebastian Barclay almost tied the match in the 12th minute when his shot from the top right corner of the box sailed just high over the crossbar. Persistance paid off in the 20th minute when Vignjevic picked up a loose ball in the box, dodged a defender and beat Hancock for his 4th of the campaign. Atlanta had there chances as well, off a free kick in the 28th minute Frank M'Bemba sent a bullet towards the low left corner but a diving Theo Zagar managed to steer the ball wide. The Lynx managed to take the lead in the 32nd minute, Brian Ashton sent a fabulous pass to a streaking Sebastian Barclay who chipped in his 3rd of the season, Toronto held a 2-1 lead at halftime. The second half saw the Lynx tighten their defence and still manage to put pressure on the Silverbacks with Elvis Thomas and Ali Ngon both having chances but failed to increase the lead. With the victory Toronto kept their slim playoff hopes alive improving their record to 8-9-3. The Lynx return to action on Friday, July 25 at 7:30pm at Centennial Park Stadium for Carib Fest when they take on the Charleston Battery. Highlights: First 1st min - Mac Cozier broke in off the left side and beat Keeper Theo Zagar in the low left corner 3rd min - off a penalty kick David Moore sent a blast headed for the top left corner but Keeper Bryheem Hancock made an outstanding save 12th min - Sebastian Barclay with a shot from the top right side of the box, just sailed high over crossbar 20th min - Nikola Vignjevic pounced on a loose ball in the box, dodged a defender and beat Hancock low left 21st min - Mac Cozier bent a corner just under the crossbar, Zagar made a great save 28th min - off a penalty kick, Frank M'Bemba shot headed for the low left corner but Zagar made a diving save 30th min - Elvis Thomas side-stepped a defender, walked into the box but couldn't beat Hancock 32nd min - Brian Ashton made a great pass to a streaking Sebastian Barclay who chipped his 3rd into the far right cornerh Second 57th min - John Nusum and Frank M'Bemba working the head-to-head give and go, Nusum's low shot handled by Zagar 62nd min - Thomas wheeling in the box send a cross for Ali Ngon but it was just out of his reach, Hancock still had to make a diving fingertip save 81st min - Ngon all alone in the box, his blast was stopped nicely by Hancock Final Score: Atlanta 1 Toronto 2 Lineups: Atlanta: Hancock, Moore, Woods, Barton, Odera, Asad, Parra, M'Bemba, Cozier (Klinger 86th min), Iotov, Nusum Toronto: Zagar, Veenhof, Mayard, Hughes, Vignjevic (Lewis 88th min), Ashton, DiPlacido, Faria, Thomas (Serioux 67th min), Barclay, Ngon(Lucas 86th min) Cautions: Atl: Parra Ejections: None Shots: Atlanta 11 Toronto 10 Saves: Atlanta 5 Toronto 4 Scorers: Atlanta: Cozier (1st min) Toronto: Vignjevic (20th min) Barclay (32nd min) The Lynx next home game is Friday July 25 at 7:30pm versus the Charleston Battery at Centennial Park Stadium. FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: DAVID NUTT, MEDIA RELATIONS 416-251-4625 ext. 30 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gian-Luca Posted July 23, 2003 Share Posted July 23, 2003 Nice to hear about the Lynx getting only the 2nd win at home & actually scoring two goals in a home game for the first time this year. Too bad the game was played at a time when most paying customers weren't able to attend. Considering that the Lynx have recently pulled in paying crowds close to the 3000 mark, are these "3,500 kids who get in for free" matches really worth it? Even the wolf can learn. Even the sheep can turn. Even the frog can become at last the prince. - Peter Hammill, Over (1977) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rocket Robin Posted July 23, 2003 Share Posted July 23, 2003 Nope looked twice as big as their usual crowds. Lynx reports have evolved more like my reports over the years! xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Result of the Wednesday July 23rd, 2003 A-League game between Toronto Lynx and Atlanta Silverback played at Centennial Stadium in Etobicoke at 12:00pm. Toronto Lynx (all white, black names and numbers, yellow trim) ..........................................22 Theo Zagar (cpt) ..............16 Josue Mayard...2 Jan Veenhof...14 Tyler Hughes 20 Elvis Thomas...8 Brian Ashton...5 Shawn Faria...6 Nikki Vignjevic...9 David DiPlacido ...........................19 Ali Ngon...11 Sebastian Barclay Subs:...00 Brian Rowland (gk)...3 Mauricio Vincello (def)...15 Adrian Serioux (def)...18 Ryan Lucas (fwd)...24 Paul Lewis (mid) team officials:...head coach/GM Peter Pinizzotto...assistant coach Alberto Furtado...goalkeeping coach Paulo Silva...medical co-ordinator Dr Robert Gringmuth Atlanta Silverbacks (red socks and shirts, black shorts, white names and numbers) ........................................18 Bryheem Hancock 6 David Moore...2 Alan Woods (cpt)...12 Josh Barton (def)...5 Joard Odera 11 Shakar Asad...14 Carlos Parra...17 Franck M'Bemba...16 Mac Cozier ..............................10 Velko Iotov...8 John Barry Nusum Subs:...3 Carl Fletcher (def)...9 Jordy Broder (mid)...15 Byron Mitchell (def)...20 Martin Klinger (fwd)...22 Ramon Luna (mid) team officials:...head coach Jacenir Silva...assistant coaches Ignace Moleka and Rafael Salerno Game officials:...referee Daniel Belleau (a national referee from Quebec)...referee's assistants Angelo Gertsatkis and Justin Tasev...fourth official Silviu Petrescu (yellow shirts, black shorts and socks) 1st Half:...game starts 12:10pm...Lynx defend south end on this hot sunny day. 24 seconds...Silverbacks Mac Cozier GOAL...Cozier fed ball up middle and low 20 yard shot from left has diving goalie get piece of it 7 yards out but he pushes ball into low left corner of net. 2 min...Lynx Vignjevic freekick from 20 yards over wall and flying goalie blocks shot to top left corner, Lynx Ngon had slipped so he couldn't get to rebound. 6 min...Lynx Vignjevic curls in 25 yard shot into box but defender clears. 7 min...AS Nusum breaks through middle but rolls weak 25 yard shot. 11 min...Lynx Vignjevic cornerkick from left is short to Lynx DiPlacido who passes back to Vignjevic and he curls ball into box but defenders clear. 11 min...AS player follow up on rush into Lynx box but he blasts 25 yard shot over net. 12 min...Lynx Barclay 15 yard shot from right is just over bar. 13 min...Lynx Ngon can't fully connect on high 7 yard shot in AS box. 19 min...Lynx Nikki Vignjevic GOAL...Lynx Ashton 40 yard freekick from right, Vignjevic gets ball at 10 yards on left, runs around defender and kicks ball into short left side of net from 5 yards. 20 min...Lynx Veenhof heads ball over own net after AS cross into box from left. 21 min...AS cornerkick from right is headed behind line by Lynx Thomas. 21 min...AS Cozier cornerkick inswinger from right has goalie swat ball away from bar and defender clear. 22 min...AS long throw-in from left is caught by goalie. 22 min...Lynx Mayard 40 yard high ball and Lynx Ngon flicks 15 yard header just over bar. 24 min...Lynx Ngon breaks on rush on left and threads pass to Lynx Barclay but defender intercepts in box. 26 min...Lynx Vignjevic cornerkick from right, Lynx Veenhof misses ball leaping for header from 5 yards and defender clears. 28 min...AS M'Bemba 25 yard freekick around wall but diving goalie pushes ball wide of left corner of net. 29 min...AS Parra cornerkick from left has defender head ball across box. 29 min...AS player's long throw-in from left is caught by goalie. 30 min...Lynx Thomas gets break when defender misses him on edge of box and crashes into other defender. Thomas walks into position 5 yards from net but waits too long to make play and is overridden. 31 min...Lynx Sebastian Barclay GOAL...Lynx Ashton runs up middle and slides ball to Barclay running up left, Barclay slides in 5 yard shot from left into right side of net. 35 min...AS player's freekick from 30 yards on left sideline is headed away by Lynx Mayard. 39 min...AS Parra freekick from 30 yards on right has defender head ball away. 41 min...AS Moore rush on right but he crosses over Lynx box. 41 min...AS player's cornerkick from left edge of box has defender in two man wall head ball into outside left side webbing of net. 42 min...AS cornerkick from left has defender head ball over box. 43 min...AS Iotov blasts 25 yard rebound after freekick well wide right. 45 min...half ends 12:55pm. 2nd Half:...starts 1:13pm. 46 min...Lynx Thomas works ball into box on passing play but his final shot is blocked. 47 min...Lynx Ashton cross from right has defender head ball away. 48 min...AS Nusum injured in center circle. 52 min...AS Cozier rush on left and cross over box but play wasted. 53 min...Lynx goalie catches defender's popped up header. 54 min...Lynx player's pops up header in AS box. 55 min...Lynx Vignjevic freekick on top right corner of box rolled across line to Lynx Ashton who blasts shot high over net from 20 yards. 57 min...AS Nusum heads ball over defender and 15 yard roller from right is blocked by goalie with two AS players on left post waiting for tap-in. Lynx defender clears rebound. 58 min...AS Odera cross from 15 yards on left curls behind net. 59 min...AS YELLOW card...Parra for dissent when AS 22 yard shots deflects off player wide left and cornerkick not awarded. 60 min...AS Parra 45 yard freekick is headed by defender on edge of box. 62 min...Lynx Ngon on 1 on 2 from 35 yards passes right to Lynx Thomas who waits too long to take shot in box. Thomas passes through box near right end line and goalie dives for hand save. 63 min...Lynx Vignjevic rolls 30 yard freekick from right to forward and further right and defender slides to tip Lynx Thomas shot. 64 min...Lynx Vignjevic cornerkick from right and leaping Lynx DiPlacido can't turn header. 65 min...AS Asad 30 yard freekick from left sideline popped up header and goalie leaps to make catch. 66 min...AS Nusum runs into box from left to right and blast 18 yarder well over net. 67 min...Lynx sub...Serioux replaces Thomas. 68 min...Lynx goalie catches cross from right end line. 69 min...AS Barton injured tackling Lynx Ngon rushing for long throw-in over center line. He is helped to sideline and returns two minutes later. 71 min...AS Iotov freekick from near right is headed away by Lynx Vignjevic. 72 min...AS Nusum leaping twist header over net from 12 yards. 73 min...AS Asad prevented from numerous shots by sliding defenders box. 74 min...AS Parra cross through box after short cornerkick from left. AS Iotov finishes AS pressure with 18 yard shot from right wide left. 75 min...AS Moore blasts 40 yard shot from right through crowd and ball stopped by goalie. 76 min...AS Iotov 30 yard cross from left is over bar. 77 min...AS Asad cross forward from 30 yards on left, AS Nusum is offisde in box as he jumps with Lynx goalie to swat away ball. 79 min...AS Asad pushes ball ahead to AS Nusum in box but defender and goalie block 3 yard point bland blast and clears rebound. 80 min...AS Asad long 25 yard cross from left is caught in crowd of players by leaping goalie. 81 min...Lynx Ngon gets ball in alone from 12 yards on left and goalie slides to deflect 10 yard shot wide right. 83 min...AS Iotov 35 yard freekick from right is caught by goalie. 85 min...AS Cozier heads 7 yarder over net after AS Nusum dekes two Lynx players on right edge of box and sends in cross. 87 min...Lynx sub...Lucas replaces Ngon. ..............AS sub...Klinger replaces Cozier. 88 min...Lynx sub...Lewis replaces Vignjevic. 89 min...Lynx Lucas bursts into box when ball checked away but takes too long for shot and sliding goalie knocks away ball. 90 min...AS Iotov cross from left 25 yards has goalie catch in crowd. 93 min...AS Klinger has low 20 yard shot just wide right of net. 93 min...AS Iotov throw-in from left is headed away. 93 min...game ends 2:01pm. Final Score:..........Toronto Lynx..........2..............Atlanta Silverbacks.............1.......... Attendance was 3530 in this special Youth Day matinee day. The majority of fans were children bussed in from various summer camps. A third goal from the Lynx would have gotten them all a coupon for a slice of pizza. This is actually only the first time the Lynx have scored even TWO goals at home this season! This should have been the game to do it because the Silverbacks have won only three League games this year (their first win of the year was their home game against the Lynx). They have scored even fewer goals than the Lynx. Twenty-four seconds to score the first goal! A sense of gloom didn't descend on the Lynx though and they dominated the first half. They were hanging on during the last half hour and the Silverbacks poor finishing stopped them from tieing the game. Lynx next game is another home game Friday night with opponents the Southeast Divisions best team, Charleston Battery. Rocket Robin robing@eol.ca Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarnCherry Posted July 24, 2003 Share Posted July 24, 2003 quote:Originally posted by Gian-Luca are these "3,500 kids who get in for free" matches really worth it? Even the wolf can learn. Even the sheep can turn. Even the frog can become at last the prince. - Peter Hammill, Over (1977) Nope. It cheapens the product and the league. No wonder so many people accuse the A-League of being bush. "As nothing in this life that I've been trying could equal or surpass the art of dying"-George Harrison Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
torontosupport Posted July 24, 2003 Share Posted July 24, 2003 quote:Considering that the Lynx have recently pulled in paying crowds close to the 3000 mark, are these "3,500 kids who get in for free" matches really worth it? Nope. You can't buy players with pizza coupons. Well, you could try... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mimglow Posted July 24, 2003 Share Posted July 24, 2003 Nothing wrong with giving area kids free tickets to games, but you need to be selling tickets to adults... Mimglow, Ottawa _________________________ You are the witness of change And to counteract We gotta take the power back Rage Against The Machine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarnCherry Posted July 24, 2003 Share Posted July 24, 2003 quote:Originally posted by Mimglow Nothing wrong with giving area kids free tickets to games, but you need to be selling tickets to adults... Mimglow, Ottawa _________________________ You are the witness of change And to counteract We gotta take the power back Rage Against The Machine Not only be selling tickets to adults but playing the games when the people who actually bought season tickets can go to watch them. It can't be good for season ticket holders knowing that you're going to play a couple of games a year during the week at noon. When the stadium only has 3500 seats after all these kids are let in for free how many people actually paid to watch? How can the team make any money? "As nothing in this life that I've been trying could equal or surpass the art of dying"-George Harrison Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grasshopper Posted July 24, 2003 Share Posted July 24, 2003 Yup, I have to admit I do not understand the how these afternoon games fit into the long-term big picture of marketing the Lynx. I'd love to see the cost-benefit analysis. It's probably the biggest reason I have not to buy season tickets. I know that I'll probably miss a couple of games anyways because of holidays, but throw in two more on weekday afternoons that I'll miss for sure and it just makes more sense to buy tickets on game day. And to make matters worse, they have to go and win one of the games that I'm not present for! Blair quote:Originally posted by Krammerhead Not only be selling tickets to adults but playing the games when the people who actually bought season tickets can go to watch them. It can't be good for season ticket holders knowing that you're going to play a couple of games a year during the week at noon. When the stadium only has 3500 seats after all these kids are let in for free how many people actually paid to watch? How can the team make any money? We want a game...in Canada! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rocket Robin Posted July 24, 2003 Share Posted July 24, 2003 Take the day off then. I knew about this game five months ago. I was invited to the Monday press conference for the stadium on Thursday which was a 'no go' at my place. Not enough warning. How many people schedule their holidays months ahead of time to fly all over North America to watch Manchester United. Don't say baseball doesn't do it. Not just Chicago Cubs but Toronto Blue Jays play the odd Wednesday afternoon game before they depart for a road trip. It makes the suppertime sportscasts in place of out of town baseball hilights from the night before. Some fans have to work evenings and weekends. This way you can make every season ticket holder miserable. Opponents aren't top draws anyway. Atlanta, Charlotte, Worchester another year. Well now you can stop moaning until next year. The co-owner was a school teacher so she likes kids. They've done it for years which is about as long as you've complained. From thousands of miles away too... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gian-Luca Posted July 24, 2003 Share Posted July 24, 2003 It was actually a rhetorical question on my part, as they obviously aren't worth it. I think this board should have a rhetorical smilie. Even the wolf can learn. Even the sheep can turn. Even the frog can become at last the prince. - Peter Hammill, Over (1977) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gian-Luca Posted July 24, 2003 Share Posted July 24, 2003 Keep in mind that Baseball has 81 home dates to play with. The Lynx have 14. And when you've just taken a week off to support Canada at the Gold Cup, taking another day off for a soccer match shortly thereafter isn't always an option for everyone. Even the wolf can learn. Even the sheep can turn. Even the frog can become at last the prince. - Peter Hammill, Over (1977) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rocket Robin Posted July 24, 2003 Share Posted July 24, 2003 Another thing is the Lynx have a game in only two days anyway. Now it's the adults turn to be there Friday night. Look at the kid who used to jump for tickets thrown from rafters at Junior A hockey games to get in for half price for Toronto Marlies. Years later he stated that was one of the reasons he bought the Ottawa Senators (Huh?) In between he made billions in the pharmaceudical industry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarnCherry Posted July 24, 2003 Share Posted July 24, 2003 Oh god, I just knew someone would bring up baseball. Apart from the aforementioned 81 home game schedule the biggest difference is that they still market day baseball games to the adults who can get the time off for them. They don't give away the majority of tickets to kids. I've been to a day baseball game at Nat Bailey here and enarly all of the people in the stands were adults. Wow, in one incident some kid who got half priced tickets grew up to be a millionaire who bought a hockey team. Thing is, the Lynx aren't going to live long enough for a kid to grow up to buy the team if they keep alienating it's fans with day games. Plus you are talking about hockey, loving the sport is in most Canadians blood. These busloads of kids from daycamp don't have the love of soccer in them, it's just another event to kill time. Quote: "Opponents aren't top draws anyway. Atlanta, Charlotte, Worchester another year." When is an opponent in Toronto a top draw? You can't even get 3000 in the park against Rochester! Instead of trying to pack in the crowds with non-interested kids perhaps the kid loving ex-school teacher owner should learn how to get adults into the building. We may be whiners, but I'd rather be a whiner than an apoligist. "As nothing in this life that I've been trying could equal or surpass the art of dying"-George Harrison Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarnCherry Posted July 24, 2003 Share Posted July 24, 2003 Also have to add, that just by looking at this thread you have Grasshopper who says that these day games is probably the biggest reason he doesn't buy season tickets, and Gianluca who is a regular paying customer who is not pleased with being unable to attend. Seems to me to be bad business alienating what would be paying customers. Now tell me, who should the lynx be catering to, the paying customer or the kids? There has been no proof that marketing to the kids brings any payoff (because they will grow up and want to come to games) because all the clubs that do so die off before the kids become adults. If it did work, the Lynx would be filling their small park every game with kids and their families who have all of a sudden become paying fans. Same thing in Pitsburgh, and all the other cities that have such sillyness. "As nothing in this life that I've been trying could equal or surpass the art of dying"-George Harrison Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheeta Posted July 24, 2003 Share Posted July 24, 2003 Season's getting short but the Lynx and the Whitecaps are still both within range to make the playoffs yet. A 2-1 result against Atlanta may not be the most encouraging performance but they took home the goods at the end of the day. Maybe the lads are a little more intense, anxious, sharper, whatever, with the number of game dates droping. Or is it maybe just they're starting to hit their stride a little. Don't know as I don't get to see them play. Wish there was a little bit better TV coverage. Well, whatever it is I wonder if it's going to be one of those too little, too late sort of things. Good luck. "Minority of one" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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