Rocket Robin Posted June 9, 2004 Share Posted June 9, 2004 Result of the Wednesday June 9th, 2004 A-League game between Toronto Lynx and Puerto Rico Islanders played at Centennial Stadium in Etobicoke at 11:00am. 18 min...PR Raul Diaz GOAL...PR Martin Zapata 35 yard freekick from right has first players miss header and PR Diaz on fly connect to 5 yard header from left post into right corner of net. 42 min...Lynx Ali Gerba GOAL...Lynx Adrian Serioux curls 25 yard shot around defenders that flying goalie Eduardo Memendi bobbles ball in catch attempt, ball is loose and Gerba chips in 3 yarder from right post. 46 min (injury time)...Lynx Ali Gerba GOAL...Lynx Rumba Munthali sends pass over center line that finds both Gerba and Adrian Serioux all alone on 2 on 0 rush. Goalie Memendi rushes out to try to break up play but Gerba gets away roller from 30 yards that rolls into empty net. 60 min...PR Martin Zapata is being blocked by Lynx Joe Mattacchione so he flicks kick upward that hits Mattacchione on the shoulder just inside the Lynx box and referee Nick Theodorakis immediately signals a penalty kick. 61 min...PR Michael Mourelo GOAL...Mourelo rolls ball to left corner of net on penalty kick with goalie Richard Goddard his sweeping body forward in middle of net. 71 min...Lynx Jamie Dodds GOAL...Dodds gets pass in PR box about 18 yards out and kicks around three defenders blocking him and ball pops up. Dodds suddenly finds himself open and spears 10 yard shot into low left corner of net. 74 min...Lynx RED card...Lewis Blois gets direct red card at Lynx 25 yard line for foot up challenge on PR Johanes Miliza. Final Score:..............Toronto Lynx...........3..............Puerto Rico Islanders............2............ Attendance was announced as 4950. It's by far the largest school day crowd I've seen since this annual theme day begam at Centennial. The grandstand was filled as were the east side berne and some of each of the endzones. With no 'work-to-rule' or teacher's strikes this year, it looks like more schools picked up on the Lynx offered. Bulk buys like this get the kids in for $5.00 a ticket. The Lynx second goal was a crafty play. The Lynx were called on offside traps all afternoon but the Islanders defenders had let their guard down when Lynx forward John Barry Nusum was 10 yards offside and just walked back to the center line. Rumba Munthali from the center circle shot a short pass through the defence and Gerba and Serioux were open all alone. Instead of joining the play, Nusum continued to walk back to over the center line back to the Lynx side of the field. Only the Islanders goalie seemed to know what was going on and came running out 35 yards to try to break up the play. From what I understand about the new offside rules, if Nusum had turned around to join the play, the offside flag should have been immediately raised. The Islanders looked much stronger in today's game than on Saturday. They were able to get their complement of players into Canada so had six subs to choose from although not leading scorer Mauricio Salles-De Alencar and play maker Martin Zapata-Alhornoz. The Lynx get the maximum nine points available against the Islanders this year. The Islanders still haven't won but have tied Richmond, Syracuse, and 2003 A-League champions Charleston. The Lynx played the last 16 minutes one man down. Immediately coach Duncan Wilde substituted defender Andres Arango for forward Ali Gerba. Gerba had by then scored five goals against the Islanders in this week's series and six against them if the season opener is counted. Darren Baxter shined during this time as he'd make runs to the Islanders corner flags and hold off two guys until they checked him often for a throw-in. About half the Lynx players stayed on the running track to sign autographs as the crowd disbursed. At the other end of the field, some of the Islanders players stayed and signed autographs too. Rocket Robin robing@eol.ca Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jarrek Posted June 9, 2004 Share Posted June 9, 2004 I'm going to use this report on the homepage Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gian-Luca Posted June 9, 2004 Share Posted June 9, 2004 Ali's now got 8 goals, more than he had for the Lynx all of last season before they traded him. He's got to be amongst the league leaders in points. The only caveat to this is that 6 of his 8 goals have come against Puerto Rico who are winless in what, 13 games thus far? Nevertheless if he keeps it up, I hope some other eyes outside of the Lynx coaching staff take some notice.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rocket Robin Posted June 10, 2004 Author Share Posted June 10, 2004 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE TORONTO LYNX GAME REPORT presented by Heineken Lynx Sweep Puerto Rico Back to the Island Lynx edge valiant Islanders in front of sold-out School Day crowd Date: Wednesday, June 9, 2004 Venue: Centennial Park Stadium, Etobicoke, Ontario Attendance: 4,950 Kick off Time: 11:00 AM Final Score: Puerto Rico 2 Toronto 3 Match Summary: The Toronto Lynx sent their nearly 5,000 young School Day fans home happy with a thrilling 3-2 victory over the visiting Puerto Rico Islanders on a hot afternoon at Centennial Park Stadium. The win, the Lynx' second in a row, raises their record to 4-6-0 (12 points) and moved them into fifth place in the Eastern Conference, just four points behind the Atlanta Silverbacks and the final playoff spot in the conference. The Lynx and Silverbacks will meet on Sunday at Centennial Park. The Islanders failed once again to claim their maiden victory in their inaugural A-League season, dropping their record to 0-9-3 (3 points). The huge crowd was the largest for the Lynx since their move to Centennial Park Stadium in 2002. Toronto swept the season series between the clubs 3-0, outscoring the Islanders 9-3 in the process. The thousands of young fans were treated to an exciting afternoon of soccer and entertainment. The WIllowdale Middle School band and the Islington Public School provided musical performances to warm up the crowd prior to the kick-off. OFSAA Executive Director Colin Hood performed the ceromonial kick-off, as the game was part of a double header with the OFSAA Girls AAAA/AAA Girls Final to be played following the Lynx/Islanders match, between Birchmount Park CI (Scarborough) and Catholic Central HS (London). The Islanders, bolstered by the return to the lineup of Mario Zapata, who missed the first Toronto/Puerto Rico match on Sunday, came out of the blocks strong, playing inspired soccer. They dominated the early part of the match, and were rewarded for their efforts when Raul Arce-Diaz, a former MLS star, headed home a powerful free kick from Zapata. The Islanders continued to press for much of the half, as the Lynx appeared listless in the humid conditions. The Lynx came to life just prior to the half with two quick strikes from their star striker, Ali Gerba, his fourth and fifth goals in the club's past two games. The first goal saw Puerto Rico 'keeper Eduardo Memendi make an incredible diving save off a powerful strike from Adrian Serioux from near the top of the penatly area, but he was unable to hang on to the ball, and the ever-dangerous Gerba made an alert move to dash in and push the ball past the supine keeper. In injury time, two minutes later, Gerba was left all alone near midfield, and he eluded a charging Memendi to score his seventh goal of the young season, giving the Lynx the lead going into the lockerroom. Memendi appeared shaken up on the play, but did not leave the game. The second half was a wide-open affair, with both teams taking turns carrying the play. Puerto Rico levelled the score after Diaz-Arce scored his second goal of the afternoon, converting a penatly after Joe Mattacchione was called for handling the ball inside the box in the 61st minute. Eleven minutes later, midfielder Jamie Dodds gave the Lynx the lead for good with a stunning goal. After picking up the ball following a scramble in the Islander's box, he juggled it over the head of a stunned defender, turned, and blasted a shot just inside the far post, past a limping Memendi, eliciting a deafening roar from the huge throng, giving the Lynx their fourth win of the year. The Lynx return to action Sunday in an important Eastern Conference clash with the Atlanta Silverbacks, with kick-off scheduled for 6:00 pm at Centennial Park Stadium. Highlights: 1st Half 15th Minute: Zapata free kick from top of 18-yard box is corralled by Goddard. 16th Minute: Gerba battles free deep inside the Puerto Rico penalty area and is brought down, but instead receives a yellow card. 18th Minute: Powerful Serioux strike from 20 yards out sails dangerously over the Islander net. 20th Minute: Zapata free kick from near sideline, 30 yards out is headed home by Diaz-Arce after a scramble in the Lynx box. Puerto Rico 1, Lynx 0 29th Minute: DiPlacido plays precision strike into the box, but Nusum is unable to control it with his head and it is cleared to safety by the Puerto Rico defense. 33rd Minute: Garay receives through ball between two defenders 10 yards in front of the Lynx net, but is unable to beat Goddard who makes the big save. 36th Minute: Zapata dribbles deep into Lynx penalty area, and crosses back to Maliza at the top of the box, who slams the ball narrowly by the far crossbar. 41st Minute: Another Zapata free kick from the near sideline is firmly redirected towards goal by Garay from the top of the box, but Goddard makes an easy save. 43rd Minute: Serioux takes a ferocious shot from the top of the box, and Memendi makes a diving save. However, he is unable to hold on to the ball, and an alert Gerba rushes to the ball and knocks the ball home to level the score. Lynx 1, Puerto RIco 1. 45th Minute: Dodds dribbles deep into the box near the far corner and crosses to Nusum, who redirects it to goal. The ball is blocked and cleared by the Islanders defense back to Baxter, who then rips a shot just over the Puerto Rico net. 45th Minute: Gerba receives pass all alone near midfield and races towards the net on a breakaway accompanied by Munthali. Memendi charges out towards Gerba to try and strip the ball from him, but Gerba eludes him 35 yards in front of the net and slams the ball into the empty net from 20 yards away. Lynx 2, Puerto Rico 1 2nd Half 46th Minute: Baxter brought down near penalty area on far side of field. Prostrans's ensuing free kick is headed to safety by the Puerto Rican defense. 51st Minute: Diaz bends a free kick towards the Lynx net, but it soars harmlessly over the cross bar. 56th Minute: Nusum receives a precision pass and dribbles into the Islanders box, but his left-footed strike flys just past the far post. 59th Minute: Garay lifts a harmless looking shot towards the Lynx goal, but it eludes Goddard. However, the ball carrroms off the near post to preserve the Lynx lead. 61st Minute: Astonda plays the ball towards the Lynx net from the top of the penalty area, and it strikes Mattacchione in the hand inside the box. Puerto Rico is awarded a penatly kick. Diaz Arce buries the kick to tie the match. Lynx 2, Puerto Rico 2. 63rd Minute: Dodds reins in a loose ball after a scramble following a Lynx corner but his shot strikes a Islander defender and it is cleared for another corner kick. Prostran bends the second corner dangerously towards the goal but a limping Memendi grabs the ball and clears it to safety. 72nd Minute: In an incredible individual effort, Dodds picks up a loose ball at the top of the Lynx penalty area, juggles it over the head of an Islander defender, turns, and strikes the ball past a helpless Memendi to give the Lynx back the lead. Lynx 3, Puerto Rico 2. 73rd minute: Gerba receives a pass on the fly and dribbles at full speed towards the Islanders net. His powerful shot sails just inches over the Islanders net. 77th Minute: Zuleta receives a Zapata free kick 2 yards from the Lynx net and hammers it towards goa with his headl. Goddard makes a brilliant leaping save and punches it mere inches over the crossbar to preserve the Lynx lead. 86th Minute: Goddard beats a charging Islanders forward to the ball and reels in a strong Garay cross. Final Score: Toronto 3 Puerto Rico 2 Lineups: Puerto Rico: Memendi, Gores, Zuleta, Ortiz, A. Rivera, Deering (H. Rivera, 21), Zapata, Maliza (Toal, 76), Alcero (Astondoa, 45), Garay (Nieves, 88), Diaz Toronto: Goddard, Steele (Prostran, 45), Mattacchione, Hughes, Baxter, Serioux, Nusum (Pavic, 67), DiPlacido (Dodds 38), Bartolomeu (Blois, 45), Gerba (Arango, 76), Munthali Cautions: Puerto Rico: Zapata (31) Tor: Gerba (16), Mattacchione (70) Ejections: Blois (75) Shots: PR: 11 Tor: 13 Saves: PR: 4 Tor: 4 Fouls: PR: 14 Tor: 18 Offsides: PR: 2 Tor: 9 Corners: PR: 4 Tor: 2 Scorers: Tor: Gerba 2 (43,45), Dodds (72) Puerto Rico: Diaz 2 (20, 60-PK) Assists: Tor: Munthali (45) PR: Zapata (20) The Lynx next home game is Sunday, June 13th at 6:00 pm versus the Atlanta Silverbacks. FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: DAVID NUTT, MEDIA RELATIONS 416-251-4625 ext. 30h Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
torontosupport Posted June 10, 2004 Share Posted June 10, 2004 Um, the fact that PR still hadn't had their star players in the line-up and gave it a fighting chance causes me some concern. I mean really, Toronto won and all...but PR are the worst team in the league. We should have dominated them either way. Unless, that is, we're the second worst team in the league. Can anyone give a mention about the PR goals from today? Then again, I didn't see the game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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