August 2nd Toronto Lynx vs Virginia Beach Mariners

[Rocket Robin]

August 2, 2004 A-League Toronto Lynx vs. Virginia Bay Mariners (by Rocket Robin)

Result of the Monday August 2, 2004 A-League game between Toronto Lynx and Virginia Bay Mariners played at Centennial Stadium in Etobicoke at 6:00pm.

18 min...Lynx John Barry Nusum GOAL...Lynx Shawn Faria crosses short pass from 8 yards on left and Nusum leans his head into ball from 5 yards that bounces ball behind goalie Matthew Nelson.

42 min...Mariners Carlos Garcia-Dominguez GOAL...VBM Daniel Alvarez on left crosses into box where charging into box Garcia-Dominguez heads ball from 6 yards that goalie Bryheem Hancock blocks as he falls and Garcia-Dominguez gets to rebound and lunges for 3 yard header into open net.

53 min...Mariners Dante Washington GOAL...VBM Kevin Knott cross from left on run near left sideline and Washington charges to head in 5 yarder to low right side of net.

Final Score:.........Toronto Lynx..........1...............Virginia Beach Mariners..................2...............

Attendance was announced as 1818 (seemed too generous) on this last day of the Simcoe Day holiday weekend. Tonight's theme was Carib Fest and the entertainment was pretty good but there were more players on the field that could have passed for Caribbean than the extra Caribbean fans that came to the game. Perhaps the casual fans spent their money at the two Skydome matches over the weekend between FC Porto vs. Liverpool and AC Roma vs. Celtic.

Lynx player Ali Gerba is tied for second in the A-League in scoring goals with twelve but couldn't score tonight. He put two leaping headers over the net from 7 yards at 59 and 75 minutes. A 72 minute freekick from 25 yards was put well over the net. His best play was actually at 82 minutes when he headed the ball away from the front of the box for a Lynx player to blast the ball from 12 yards. The shot was blocked and Gerba got to the rebound to send in a 7 yard shot that the goalie trapped low to smother the ball.

Mariners goalie Matthew Nelson didn't have to be too sharp to win the game as the Lynx shots were often off target but Lynx goalie Bryheem Hancock had to be brilliant to stop about three breakaways with point blank saves.

Lynx used the two players they acquired on loan from the CPSL Hamilton Steelers when both Matt O'Connor and Edmilson came in at the 72nd minute. Both helped keep the pressure on the Mariners in the last 20 minutes of the game instead of the usual strategy of gradually having their players tire out. No sign of the Brazilians Vinicius Brito or Marcio Domingos who weren't listed as subs. Jamie Dodds and Lewis Blois were both serving suspensions and missed this game.

Mariners Mike Kirmse was quite popular with the crowd when he did a few somersault throw-ins. Regular fans have seen him over the years do this when he played for Syracuse last year and Rochester in years prior to that. I can remember Ross Quarterone doing this in the old CSL league.

Rocket Robin

robing@eol.ca

[Rocket Robin]

but I had to get mine on here first...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TORONTO LYNX GAME REPORT

presented by Heineken

Mariners De-claw Lynx

Virginia Beach Roll Over Toronto For Their 5th win in 7 Matches

Date: Monday, August 2, 2004

Venue: Centennial Park Stadium, Etobicoke, Ontario

Attendance: 1,818

Kick off Time: 6:00 PM

Final Score: Virginia Beach 2 Toronto 1

Match Summary:

On a hot, humid evening at Centennial Park Stadium the Toronto Lynx returned home after a 2-game Alberta road trip to face their division rivals from Virginia Beach. Celebrating their annual Carib Fest to honour and recognize the abundant Caribbean culture in the GTA, 1,818 fans on hand were treated to reggae and calypso music, as well as performances by the Caribbean Dance Theatre. On the pitch every match is a must-win situation for Toronto and despite the heat they came out strong in the opening half. The Lynx dominated both ends of the field in the early going and opened the scoring in the 19th minute when John Barry Nusum took a cross from Shawn Faria and headed it into the upper right corner for a 1-nil Toronto lead. But that seemed to motivate the Mariners because they turned up their offense and had a few good opportunities to tie the game, the best coming in the 34th minute when Mike Kirmse's chip from just outside the box was handled nicely by Lynx 'keeper Bryheem Hancock. The Mariners pulled even in the 41st minute when Daniel Alvarez delivered a lovely cross from the left side of the box that Carlos Garcia got a head on, the initial shot was stopped by Hancock but he couldn't control the rebound and Garcia headed in the equalizer. The Mariners opened the 2nd half as the clear aggressor with Garcia working from left to right inside the box getting a good shot away but once again Hancock came up big. That wasn't the case in the 54th minute when Garcia figured in the mix with a cross to Dante Washington who buried the header into the low right corner for a 2-1 Virginia Beach lead. After making numerous substitutions to enhance their defense the Mariners kept the Lynx offense at bay with the exception of Ali Gerba who had a couple of great chances. In the 76th minute and three minutes later, taking the cross but heading both over the goal. In the 82th minute with a defender draped on him, Gerba got a solid strike off but it was stopped by a falling Matt Nelson, making the final 2-1 Virginia Beach. The Lynx record falls to 7-12-1 on the season, while the Mariners improve to 9-9-3 and hold a 5-3 advantage in the all-time series. The Lynx continue their home stand on Saturday, August 7th when they meet the Vancouver Whitecaps at Centennial Park Stadium for a 7:30pm kickoff.

Highlights:

1st Half

3rd min: Darren Baxter with a great feed to John Barry Nusum but he couldn't chip it past Keeper Matt Nelson.

17th min: Off a free kick from the right side of the box bent towards the low left corner but it went just wide.

19th min: Shawn Faria sent a sensational cross to Nusum who bounced the header into the upper right corner, 1-0 Tor.

34th min: Mike Kirmse with a strong chip from just outside the penalty area was stopped by Keeper Bryheem Hancock.

36th min: Ali Gerba sent a nice ball to Nusum who got a foot on it but steered it wide of the goal.

41st min: Daniel Alvarez sent a cross that Carlos Garcia headed towards the goal, Hancock stopped the initial shot but couldn't hold onto the rebound, Garcia headed in the loose ball, 1-1.

2nd Half

49th min: Jeremy Aldridge unleashed a hard shot from the top of the box that sailed just over the crossbar.

51st min: Garcia working left to right inside the box got a good shot away but it was stopped by Hancock.

54th min: Garcia delivered a perfect cross to Dante Washington for the header into the low right corner, 2-1 Virginia Beach.

60th min: Nusum working on the right side chipped a cross to Ali Gerba but his header went up and over the crossbar.

66th min: Tony McManus cross to Hamisi Amani-Dove but his hard shot was handled by Hancock.

68th min: Dante Washington to Nate Wintel on the 2-on-1 stopped by a charging Hancock.

76th min: Gerba with a chance off a great cross but the header went over the crossbar.

79th min: Gerba with a chance off another great cross but it to sailed over the crossbar.

82nd min: Gerba with a defender draped all over him managed to get off a solid strike but it was hauled in by a falling Nelson.

92nd min: Aldrige with a near breakaway on the left side in all alone against Hancock but he could not beat Hancock.

Final Score: Virginia Beach 2 Toronto 1

Lineups:

Virginia Beach: Nelson, Danbusky, Kuott, Kirmse (Hutchinson, 81st min), Morelli, Aldrich, Bilyk (Gomez, 77th min), Alvarez (McMannus, 64th min), Amani-Dove (Jonas, 81st min), Washington, Garcia (Winkle, 64th min)

Toronto: Hancock, Mattacchione, Hughes, Mayard, Faria, DiPlacido (Hansor, 89th min), Baxter, Nusum (O'Conner, 73rd min), Prostran (Gbeke, 58th min), Bartolomeu (Milson, 73rd min), Gerba

Cautions: Vir: Kirmse (33rd minute), McMannus (86th min) Tor:

Ejections: None

Shots: Vir: 14 Tor: 18

Saves: Vir: 2 Tor: 7

Fouls: Vir: 13 Tor: 11

Scorers: Vir: Garcia (41st min), Washington (54th min) Tor: Nusum (19th min)

The Lynx next home game is Saturday, August 7th at 7:30 pm versus the Vancouver Whitecaps.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

DAVID NUTT, MEDIA RELATIONS

416-251-4625 ext. 30

[Rocket Robin]

Oh and it looks like Adrian Serioux has really gone to Millwall. confirmed from some officials from the Lynx.