May 6 - Charleston vs. Toronto [R]

[DJT]

Charleston Battery (0-2-1) vs. Toronto Lynx (0-2-2)

Kickoff at 7:30 PM EDT.

Charleston's audio Webcast begins at 7:15, though I can't find the actual link to the stream on that page - maybe it'll become active when the Webcast starts.

[MM2]

The webcast is working, 1-0 Toronto.

[DJT]

It's 1-1 with a little less than 30 minutes remaining.

[DJT]

2-1 for Charleston now at 67 minutes. Zagar has been under siege in the second half.

[DJT]

3-1 now with only 10 minutes to go. This looks done.

[DJT]

Final:

Charleston 3  Toronto 1

15' TOR Dave DiPlacido

39' CHA Greg Simmonds

66' CHA Greg Simmonds

80' CHA Alon Lubezky

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. Unused sub: Richard Goddard.

[*]USL report — something that stands out: Charleston had 26 shots with 9 on goal, Toronto had 7 shots with 1 on goal

[*]Excerpt from Battery report:

The Charleston Battery beat the Toronto Lynx by a score of three goals to one tonight at Blackbaud Stadium in front of a crowd of 2,774. Veteran forward Greg Simmonds scored a brace and rookie substitute forward Alon Lubezky added the third as Charleston secured its first win of the 2005 USL First Division season.

Charleston improves to 1-1-2, 5 points good for a share of fourth position in the tables. The Lynx drop to 0-3-2, and remains in eighth spot. The Battery outshot Toronto by 26-7 forcing Lynx goalkeeper Theo Zagar to make six saves.

Toronto scored first after a defensive miscue by the Battery. The ball was played long over the top forcing Charleston goalkeeper Mike Behonick to head clear from the top of the box. The clearance went straight to midfielder David Diplacido who slotted the ball past a back-pedaling Behonick from thirty yards out.

In the 23rd minute defender Tim Karalexis played an excellent ball through to Simmonds at the top-right corner of the penalty area. Simmonds stretched past his defender but his right-footed shot cannoned into the side-netting.

With five minutes to play in the first half, Charleston equalized. Midfielder Ted Chronopoulos made a deep run from left back and his cross to the near post was blocked away by the Toronto defense. The ball squirted out to Simmonds who fired home from just outside the box.

In the 53rd minute Battery midfielder Lazo Alavanja came close but his spinning right-footed free-kick just missed the near post.

Charleston finally took the lead in the 66th minute. Alavanja slipped a pass through to Simmonds at the edge of the six yard box. Simmonds cut to his left then lashed a shot past Zagar at the near-post.

As the Lynx began to tire Charleston pressed home its advantage with a third goal at the 80 minute mark. Chris Goos swept a corner-kick in from the right side that substitute forward Alon Lubezky headed into the right side of the goal from twelve yards out.

[Steve B]

The Lynx only dressed 15 for this game. That is so sad. Third weekend of the season and they are already travelling understrength. Given that the league allows five subs a game and allows a game day roster of 18 it is pathetic that they took only 15 to this game. I realize that there are a couple of injuries (Faria, Matta) and an ejection (Conrad Smith) but surely they can fill out the roster.

It reminds me of some of the travelling teams to Toronto in the late '90s. It would not be unusual, near the end of a season, to have a visiting team with a single outfield sub on the bench.

We desperately need new ownership in Toronto.

[François]

And 15, that's including a back-up goalkeeper...

[dutcy]

"We desperately need new ownership in Toronto." Do we ever[8D]

[Rocket Robin]

For Immediate Release

Toronto Lynx Game Report

Presented by Carlsberg

Lynx Fall in Charleston

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

[FC Beast]

Ah the Lynx, well the song remains the same for them.....losing. There

is no excuse possible for a professional soccer franchise to bring only

15 players to a match. If is what we can expect from the Lynx this year,

then maybe a boycott of the first home game might wake up the ownership

group that the fans won't stand for this bs anymore.

[Polish_LYNX_Fan]

yes lets boycott the game[8)] hmmm I wonder who will boycott this game the U-SECTOR ?? do you think they would really care ??? mmm I dont. I can see Nicole now OH look the U-sector didnt show up maybe we should quit"

WIN OR LOOSE ITS ALL THE SAME WE WILL FOLLOW YOU

U-SECTOR THROUGH THICK AND THIN!!!!!!

[Gian-Luca]

I bet many of the people going to the opening match will have no clue how the Lynx are doing so far in the season before they enter the stadium and get their cheap match program. That's the (only?) great thing about zero coverage for the team in the local media.

[dbailey62]

quote:Originally posted by Gian-Luca

I bet many of the people going to the opening match will have no clue how the Lynx are doing so far in the season before they enter the stadium and get their cheap match program. That's the (only?) great thing about zero coverage for the team in the local media.

That's a sad truth. Six on the road is a bloody awful way to start the year. The Lynx are a team that could sure use a Field Turf park to play on. At least they'd not have to go through these crazy early season road trips.

db

[DJT]

quote:Originally posted by dbailey62

Six on the road is a bloody awful way to start the year. The Lynx are a team that could sure use a Field Turf park to play on. At least they'd not have to go through these crazy early season road trips.

Note that Montreal are also starting with 6 away while Vancouver have almost the reverse (5 of first 6 and 7 of first 8 at home). Seattle start with 5 at home and don't play away until June. My point is, crappy schedules are not uncommon.

[DJT]

Just a few minutes after posting that, the commentators on the Virginia Beach vs. Montreal Webcast were talking about how the league plans to address this scheduling issue since many teams (including Montreal) are not happy about it.