Toronto Lynx Game Report
Brought To You By Brava
MATCHES KEEPS
THE FIRE BURNING
JOE ‘MATCHES’ MATTACCHIONE SCORES THE WINNER AS LYNX WIN
SECOND STRAIGHT
Date: Friday July 19, 2002
Venue:
York University Stadium (Toronto)
Kick-off: 6:30 p.m.
Attendance:
1,059
Final Score: 1 2 F
Vancouver 0 0 0
Toronto 0
1 1
Game Summary: Defender Joe "Matches" Mattacchione scored his
first goal of the season and goaltender Theo Zagar made five saves for his third
shutout in four games as the Toronto Lynx (6-9-3, 28 points) defeated the
Vancouver Whitecaps (7-8-4, 35 points) 1-0 this evening at York University
Stadium on East Meets West Night for their second consecutive win.
With
the victory Toronto pulls to within three points of the Montreal Impact (7-5-2,
31 points) for second place in the Northeast Division and to within six points
of the Charlotte Eagles (7-8-2, 34 points) for the sixth and final playoff spot
in the conference.
The Lynx can advance to the post season by either
finishing second in their division or by overtaking Charlotte for the final seed
in the Eastern Conference. Currently Montreal has two games in hand on Toronto
while Charlotte is in Pittsburgh tomorrow night before crossing the border to
play the Lynx at York University on Monday at 12:00 p.m. in a match that may
ultimately decide the final playoff position in the East.
Against
Vancouver, the Lynx came out strong in the first 15 minutes and controlled the
majority of the possession as the Whitecaps looked a little flat playing their
second road game in three nights. The best chance in the opening sequence can 12
minutes in when Whitecaps leading scorer Steve Kindel took a shot from 20 yards
out that was headed for the top right corner. Zagar dove and extended himself on
the play and was able to get a hand on the ball for his best save of the
half.
Afterwards both teams hit a bit of lull and neither club could
produce any serious scoring chances until the 32nd minute mark when Kindel got
loose again just outside the box and fired a low shot towards the right corner.
Zagar again read the play perfectly and was able to make another diving
stop.
Just before the end of the half the Lynx were able to register
their best chance of the opening frame when midfielder Nikki Vignjevic’s low
shot off a free kick from 23 yards out was just turned aside by a diving Alex
Marques.
In keeping with the East Meets West theme the half time
entertainment featured an enjoyable performance by Northern Fists, Southern Legs
who demonstrated the ancient Chinese art form of Dragon Dancing.
Toronto
was able to open the scoring in the 59th minute as Mattcchione scored his first
goal since September of 2001 off a set play from a free kick. With the ball
placed deep on the wing in the Whitecaps zone, Vignjevic played a pass back to
Mattacchione who wired a shot from 30 yards out to give Toronto all they would
need on this night. With the marker Mattacchione become the eleventh Lynx player
to score a goal this season.
From there the Lynx played a cautious thirty
minutes of soccer in their attempt to preserve the victory. Vancouver did manage
some excellent chances late but Zagar, who is playing his best soccer of the
year, was up to the challenge and recorded his fifth shutout of the
season.
Apart from moving closer to a playoff spot Toronto’s victory this
evening also improved their position in the Voyageurs Cup. The Lynx are now tied
for first place with the Montreal Impact with a 2-0-0 record in Voyageurs Cup
play. The Voyageurs Cup is a tournament sponsored by the Voyageurs, Canada’s
national soccer fan club, that honours the Canadian A-League team who posts the
best regular season record against the other Canadian squads this
season.
As previously mentioned Toronto’s next game is Monday against the
Charlotte Eagles on World Youth Day at York University Stadium. Kick off is
12:00 p.m. The match will also feature an appearance by the Boys and Girls Club
of Toronto as the organization will be out in large numbers and are a proud
supporter of Toronto Lynx Soccer.
Fans who will be unable to attend
Monday’s contest due to work commitments can get a full re-cap of all the
highlights as team captain and goaltender Theo Zagar will be on the FAN 590’s
“The Bullpen” live with host Gord Stellick following the Eagles match at 2:50
p.m.
Scoring Summary
First Half
No
Scoring
Second Half
1. TOR: Mattacchione 1 (Vignjevic), 59th
Minute
Full Time
Line ups
Vancouver: (GK) Alex
Marques, (D) Chris Franks, (D) Geordie Lyall, (D) Nick Dasovic, (M) Tiarnan
King, (M) Alfredo Vlanete, (M) Mark Finan (Andrew Veer 78), (M) Jeff Clarke, (F)
Dave Morris (Kevan Cameron 81), (F) Steve Kindel, (F) Niall
Thompson
Toronto: (GK) Theo Zagar, (D) Mauricio Vincello, (D) Joe
Mattacchione, (D) Milan Kojic, (D) Adrian Serioux, (M) Shawn Faria, (M) David
Diplacido, (M) Robbie Aristodemo, (M) Nikki Vignjevic (Brian Ashton 78), (F)
Irasto Knights (Steve Butcher 65), (F) Niki Budalic
Shots 1 2 F
Vancouver 4 3 7
Toronto 8 3 11
Saves 1 2
F
Vancouver 4 1 5
Toronto 3 2
5
Goaltenders
Vancouver: Marques (L, 6-5-3)
Toronto: Zagar (W, 6-9-3), fifth shutout of the
season.
Corner Kicks 1 2 F
Vancouver 2 1 3
Toronto 3 1 4
Fouls 1 2 F
Vancouver 7 8
15
Toronto 6 9 15
Cautions
Vancouver: Thompson
(61st minute)
Toronto: Knights (45th Minute)
Ejections
Vancouver: None
Toronto: None
Man of the Match:.
Joe Mattacchione (Toronto) – scores game winning goal.
The
Toronto Lynx next game is at home against the Charlotte Eagles on Monday, July
22 at 12:00 p.m., York University Stadium.
Toronto Lynx Media
Relations Contact: Eric Michalko (416) 251-4625, ext. 25
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