Press release from Toronto Lynx:

Toronto Lynx Match Report

Brought To You By Brava Lakeport Brewery

Montreal Makes Early Impact in

Key Win Over Lynx



Date: Sunday, August 18, 2002

Venue: Centennial Stadium (Toronto, Ontario, Canada)

Kick-off: 6:00 p.m.

Attendance: 3,253

Final Score: 1 2 OT1 OT2 F

Toronto 1 0 0 0 1

Montreal 2 0 0 0 2

Game Summary:

The Montreal Impact prevented the Toronto Lynx from solidifying their hold on the final Eastern Conference playoff spot over the Charlotte Eagles for the with a 2-1 victory tonight before 3,253 fans on Mulitcultural Night at Centennial Stadium.

The loss drops the Lynx to 9W-12L-4T, who remain seven points up on Charlotte with three games to play. Montreal’s victory (13W-8L-3T, 58 points) brings them to within six points of the Northeast Division-leading Rochester Raging Rhinos (15W-6L-3T, 64points). With the win, Montreal won took the season series with the Lynx with a record of 2W-1L-1T.

Montreal jumped early on a Lynx defense corps missing three of its starters to score two quick goals in the game’s first ten minutes. The Lynx were missing three of its starting defenders, Mauricio Vincello, Joe Mattacchione and Milan Kojic due to various suspensions.

The Impact opened the scoring in the third minute on Eduardo Sebrango’s 15th goal of the season. Sebrango one-timed a pass from Giuliano Oliviero just inside the 18-yard box past Lynx goaltender Theo Zagar, who got a hand on the ball but failed to knock it wide.

Montreal struck again quickly in the seventh minute on a stellar header by Brazilian midfielder Ze Roberto. Roberto skillfully redirected a Patrice Bernier corner from the right flank into the top left corner of the goal for his fourth of the season.

Ryan Lucas responded for the Lynx in the 15th minute with his 11th of the season on a shot from just above the penalty spot. Lynx forward Nikola Budalic fed a pass in tight quarters to Lucas who turned quickly and placed a low left-footed shot beyond the outstretched arms of Impact goaltender Greg Sutton. Budalic’s assist was his first of the season to go with 12 goals and team-leading 25th point. Lucas’ goal was his third in three games since joining the Lynx from the Cincinnati Riverhawks.

The Lynx and Impact traded scoring chances over the rest of the first half with Sutton making the more difficult stops, including saving a drive from Lynx midfielder Nikola Vignjevic late in the first half.

Both teams generated limited scoring chances through most of the second half. The last five minutes produced a flurry of chances including a chance by Sebrango that almost sealed the victory for Montreal late in the second half. Sebrango’s low shot from Bernier inside the penalty area just missed the far post in the 87th minute. Lynx forward Irasto Knights came close to tying the game in the 89th minute when his shot was directed away from the open net by Montreal defender Gabriel Gervais.

Toronto and Charlotte (7W-15L-2T, 36 points) each have three games remaining in the season. Charlotte and Toronto also play concurrent schedules during the final two weeks of the A-League season with games this Friday and Saturday evening and on August 30. The Lynx play Rochester on Friday night at home, while Charlotte play the Richmond Kickers in Richmond, Virginia.

Notes:

The Toronto Lynx Juniors were defeated by the Ottawa Fury Jrs in U14 Super Y-League action prior to tonight’s match.

The Lynx are accepting design entries for its new logo, which it will unveil before the 2003 season. Fans have until October 15, 2002 to submit their entries. Full contest information is available on the club’s website at www.lynxsoccer.com.

Tonight’s match was the team’s first at Centennial Stadium since the City of Toronto public worker’s strike forced the team to move its games to York University’s Event Stadium at the end of June. The Lynx’s last match at Centennial Stadium was a 2-0 victory over the Pittsburgh Riverhounds on June 23.

Scoring Summary

First Half

1. MON: Sebrango 15 (Oliviero), 3rd minute

2. MON: Roberto 4 (Bernier), 7th minute

3. TOR: Lucas 11 (Budalic), 15th minute

Second Half

No scoring

Line ups

Toronto: (GK) Theo Zagar, (D) Atiba Hutchinson, (D) Adrian Serioux, (D) Matt Rosenfeld (Irasto Knights 67), (M) Shawn Faria, (M) David Diplacido (Julio Penalillo 45), (M) Robbie Aristodemo, (M) Brian Ashton, (M) Nikola Vignjevic, (F) Ryan Lucas, (F) Nikola Budalic (Ali Ngon 81)

Montreal: (GK) Greg Sutton, (D) Adam Braz (Nevio Pizzolitto 44), (D) Gabriel Gervais, (D) Drew Kopp, (D) Lloyd Barker, (M) Jason DiTullio, (M) Ze Roberto, (M) Rocco Placentino (Matt Rowland 64), (M) Giuliano Oliviero (Patrick Leduc 79), (F) Eduardo Sebrango, (F) Patrice Bernier

Shots 1 2 OT1 OT2 F

Toronto 5 2 ----- ----- 7

Montreal 4 6 ----- ----- 10

Saves 1 2 OT1 OT2 F

Toronto 1 3 ----- ----- 4

Montreal 4 0 ----- ----- 4

Goaltenders

Toronto: Zagar (9W-11L-4T)
Montreal: Sutton (12W-8L-3T)

Corner Kicks 1 2 OT1 OT2 F

Toronto 3 2 ----- ----- 5

Montreal 2 2 ----- ----- 4

Fouls 1 2 OT1 OT2 F

Toronto 7 9 ----- ----- 16

Montreal 9 9 ----- ----- 18

Man of the Match: Eduardo Sebrango

The Toronto Lynx’s next match is at home against the Northeast Division-leading Rochester Raging Rhinos on Friday, August 23 at Centennial Stadium. Kick off is 7:30 p.m. The match is the first of a home-and-home set versus the Raging Rhinos.

Toronto Lynx Media Relations Contact: Rob Irwin (416) 251-4625, ext. 30

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