STAR-CROSSED AFTERNOON FOR LYNX
Lynx and Syracuse battle to a goal-less draw
Date: Sunday, June 15, 2003
Venue: Centennial Park Stadium, Toronto, ON
Attendance: 2,189
Kick off Time: 4:00 PM
Final Score: Toronto 0 Syracuse 0
Match Summary: The Toronto Lynx and the Syracuse Salty Dogs fought to a nil-nil draw this afternoon at Centennial Park stadium. The match was a hard-fought battle from the opening whistle, with numerous fouls and several near-scuffles during the match. This was the third meeting between the two Northeast Division clubs, and it is clear that a fierce rivalry is building. The two clubs meet again on Friday night, June 20, in Syracuse, for the fourth and final time of the season, and it promises once again to be a dogfight. Having lost the first two matches against Syracuse this season, the Lynx will look to grab their first-ever victory over the expansion team at P&C Stadium.
The tie raises the Lynx record to 3-5-3 (12 points), and moves them back into a fourth place tie in the Northeast Division with the Pittsburgh Riverhounds, who visit Toronto next Saturday night, June 21, at 7:30 PM. Syracuse raised their record to 5-3-1 (16 points), good for 3rd in the highly-competitive division.
A crowd of 2,189 soccer fans were on hand in the brilliant sunshine on Father Appreciation Day and were treated to a showcase of barbershop songs by the Humber Express Barbershop Chorus during a pre-game and halftime salute to Fathers.
The Lynx dominated the play during the match, and had numerous chances to score, particularly in the second half, but were extremely unlucky and rattled three shots off of the Syracuse crossbar, including a header from Sebastian Barclay and thundering shots from Joe Mattacchione and Nikki Vignjevic.
After a very defensive first half which saw few scoring opportunities for both clubs, the Lynx opened up the play towards the middle of the second half. In addition to a very forgiving crossbar, Syracuse received exceptional play from their keeper Mike Gabb, who made a number of dazzling saves to keep the Salty Dogs in the game, and preserve the tie. During the two overtime periods, both teams played conservatively, and generated few scoring chances.
David DiPlacido was selected by the media as the winner of the CAW Blue Collar Award, recognizing him as the hardest working Lynx player on the afternoon, for his tireless play in the midfield during the hard-fought match.
The Lynx travel to Syracuse on Friday night to tackle the Salty Dogs once again at 7:35 PM. The game can be heard live on www.syracuse.com. Toronto then returns home the following night to celebrate Fiesta Latina against fellow Northeast Division club the Pittsburgh Riverhounds at 7:30 PM at Centennial Park Stadium. Tickets can be purchased by phoning the ticket hotline at 416-251-4625 x 31 or by visiting www.lynxsoccer.com.
First Half Highlights:
20th Minute: Mattacchione free kick from 22 yards out curves past wall and heads towards near corner. However, the shot redirects off a Syracuse defender and flies inches outside the near post and a diving Nagy for a Lynx corner.
22nd Minute: Ashton sails a shot high over the Salty Dogs net.
34th Minute: Hughes fields the ball at the corner of the 18-yard box, and volleys a ball in towards Barclay, who heads the ball over a charging Gabb. The ball glances off the crossbar however, and the Lynx are unable to put the ball into the net during the ensuing goalmouth scramble.
36th Minute: Zagar stops a Syracuse free kick from the top of the box, but the rebound is cleared directly to a wide open Salty Dog forward. The Syracuse shot on the open net is blocked by a heroic Vincello and cleared to safety.
40th Minute: A diving Kemble gets his head on a Syracuse free kick at the near corner of the Lynx net, but the ball goes narrowly over the crossbar to safety.
45th Minute: Neto fields a quick free kick inside the Lynx box and rushes towards the net, unleashing a quick cross. The ball is headed to touch by the Lynx for a Syracuse corner kick.
45th Minute: Powerful Mattacchione shot from 25 yards out careens over the Syracuse net.
Second Half Highlights:
64th Minute: Barclay fields ball at corner of Syracuse box and unleashes powerful shot towards the Syracuse net. A leaping Gabb grabs the ball and denies the Argentinian a goal.
66th Minute: Thundering Mattachione shot strikes underside of crossbar and caroms down in front of the goal-line and back out into the field of play, where it is fielded by a wide-open Lucas. His volley towards the goal is intercepted by a hustling Gabb, keeping the score level.
69th Minute: Aristodemo feeds a streaking Barclay who rushes towards the net. A sliding Kemble strips the ball from Barclay deep in the Syracuse box and it rolls harmlessly over the endline.
70th Minute: Overhead bicycle kick by Barclay from the top of the box is stopped by an alert Gabb.
75th Minute: Neto crosses ball across box where it is fielded by an open Mack. His shot from deep inside the penalty area sails just over a leaping Zagar but over the crossbar as well.
82nd Minute: Cooks slips while playing the ball, and the ball rolls dangerously towards the Syracuse net. Gabb outraces DiPlacido to the ball and pounces on it, eliminating the threat.
87th Minute: Mack crosses the ball from the edge of the penalty area towards a crowded goalmouth, where Zagar outleaps three Salty Dogs attackers and corrals the ball for the save.
88th Minute: DiPlacido is fouled at the top of the penalty area while dribbling towards the net. Fresh substitute Vignjevic strikes the ensuing free kick towards the goal with authority, where it once again strikes the cross bar and bounces over the net for a Syracuse goal kick.
89th Minute: Vignjevic corner kick deflected by DiPlacido to an open Mayard at the far corner of the net. His header narrowly flies over the goal and once again the Lynx are denied.
90th Minute: Zagar punches hard Tsakiris free kick to safety.
Overtime Highlights:
93rd Minute: In-swinging free kick from the edge of the penalty area by Mack curves just over the Lynx net.
97th Minute: Delgado heads Syracuse corner kick narrowly over Lynx net.
105th Minute: Long throw in into the Lynx penalty area by Cole is headed past the far post by Mack.
107th Minute: Lucas heads long throw in by Serioux just past the far post.
110th Minute: Hughes plays long pass through to DiPlacido who flicks the ball on to Ashton in the box. Gabb arrives at the ball at the same time as Ashton, and Ashton goes down in the box, but the referee rules that Ashton dove, and awards a free kick to Syracuse along with a yellow card to Ashton.
Final Score:
1 2 OT1 OT2 F
Toronto 0 0 0 0 0
Syracuse 0 0 0 0 0
Lineups
Toronto: Zagar, Vincello, Serioux, Mayard, Ashton, Mattacchione (Faria, 90), Hughes, Thomas (Aristodemo, 54), DiPlacido, Barclay (Vignjevic, 88), Ngon (Lucas, 61)
Syracuse: Gabb, Kirmse (Cole, 93), Kemble, Cooks, Lyssand, Medina, Gentile, Tsakiris (N. McNab, 90), Neto (Delgado, 86), Valencia, Millwood (Mack, 71)
Cautions: Toronto: DiPlacido (24), Ashton (110); Syracuse: Cooks (24), Tsakiris (29), Millwood (43), Kirmse (90), N. McNab (105)
Ejections: None
Shots: Toronto 12, Syracuse 7
Saves: Toronto 0, Syracuse 3
Fouls: Toronto 26, Syracuse 24
Corners: Toronto 8, Syracuse 2
Offsides: Toronto 11, Syracuse 9
Scorers: None
The Lynx next home game is next Saturday night, June 21, at 7:30 PM versus the Pittsburgh Riverhounds. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Lynx Ticket Hotline at 416-251-4625 x 31 or by visiting www.lynxsoccer.com.
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