TORONTO LYNX MEDIA RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
THREE HIGH PROFILE PLAYERS INK WITH LYNX
Lynx preparing for road trip to Vancouver
THURSDAY APRIL 27, 2006[TORONTO, ON] The Toronto Lynx announced the signing of three high-profile players in advance of their weekend road-trip to Vancouver to tackle the host Whitecaps at 7:00 PM PDT on Saturday evening. Brazilian midfielder Osni Neto, midfielder Gordon Chin and defender Rick Titus will accompany the club on the trip, pending international clearance for Neto. The Lynx will look to even their 2006 record after falling 2-0 to the Virginia Beach Mariners in their season opener last weekend on the road.
Neto comes to the club through CDS Soccer Inc, represented by Carlos De Sousa and Howard Goldberg. The left-footed midfielder just completed the Brazilian season with Inter De Limeira of the Sao Paolo State, after spending the two previous seasons with the storied club Vasco de Gama. He also won the Brazil Cup in 1998 as a member of SC Palmeiras. The 26-year old was a member of the U20 Brazilian national squad as well in 1998 and brings a powerful presence to the left side of the Lynx midfield. He will be making his North American debut this season, after making a splash in training camp with the MetroStars in 2005, but not cracking the roster.
Chin, 23, was the co-captain of the U20 National Squad that reached the Quarter-final round of the FIFA World Youth Championships in the United Arab Emirates in 2003, falling 2-1 to Spain in the round of 8 in a hard-fought and tense match. He has earned 16 caps in total, including matches with the U18/U20 and U23 squads. The diminutive midfielder spent the 2004 /2005 seasons with Halifax Town in the English FA, after spending the 2004 season with the Edmonton Aviators of the A-League, scoring an OT goal to notch the first ever win for the club. The Burnaby, BC native made his pro debut in 2003 with the Whitecaps, so Saturday’s match will be a homecoming for him.
Titus returns for his fifth season with the Lynx, including stints from 1997-1999, 2004 and 2005 in the yellow and black. The journeyman defender has played with 5 USL-1 clubs throughout his career, and spent the 2002 with the Colorado Rapids of MLS, He was named A-League Defender of the Year in 2001, and is also a former Whitecap, playing 44 games for the club in 2000 and 2001. The 37-year old will provide veteran leadership for the young Lynx squad as they progress through the 2006 USL First Division Schedule.
LYNX AND WHITECAPS TO CLASH SATURDAY NIGHT
The Lynx head to Vancouver for their second match of the 2006 USL-1 season this Saturday night, April 29 at 10:00 PM EDT. The Whitecaps (1-0-0) will be led by defender Adrian Cann and ‘keeper Josh Wicks, both named to the USL-1 Team of the Week following their stellar play in Vancouver’s 1-nil win against Portland last weekend. Other ‘Caps to watch include veteran Canadian national defender Jeff Clarke and midfielder Martin Nash, whose brother Steve is expected to claim his second straight NBA MVP Award for the Phoenix Suns.
Defender Tony Menezes will make his Lynx debut after missing last weekend’s match in Virginia Beach because he had not received international clearance. Lynx fans can catch the game live on the web at www.mojoradio.ca, the radio home of the Whitecaps.
MENEZES CALLED TO NATIONAL SQUAD
Menezes was also selected by Canada’s head coach Frank Yallop to attend the Canadian Men’s National Team training camp scheduled for May 1-8 in Fort Lauderdale. Menezes has 27 caps for the World Cup squad, and returns to the team after a three-year absence.
ARISTODEMO IN MISL FINAL
Lynx midfielder will compete in the MISL Championship Series this weekend, as his Baltimore Blast tackle the regular-season champion St, Louis Steamers. Game 1 is scheduled for Friday evening in Baltimore, and Game 2 scheduled for Sunday afternoon at 1:00 PM in St. Louis. Game 2 will be broadcast live on ESPN2 in the United States.
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FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
ROB IRWIN, DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS, TORONTO LYNX SOCCER CLUB
416-251-4625 ext. 23
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