Kickers Edge Lynx In Overtime
July 14, 2004 - USL First Division (USL-1)
Toronto Lynx News Release
Match Summary: In front of a loud and boisterous crowd of 3,660 youngsters at Centennial Park Stadium on Youth Day the Toronto Lynx came up with a solid effort yet disappointing result. After a dynamic pre-game ceremony that included performances by Jacqueline's School of Dance and Sunny Tang Kung Fu, the Lynx took to the field in their biggest match of the season to date. Coming into today's match the Richmond Kickers had dropped 3 of their last 4 and owned the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Faced with a must-win situation the Lynx controlled the tempo in the opening half but could not find the mark. In the first minute of play John Barry Nusum found David DiPlacido inside the box but Richmond Keeper Ronnie Pascale came up with the save. Toronto continued to press the Kickers defense and in the 21st minute Darren Baxter's right corner found the head of Nusum but it was collected by Pascale. The Richmond offense came to life in the 22nd minute, forward David Hayes used a free kick and launched a rocket from 20 yards outside the box that just missed the upper right corner. They continued to threaten in the 43rd minute when Hayes slipped a neat ball to Matt Delicate with only 'keeper Bryheem Hancock to beat but he chipped the ball just over the crossbar leaving the match scoreless at the break. In the 2nd the Lynx dominated early, and in the 55th minute off the Jamie Dodds corner kick Shawn Faria headed in the first goal of the match for a 1-nil lead. The rains came down midway through the half, making playing conditions somewhat difficult. Looking to add to their lead in the 58th minute, Lynx defender, Andres Arango, bent a free kick towards the right corner but it was hauled in by Pascale. Toronto did manage another goal a couple of minutes later when David DiPlacido slid a nifty ball to Ali Gerba on the left side and he tapped the ball past a charging Pascale for a 2-nil Toronto lead. Unfortunately it was short-lived as the Kickers answered in the 67th minute when David Hayes found a loose ball inside the box and buried it under the crossbar to cut the deficit in half. The Lynx needed to extend their lead and almost did in the 79th minute when Gerba turned a defender inside out before sending Dodds in all alone but he couldn't find the back of the net. That proved costly as the Kickers came down in transition and McColm Cephas sent a cross that went off the head of Lynx defender Tyler Hughes and past Hancock for the tying goal. The wet conditions played a role in the tying marker as well as the remainder of the match. Despite the conditions, Nusum had a great chance to win the match in the 89th minute when he uncorked a low shot that struck the post behind a diving Pascale. After a scoreless opening 10 minutes of sudden death overtime, Richmond capped off a solid comeback when substitute forward Kevin Jeffrey tapped home a corner in the final minute of the match for his 3rd of the season to send the Lynx and their fans home dissappointed. With the victory Richmond improves to 10-6-3 while the Lynx fall to 5-10-1 of the season. The Lynx are in action again Sunday, July 18th at 6pm when they entertain the Calgary Mustangs on Union and Employee Night at Centennial Park Stadium.
Highlights:
1st Half
1st min: John Barry Nusum pass to David DiPlacido inside the box but his shot was stopped by Keeper Ronnie Pascale.
21st min: Darren Baxter corner bent in to Nusum but his header was hauled in by Pascale.
22nd min: Striker David Hayes with a strike from 20 yards outside the box off a free kick just missed the right corner.
41st min: Jamie Dodds with a fine individual effort inside the box sent a chip to Nusum but once again his header went just over the crossbar.
43rd min: Hayes slipped a neat pass to Matt Delicate with only Keeper Bryheem Hancock to beat chipped the ball just over the crossbar.
2nd Half
55th min: Jamie Dodds corner delivered neatly to Shawn Faria who headed the ball up and under the crossbar for a 1-nil Toronto lead.
58th min: Looking to add to the lead, Andre Arango bent a free kick towards the right corner but Pascale got both hands on it to knock it away.
60th min: DiPlacido slipped a neat ball to Ali Gerba on the left side who tapped the ball past a charging Ronnie Pascale and into the net, 2-0 Tor.
67th min: Loose ball in the penalty area found the foot of David Hayes who parked it under the crossbar to cut the deficit in half, 2-1 Tor.
79th min: Gerba with some nifty footwork delivered a sweet ball to Dodds but he could not find the back of the net.
79th min: Kickers came back the other way and McColm Cephas' cross went off the head of Lynx defender Tyler Hughes and into the net, Chris Fox got credit for the goal, 2-2.
82nd min: Nusum and Gerba worked give and go, Nusum's low blast found the right post.
89th min: Nusum with another chance stepped into a shot from just outside the penalty area that was stopped by a diving Pascale.
109th min (2 OT): Off the corner kick Kevin Jeffrey pounced on loose ball in box and buried the game-winner, 3-2 Richmond.
Final Score: Richmond 3 Toronto 2
Lineups:
Richmond: Pascale, Williams, Knight, Luzak, Fox, Williams (R)(Jeffrey, 107th min), Simms, Hayes, Worthen, Burke, Delicate (Steele, 90th min)
Toronto: Hancock, Mayard (Arango 45th min), Mattacchione, Hughes, Faria, Dodds, DiPlacido (Munthali, 76th min), Baxter, Bartolomeu (Blois, 68th min), Gerba, Nusum
Cautions: Rich: R. Williams Tor: Faria
Ejections: None
Shots: Rich: 19 Tor: 15
Saves: Rich: 5 Tor: 6
Fouls: Rich: 14 Tor: 12
Scorers: Rich: Hayes (67th min), Fox (79th min), Jeffrey (109th min) Tor: Faria (55th min), Gerba (60th min)
The Lynx next home game is Sunday, July 18th at 6:00 pm versus the Calgary Mustangs.
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