Lynx battle to goalless draw
July 31, 2005 - USL First Division (USL-1)
Toronto Lynx News Release
The Toronto Lynx earned a point this evening playing to a goalless draw with the Richmond Kickers at Centennial Park Stadium. A crowd of 1,946 were thrilled by a performance by the Samba Squad.
With drum beats pushing them forward, the first half started with Lynx fans getting a rare opportunity to see their team in Toronto's all black kits. Richmond came close to taking the lead in the 19th minute when striker Kevin Jeffrey hit McColm Cephas' cross first time. His effort beat Toronto goalkeeper Richard Goddard but not the crossbar, and the game remained scoreless. Toronto came close to taking the lead five minutes later when Sita Taty Matondo caught Richmond goalkeeper Ronnie Pascale out of his goal, but his effort sailed just over the bar.
Toronto came close again in the 43rd minute, when Said Ali ran onto a longball. He fired from just inside the area, but is effort was straight at Pascale who was well placed to make the stop after running out of his goal to cut down the angle.
There were no goals after 45 minutes in an evenly contested first half which saw Toronto record 7 shots, and Richmond 8. Richmond's front line was particulary active, with all three strikers combining for all of Richmond's shots.
At the half, Lynx Head Coach Hubert Busby Jr. substituted both his strikers, bringing on Sean Fraser and Dave Simpson for Said Ali and Charles Gbeke. This change produced a substantial change in Toronto's play, with Sean Fraser making impressive runs at Richmond's goal. Both strikers combined in the 75th minute to create one of Toronto's best chances. Dave Simpson crossed to Sean Fraser who found himself unmarked, but his header was just wide of the goal.
Richmond came close to taking the lead in the 86th minute when Matt Pauls sent in a cross to Robert Ssejjemba who struck first time, only to be denied by an exceptional stop by Richard Goddard.
Toronto applied considerable pressure in the latter stages of the match, and almost snatched a win in injury time when Dave Diplacido's shot from just outside the area came off the right post. That was the last substantial chance of the game, and it was 0-0 as full time sounded.
Tonight's result leaves Toronto in the 12th place of the USL First Division with 15 points and a reord of 3-11-6. Richmond is now 10-6-5 after their second staright goalless draw in 24 hours.
Toronto next game is on the road when they face the Rochester Raging Rhinos on August 12th at 7:30 PM. They return home on Sunday, August 14th at 6:00pm when they welcome Rochester in the second half of a home and home series.
Notes: Toronto entered tonight's match in 12th place of the USL First Division with a record of 3-11-5. Richmond was in 3rd with a record of 10-6-4. Both clubs faced each other once this season, with Toronto losing 2-1 in Richmond in April. Toronto had an all-time record of 1-9-2 against Richmond before tonight's encounter.
USL First Division Stories from July 31, 2005
- Lynx battle to goalless draw - Toronto Lynx
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