Lynx Top Mustangs; Gerba delivers in OT
July 18, 2004 - USL First Division (USL-1)
Toronto Lynx News Release
With Toronto Mayor David Miller and Hemi Mitic, representing the Canadian Auto Workers Union on hand for Union and Employee Night, the Toronto Lynx entered today's match needing a win to keep their slim playoff hopes alive. Having dropped their last two, including a heart-breaker to Richmond in overtime on Wednesday, Toronto sits 17 points back of the final postseason birth in the Eastern Conference. The Mustangs have struggled so far this season sporting a 2-10-3 record and occupying the Western Conference basement.
As Calgary is in the midst of a lengthy road trip, it was no surprise that the Lynx dominated early on. In the 6th minute Shawn Faria stepped into a shot 10 yards outside the box that was steered up and over the net by 'keeper Lutz Pfannenstiel. It wasn't until the 10th minute that Calgary awoke, their first shot of the match came off a Musut Mert rush down the right side. He unleashed a low shot just inside the box that was sent wide by a diving Bryheem Hancock. On the ensuing corner kick, Mert's perfect ball found the head of Walter Otta who beat Hancock for his first of the season, 1-nil Calgary.
The Lynx continued to put pressure on the Calgary defenders, in the 15th minute Ali Gerba worked some magic inside the penalty area tapping a ball by a defender but his shot was stopped by Pfannenstiel. Later David DiPlacido and Darren Baxter worked an impressive give-and-go but DiPlacido's blast just missed the upper right corner. If that wasn't enough Baxter sent a cross to Gerba in the 23rd minute that alluded a defender but Gerba couldn't get enough on the left foot attempt. Calgary threatened again when Jordan Gillespie delivered a nice ball to Sergei Kolomiets-Raad streaking down the right side but his well struck ball was handled nicely by a diving Hancock.
The second half began like the first with Toronto dominating time of possession and getting some great scoring opportunities courtesy Ali Gerba and John Barry Nusum. They were finally rewarded in the 53rd minute when Darren Baxter's corner found Andres Arango for the header, his first of the season tied the match at 1. The turning point came in 62nd minute when Arango brought down Otta inside the penalty area resulting in a penalty kick. Ernesto Zapata stepped in and looked for the low right corner but 'keeper Bryheem Hancock guessed right and made a diving game-saving save.
The Lynx best chance to take the lead happened in the 64th minute when Baxter's free kick from 12 yards outside the box was bent to the upper left corner but Lutz Pfannenstiel punched it away and for the second time in as many matches the Lynx headed to overtime. It didn't take long for the winner to come, in the 1st minute Lewis Blois delivered a lovely cross to Gerba for the tap in, his team-leading 10th of the season, 2-1 Toronto the final. With the win Toronto improves to 6-10-1 and keep their slim playoff hopes alive.
Despite being badly outshoot 17-7 the Mustangs put up a good fight even without their leading scorer Conrad Chala who did not play. The Lynx travel west to Calgary and then Edmonton before returning home on Monday August 2nd to face the Virginia Beach Mariners for their annual Carib Fest.
USL First Division Stories from July 18, 2004
- Kickers downed by Rhinos - Richmond Kickers
- Lynx Top Mustangs; Gerba delivers in OT - Toronto Lynx
- Timbers one-up Sounder in double overtime thriller - Portland Timbers
- Dusosky's goal lifts Wave United past Aviators, 1-0 - Milwaukee Wave United
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
