Salty Dogs Rally To Beat Lynx in Overtime
Published on August 13, 2004 under USL First Division (USL-1)
Toronto Lynx News Release
Riding the momentum of a strong performance in a win over the playoff-bound Vancouver Whitecaps, the Toronto Lynx headed into Friday's match against the Syracuse Salty Dogs in the front end of a home-and-home series. In front of 2,553 exuberant fans at Centennial Park Stadium on the Lynx Annual Mascot Night with Ethan Zohn, star of "Survivor All-Stars" and "Survivor Africa" was on hand as the Lynx tried to keep their slim playoff hopes alive. The Salty Dogs came in riding a 9-game unbeaten streak and are tied with Atlanta for the 4th and final postseason birth in the Eastern Conference. Both teams started slow with most of the play in the midfield area but the Lynx controlled the ball the majority of the first half with crisp passing and stiffling defence. Toronto opened the scoring in the 21st minute when Vinicius Britto exploded by a defender and sent a splendid ball to a wide open Ali Gerba for the tap in, his team-leading 13th goal of the season, tying the Lynx single-season scoring mark set by Francisco Dos Santos in 1999. Toronto added to their lead in the 32nd minute, this time it was Gerba that used a nifty header past a defender and onto the foot of Darren Baxter who chipped a ball over 'Dogs 'keeper Byron Foss and into the goal for a 2-nil Toronto lead. Syracuse finally got on the board in the 36th minute when Shawn Faria was charged with a hand-ball in the penalty area resulting in a penalty kick. Rene Rivas stepped up and calmly found the low right corner to cut the deficit to 2-1 at halftime. Syracuse came out of the locker room with some jump to their step and came close to equalizing in the 49th minute when Machel Millwood displayed great footwork and launched a low ball from just outside the box but it was stopped by a diving Bryheem Hancock. The Lynx would not be as lucky in the 57th minute, when Rene Rivas found Tim O'Neill with a sensational cross and that tied the match at 2. Toronto regained the lead minutes later when John Barry Nusum won a foot race down the left side and chipped a ball over a charging Foss, giving the Lynx a 3-2 lead. The 'Dogs continued to press with 2 golden chances in the 70th minute, Rivas with the first followed by Millwood, both denied by a sharp Bryheem Hancock. Just as the Lynx were poised for another victory, Syracuse leveled the score in the 89th minute courtesy Machel Millwood. His dazzling ball control undressed two defenders on the left side of the box as he slipped a left footer inside the right post to tie the match and send it to overtime. Eight minutes into the extra period, Hancock was called for a tackle on a Syracuse defender inside the penalty area resulting in another Syracuse penalty kick. Rene Rivas hesitated before placing the game-winner inside the left post past a diving Hancock to complete the comeback and send the Lynx home empty handed. With the win the Salty Dogs take over sole possession of the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference while the Lynx fall to 8-13-1 on the season. Toronto will meet the Virginia Beach Mariners on Wednesday, August 18th at 7:30pm for Coaches Appreciation Night at Centennial Park Stadium.
USL First Division Stories from August 13, 2004
- Salty Dogs Rally To Beat Lynx in Overtime - Toronto Lynx
- Battery Fells Rhinos - Charleston Battery
- Impact hosts Puerto Rico in Quebec City - Montreal Impact
- Shorthanded Wave United battles to 2-2 tie with Whitecaps - Milwaukee Wave United
- Timbers clinch playoffs - Portland Timbers
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