Toronto overcomes early red card for second straight game to draw 1-1 with Montreal
Published on August 23, 2006 under USL First Division (USL-1)
Toronto Lynx News Release
TORONTO - The Toronto Lynx overcame an early red card for the second straight game to hang on for a well-earned draw against the league-leading Montreal Impact 1-1 Wednesday night in wet conditions.
Midfielder Jamie Dodds scored on a penalty kick in the 47th minute for Toronto, while Ze Roberto replied for the Impact in the 69th minute.
With the tie, the Lynx raise its record to 5-12-7 and 24 points, while the Impact improves to 12-4-8 and 44 points.
The draw increases Montreal's lead in the USL First Division standings to five points over Rochester with one game in hand. It also stretched the Lynx's winless streak to six games after an earlier run of five without a loss. The Lynx's last three games - including the home and home set with Rochester last weekend - have all ended in 1-1 ties.
The Lynx played well despite being a man-down early for the second straight game. Midfielder Shawn Faria received a questionable red card in the 33rd minute for a midfield tackle on Ze Roberto. In Toronto's last game against Rochester this past Sunday, midfielder Gordon Chin received a red card for headbutting Rochester midfielder Aaran Lines.
Dodds' penalty kick goal was set-up when Impact defender and former Lynx Mauricio Vincello fouled Lynx midfielder Matt Palleschi in the penalty box. Dodds took the penalty, which was saved by Impact goalkeeper Greg Sutton, but Dodds grabbed the rebound and shot it into the top corner for his team leading sixth goal of the season.
Montreal tied the game in the 69th minute on a header by Roberto. Leonardo DiLorenzo's corner found Roberto behind the defence and the Brazilian easily directed the ball into a gaping net for his second goal of the season.
The second half was the opposite of the uneventful first half. Both teams picked up the pace and generated quality scoring chances, with the players adjusting to the field conditions. Late in the second half, both teams counter-attacked and sent waves of pressure in search of the game-winning goal.
Tentative play marked the first half as the players tried to find their footing on the wet field. The less than ideal conditions caused players to slip and prevented them from using their pace to make penetrating runs. At one point neither team had a shot on goal for 35 minutes.
The Lynx had the best chances to score in the first half, but the long distance shots sailed over the goal, failing to test Sutton. Sutton, who was named earlier Wednesday to Canada's roster for the upcoming Sept. 4th friendly versus Jamaica in Montreal, leads the league with a .55 goals against average.
Montreal is 2-0-1 against the Lynx so far this season and has not lost to its Highway 401 rivals since July 16, 2003. The two clubs will meet for the fourth and final time on Sept. 8 in Montreal.
USL First Division Stories from August 23, 2006
- Toronto overcomes early red card for second straight game to draw 1-1 with Montreal - Toronto Lynx
- Minnesota Rolls Into Town With Playoff Spot On The Line - Seattle Sounders
- Last Thunder home appearance of the season Friday in Northfield - Minnesota Thunder
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