story from Canada Kicks site.
The Rochester Raging Rhinos squandered a golden opportunity to
solidify their hold on first place in the A-League's North-East division
by managing only a nil-nil draw with the Toronto Lynx despite outplaying
and out chancing the home side by a wide margin.
A crowd of 3,281,
including two bus loads of vocal Rochester supporters, were on hand to see
the Rhinos (10-5-1) and the Lynx (8-3-3) battle in a match that was very
important to the title hopes of both clubs. Rochester came into the
match with an 8 point lead in the standings but with the Lynx holding two
games in hand.
The first half was a lacklustre affair with little
to be said for the offensive effectiveness of either side apart from a
43rd minute shot by the Rhino's Cuban international Eddy Sebrango that
went just wide of the far post having beaten Lynx keeper Theo
Zagar.
The second half was a more lively affair.
Six minutes
into the second frame, Sobrango out-raced the Lynx Marco Reda, still
suffering from a lingering thigh strain, and sent a perfect ball to Jimmy
Glenn who fired a rocket off of the base of the right post. One
minute later it was Glenn again but his shot from five yards was over the
bar.
In the 60th minute, the Lynx threatened for the only time in
the match. Nebojsa Vignevic showed a nice touch in bringing down an
awkward ball and then passed to Juan Arango who relayed to a breaking
Francisco Dos Santos but his shot was saved by Rhinos, keeper Scott
Vallow.
The Rhinos should have taken the lead in the 75th minute
when Sobrango crossed from the goal line to Steve Butcher who headed it
off the right post. The rebound hit Zagar in the arm and was headed
for the goal but the alert Lynx keeper was able to dive on the loose
ball.
Seven minutes later the Rhinos again missed a golden
opportunity. John Ball was the last man in a superb four player
build up but what seemed like a sure goal went for nothing when Ball's
shot went over the bar.
Two ten minute overtime periods solved
nothing and the match ended as it began,
scoreless.
Notes: The Lynx were missing striker Lloyd
Barker (suspension) and Milan Kojic (hamstring) .... Toronto finished the
match with only one true defender in the line-up (Adrian Serious) as
MauricioVincello left the game suffering from the flu and Marco Reda's
injured thigh flared up again .... Rochester was without Martin Nash
(Canada) and Onandi Lowe (Jamaica), both on national team duty and
starting keeper Bill Andracki (injured) .... the Lynx are now on the road
for five consecutive matches before returning to Varsity on August 13th to
face Rochester once again. |
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