story from Canada Kicks site.


Lucky Lynx
Scoreless tie leaves Northeast standings as is.
by David Bailey, Staff Writer

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.

"Back to Lynx site">

.

.