CLARKSTON, GEORGIA--
Tuesday, September 5-The Toronto Lynx ended its 2000 regular season
campaign of 28 games with a 2-1 win over the Atlanta Silverbacks at the
DeKalb Memorial Stadium here last night for the team's
best finish
since its A-League launch in 1997.
The A-League regular season came
to an end last night, the Lynx finishing with a 13-11-4 win, lost, tie
record for 59 points and third in the Northeast Division, nine points
ahead of fourth place Montreal Impact with a 12-13-3 record and 54 points.
The Northeast Division was won by the Long Island Rough Riders (16-9-3 for
76 points) with last year's U.S. champions, Rochester Raging Rhinos, in
the runner-up position (17-9-2 for 75 points.)
The Lynx win last
night dashed the Silverbacks' playoff hopes, the home team needing a win
to jump in front of Raleigh Capital Express of the Atlantic Division
for the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
Following a
scoreless first half, Lynx midfielder Nikola Vignjevic opened the
scoring for the Lynx at the 63rd minute with a picture goal on a
free kick from 25 yards. It was Vignjevic's sixth goal of the season.
Atlanta tied the game on a goal by Brian Piesner, his seventh of the
season at the
70th. minute mark and Lynx forward Aaron Benjamin slotted
the game winner after 78 minutes following a free kick by defender
Mauricio Vincello.
Atlanta outshot Toronto, 16-7, with Lynx
goalkeeper Theo Zagar making 13 saves compared to Silverbacks' David
Winner with six saves.
LYNX AT LONG ISLAND ON
FRIDAY FOR FIRST ROUND ONE-GAME ELIMINATION
The Lynx
will now travel to Long Island this Friday, September 8 to meet the Rough
Riders in the first round of the playoffs for the A-League Championship.
This first round one-game elimination will be played at the Mitchel
Athletic Complex at Uniondale, N.Y. Kickoff time is 7.30 p.m.
Lynx
fans needing directions to Uniondale and the stadium location can
receive assistance by calling the Toronto Lynx office between 9 a.m. and 5
p.m.
This is the first playoff for the Toronto Lynx in three years,
having won a berth in the team's inaugural 1997 year, to be eliminated in
the first round. |