First posted on Voyageurs Soccer message board.

London City Lose Again - Wolves on TOP !
by London Free Press & St. Catharines Standard St

Thursday, July 5, 2001
London City falls to Wolves
By Free Press staff
ST. CATHARINES -- The offensive frustrations continued for London City last night as the St. Catharines Roma Wolves scored a 2-0 Canadian Professional Soccer League victory.
Two goals in four minutes spelled the difference. In the 33rd, Frank Zumpano saw his initial shot palmed off the crossbar by City goalie Scott Mueller, but Zumpano wa able to pot the rebound. In the 37th, a cross found Tony Carbonara in the six-yard box and he made it 2-0 as St. Catharines improved to 5-1-2 and moved into first place.
City (1-5-1) was reduced to 10 men four minutes into the second half when Tonino Commisso was sent off for unsportsmanlike conduct.
"We showed a lot of character in the second half," City general manager Harry Gauss said. "The last time we went a man down, we folded."
That was in the season opener when the Toronto Supra scored three times against a short-handed City in a 4-1 win May 25.
City wasn't without its chances. A minute after Commisso was dismissed, Semir Mesanovic got a clear breakaway, rounded St. Catharines 'keeper Dino Perri -- and missed the net.
"Frustrating. That's the only word you can use," Gauss said. "We had even more chances. You can talk about it all you want, but the fact remains that sooner or later you've got to start putting some of those chances in the back of the net.
"If one guy does something naturally and it goes in, they'll all think, 'Hey, we can do this.' But everyone's trying to make it too perfect and nothing is ever perfect. Close your eyes and hit it."
Tomorrow night, things get a bit easier for City -- on paper, anyway -- as the winless Brampton Hitmen come to Cove Road Field for an 8:38 p.m. kickoff. The Hitmen (0-4-1), one of four expansion teams this season, have struggled offensively, scoring only two goals in league play.
Commisso will miss the game with an automatic one-game suspension for his sending off.
ROMA WOLVES 2, CITY 0

Wolves back in first


Win allows Club Roma to leapfrog back on top of league standings
Jim Wallace
The Standard




Staff photo by Bob Tymczyszyn / Tony Carbonara, left, of Club Roma Wolves and teammate Frank Zumpano celebrate Carbonara's goal against London City Wednesday.



(Frank) Zumpano


Frank Zumpano and St. Catharines Club Roma Wolves need goals, and the best time to feast is against the weaker sisters in the Canadian Professional Soccer League.

The Wolves could have easily had five or six Wednesday night against London City, but settled for a 2-0 win before about 500 fans at Roma Park.

St. Catharines (5-1-2) completely dominated London (1-5-1), but only Zumpano and Tony Carbonara capitalized on their chances as the Wolves jumped back over Toronto Olympians into first place.

And while a blanket (or even a beach towel) could cover the top six or seven teams, when it comes down to ties in the standings, goals make the difference in the final standings.

"Against teams like this we need goals because last year we lost on aggregate at the end when we tied with the Olympians," Zumpano said. "They (Olympians) beat us by two, so against teams like this we need goals because it helps us in the end.

"Another couple of goals tonight and we would have been happier."

Zumpano is finding the range this season, netting his fourth goal Wednesday and trails teammate Gary Hughes by one for the team lead. He's also only two out of the league lead.

"I just keep going," said Zumpano, a three-year Roma veteran who attended Cleveland State on a soccer scholarship. "I'm getting the opportunities for myself -- I'm getting out in the open, Joey Carbonara's getting me the ball. We're trying to get more guys offensive, getting Danny (Gallagher) and Joey on the side and Lucio (Ianiero) trying get more like three of four up to get more chances.

"Last year we were lackadaisical, booting the ball up. This year we're trying to get the extra guy up, especially to help me," he added with a laugh.

Zumpano scored Roma's first goal on his own rebound after heading an Ianiero cross off the crossbar. Tony Carbonara added the second from his cousin Joe, moving up from his defender spot to send a cross past London goalkeeper Scott Mueller.

The good effort, however, again showed the Wolves inconsistency, although it would have been easier to play down to London's level.

"We didn't play so well against Brampton, but pulled off a win and that's kind of been in the back of my head," said Ianiero, who is also the team's head coach.

"We've been playing the best and pulling off wins, which is fine with me, but I was wondering when the real team was going to show up.

"We're not consistent and I hope we don't hold our head up too high and figure we don't have to work. Every time we work, this team pulls off a good victory, as far as the whole team was concerned."

The Wolves also got strong efforts from Sam Borgh and Gallagher on the back line.

Three team members, goalkeeper Dino Perri (who registered Wednesday's shutout), Ianiero and Hughes are part of the CPSL Select team that will play the Morocco under-23 team in an exhibition game Friday in Ottawa. The rest of the team joins in Saturday in a league match against the Wizards before moving on to play Montreal Dynamites Saturday.

THE SCOOP:

Wolves 2 London 0

Standard Star of the Game: Wolves player-coach Lucio Ianiero, who played a steady defensive game from his midfield position and almost scored twice while moving to offence.

For St. Catharines Wolves: Frank Zumpano (33 minutes), Tony Carbonara 37 minutes; shutout Dino Perri.

Yellow cards: London: Tonino Commisso 27 minutes, 62 minutes (automatic red card); Roma Wolves: John Sozio 16 minutes.

How they stand: The Wolves moved back into first place with a 5-1-2 record for 17 points, two ahead of Toronto Olympians who have a game in hand.

Up next: The Wolves hit the road for two weekend games, playing Saturday evening in Ottawa and Sunday afternoon in Montreal before returning home Wednesday to play host to Durham Flames in an 8:30 p.m. start at Roma Park.


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