Originally posted to Voyageurs Soccer Talk message board.

A-League Toronto Lynx vs Montreal Impact
by Rocket Robin

Result of A-League season opener for the Toronto Lynx against Montreal Impact played Saturday May 19th, 2001 at Varsity Stadium in Toronto at 7:00pm.

62 min...Lynx Kristian Grzetic GOAL...Robbie Aristedemo crosses from near left line and Grzetic in crowd in box shoots 5 yarder to left corner of net as he runs to left post cutting in front of Impact goalie Jim Larkin.

Final Score:...Toronto Lynx....1....Montreal Impact...0

A rough game with referee Zoran Kristo giving 7 cards.
Impact 9 min Amime Benhackem, 10 min Niall Thompson, 19 min Nick DeSantis, 61 min Patrice Bernier, and second half sub Nevio Pizzolitto got a direct Red card for a vicious tackle on Adrian Serioux.
Lynx 69 min Francisco Dos Santos, 75 min Brian Ashton.

Lynx goalie Theo Zagar had to be sharp catching crosses. Grzetic rolled two second half shots less than 1 yard wide of each post on two breakaways although an Impact defender was riding his back on one of those shots.

A new A-League rule appears to keep time like FIFA wants with time added clapboards for the referee signalling so the countdown scoreboard clock is just for guys like me writing down minute by minute excitement.

Attendance was announced as 3284 which must be a record for a season opener.

The Ultras cheering section completely replaced the canned music of previous years and drummed and sang the whole game.

Rocket Robin
robing@eol.ca

A more detailed report will appear at my web site by Monday.