Originally posted to the Voyageurs Soccer Talk message board. I've left in a reply from one of the Toronto Ultras. I'll only add that the goal was not scored on a header as replays on CITY TV sportscasts show Grzetic scoring with his foot...Rocket Robin

Great match report of Lynx-Impact by Rob Lynch at a-league.com
by Metro

The Giant Awakens…Eventually

by Rob Lynch, a-league.com Match Reporter

Saturday, May 19, 2001
Toronto: 1, Montreal: 0

(Varsity Stadium, Toronto) His name: Kristian Grzetic. His number: 21, and a scrappy squad of the Montreal Impact (in the season home opener of the Toronto Lynx) had it all night. In his first outing as a Lynx member and A-league player, the Croatian giant was manhandled, tackled, and marked for almost the full 90 minutes of this feisty match. He hit the pitch more times than anyone would care to remember, and exchanged words with more than one Impact opponent. It seemed as though the most intimidating new addition to the 2001 roster would be shut down for the evening, and rendered nothing more than a hulking 6'3 rookie with no opportunity to help his team out.

That is, until a bad clearance by the Impact defense in the 62nd minute ricocheted the ball to Toronto midfielder Robbie Aristodemo. Immediately, he knocked a sailing cross to the far post where, for what was the only time in the contest, it found the head of an unmarked Grzetic. Jim Larkin, the Montreal keeper, was out of position with the pinball-type play only seconds earlier, and had no chance to create glory. The crowd of 3,284 erupted in pleasure and relief, their newest hero making good on the pre-season murmurings of his potential.

From the first whistle, this was a match being played with true grit; Montreal had just come off two on-the-road losses, and this was the Lynx first outing of the season. Both were out to prove a point, and it manifested itself early in mistimed challenges and vocal exchanges. Within the first 18 minutes, 4 yellow cards had been shown (all to Impact players: Anime Benhackem and Niall Thompson at 10 minutes, Lloyd Barker at 14 minutes, and Nick Desantis at the stroke of 18). Combine this with the slow start of both teams, a general reservation to loosen up and pass with a sense of instinct (again, both teams), and the stage had been set for what could very easily have been a dubious and shadowy fixture.

The first half claimed no clear cut victor, although the edge would probably go to Toronto for at least keeping their heads as Montreal chose to play more of a 'cleats up' intimidation game. While Toronto keeper Theo Zagar was given very little to do for 45 minutes, Jim Larkin at the other end came up big with a dead-on dive late in the first half against speedy Francisco Dos Santos. After streaking up the right side and cutting in on fullback Anime Benhackem, Dos Santos blasted a right footer to the near post that slyly curled its way in. Larkin side stepped and expertly dove across the goalmouth, his fist sending the volley clear.

The second half started looking shaky for the Lynx. An uncharacteristic defensive miscommunication on an early Impact attempt resulted in the best touch Zagar had all night. While Marco Reda and Adrian Serioux short passed to and fro at the edge of an already clogged 18 yard box, Montreal's cheeky midfielder Patrice Bernier swooped and sent in a rocket reminiscent of the Dos Santos strike early in the first. Zagar was in an advantageous position on the angle and, although he gave up a rebound which he immediately recovered, thwarted the attempt deftly.

After Grzetic's goal, Montreal seemed to partially deflate while Toronto gained momentum and pressed their attack. The Impact's Bernier was carded for a drag down on Dos Santos at 66 minutes, who in turn was shown the yellow 4 minutes later for a retaliatory challenge of the same caliber (the first of the night for a Toronto player). Fed from a bulldog midfield, Grzetic continued to attack straight up the middle. Two incredible opportunities were for naught, as Grzetic's reluctance to shoot (call it early season nerves) until close to the 10 yard mark ended with a deflection skipping wide and a head over heels tackle from backliner (and ex-Lynx player) Milan Kojic. The point was already made though, and Toronto opted to play possession for the most part and take their frontline chances when they arose. Other booked offenses came in the 77th minute against Lynx midfielder Brian Ashton for his typical aggressive challenging, and a red was shown to Montreal's fullback Nevio Pizzolitto (85th minute) for a combination of sloppy tackling and dissention to the officials.

Following the game, Theo Zagar said, "I think we came out with good pace tonight. Montreal likes to play a slower (more methodical) passing game, and the problem was we let them do that for a while and it put us on our heels for a bit. They slowed the tempo down and it created problems for us. In the second though, we increased the pressure and just sped up over them. Jimmy (Larkin) played a great game as always and kept them going."

Montreal, a team with some impressive talent (most notably in the aforementioned Larkin, midfielder Nick Desantis, and forwards Niall Thompson, Mauro Bello, and Giuliano Oliviero) seem to be having some chemistry problems. With such diversified skill, finding the back of the net shouldn't be as desperate an endeavor. Despite some wholesale line changes, the Impact was plagued with the same problems in the 2000 season as well: talented and smart with no depth or finish. Then again, here is a team that came alive halfway through the season and made a run for the playoffs late in the summer, so we'll have to see if history repeats itself.

Anyone who was at Varsity last night is excited about the concept though, at least as far as Kristian Grzetic goes.