Lynx tame Riverhounds
Sunday, June 3,
2001
Lynx tame Riverhounds
By JOHN F. MOLINARO
-- SLAM! Sports TORONTO - The Toronto Lynx rebounded from
two consecutive losses to defeat Northern Conference rivals Pittsburgh
Riverhounds 1-0 in A-League Soccer action Sunday afternoon on a slick and
slippery field at Varsity Stadium.
After receiving a lovely,
short pass from team-mate Lyndon Hooper, midfielder David DiPlacido
cracked a blistering shot from outside Pittsburgh's 18-yard box into the
back of the net in the 60th minute to secure the victory for the Lynx.
"I got a great pass from Lyndon and I just pitched the ball
to the right a bit and took the shot and it went in," described DiPlacido
to SLAM! Sports in a post-game interview. "Lyndon played a nice ball into
space, I had the defender one-on-one so I decided to take him on and take
a shot and it worked out for the best."
"It was a quick give
and go pass between us," offered Hooper. "I just laid it back to him and
he put on a good move on the defender and opened himself up for a nice
shot."
In their previous two games against Rochester and
Connecticut, the Lynx outplayed their opponents, dominated the pace of the
game and produced far more quality scoring chances. Yet in both outings,
the Lynx failed to convert on those scoring opportunities and managed to
lose.
This afternoon, the Lynx were determined not to let
that happen again. In a tactical move, head coach Peter Pinizzotto
inserted half-striker Waldo Sponton into the lineup in place of natural
midfielder Chris Pozniak who is training with Canada's Under-20 National
team for the upcoming FIFA World Youth Championship in South America.
The diminutive but swift Sponton, a native of Argentina,
gave the Lynx some much needed pace and speed up front, creating several
dangerous scoring chances with some well placed cross passes into
Pittsburgh's 18-yard box.
"Speed and curling crosses are
what we've been lacking lately," admitted Pinizzotto. "I think Waldo spent
a lot of energy and was trying to prove he belongs on the team.
Pinizzotto was also happy with the performance of DiPlacido.
"What was nice for a change was how (David), who I had been
very critical of late in that he doesn't shoot enough, he scored by
shooting on the net. Dave's got a decent shot but during a game he just
likes to pass instead of shooting. He played very well today and I think
he was one of the best players on the field. Defensively and offensively
he created some opportunities for our forwards so if there's one guy that
deserved a goal today it was David."
DiPlacido's first goal
of the 2001 campaign helped to cap off the New Market native's best game
so far in the young season.
"I've always felt that I've been
playing decent defensively, I think I just created a little more
offensively today. I shot a few more times than I usually do."
In the first half, Toronto flooded Pittsburgh's 18-yard box
with players, creating three scoring chances in the space of seven
minutes. Lynx forward Francsico Dos Santos headed a beautiful cross pass
from Sponton at the net, only to have a Pittsburgh defender knock it out
of play. A minute later Pittsburgh goalkeeper Randy Dedini stopped a
blistering Lyndon Hooper shot from close range.
The
offensive flurry ended moments later when Toronto midfielder Brian Ashton
fired a dangerous looking shot from just outside Pittsburgh's 18-yard box,
only to have Dedini tap it over the crossbar.
Despite having
twice as many shots as Pittsburgh and producing far more scoring chances,
the Lynx still had difficulty scoring goals. Toronto's lack of firepower
worries Pinizzotto.
"It worries me because in soccer if you
don't score on your chances the other team will come down and get a fluky
goal. One mistake and it's a new game. It's always a concern of a coach."
The Lynx, 2-2 on the season, next play Northern Conference
rivals Hershey Wildcats at home on Sunday June 10.
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