Sunday June 23rd 2002.
London
Free Press: London City, Hitmen Forge Tie
London City, Hitmen forge a tie
By Paul Vanderhoeven --
London Free Press
London City blew a late lead but held onto to tie
the Brampton Hitmen 2-2 last night in a Spectator Cup match at Exeter Community
Field.
General manager Harry Gauss said the team, missing several key
starters, would have liked to come home with the win. But after taking a beating
from the Hitmen at Cove Road earlier this season, he's happy with a tie.
"In the end, we take we get," Gauss said. "We thought we should have
won, but the last time we played these guys they beat us 4-0."
Gauss
said the heat and humidity took its toll on City's shortened bench, but keeper
Anthony Camacho kept London in the game.
The veteran goaltender made a
huge save midway through the second half, stopping a bullet from Kurt Mella from
about 11 yards out.
City opened the scoring in the 43rd minute when
Sandro Costantin of Wallaceburg scored his second goal of the season.
on great finish off a head ball from Eris Tasaj.
The Hitmen tied the
game three minutes into the second half when Joe Drajavic beat Camacho from six
yards out.
City recaptured the lead briefly when rookie Haidar
Al-Shaibani, who was a keeper for Laurier secondary school last season, scored
on a head ball off a 35-yard cross from Steven Flatt at 79 minutes. Brampton
tied the game just five minutes later on a free kick from Roberto Bruni.
City's next Canadian Professional Soccer League game is Friday in
Mississauga, but the team will play host to the Canadian under-20 team at Cove
Road field on July 5.
.
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