May 16, 2002
Lynx in tough against machine
By MIKE KOREEN,
TORONTO SUN
Brian Ashton took a huge sigh when asked about Martin Max.
"He's a machine and the whole team is a machine," the Toronto Lynx
midfielder said yesterday, referring to the top scorer on TSV 1860 Munich, a
German Bundesliga club. Ashton's A-League soccer team will play an exhibition
game against Munich Saturday (3 p.m.) at York University Stadium.
While
the Lynx have compiled a 1-2 record against international teams in the past four
years, Munich brings more to the table than Toronto's previous opponents.
Start with Max, 33, the top scorer in the Bundesliga this past season
with 18 goals in 34 games. He has notched 100 goals in his 314-game Bundesliga
career.
"I'm surprised he wasn't picked for the German national team
(that will play in the World Cup beginning later this month in Japan and South
Korea)," Lynx general manager/coach Peter Pinizzotto said. "It will be great for
fans here to see him play."
EXHIBITION
Don't think Max
and his fellow strikers are going to go easy on the Lynx because Munich (15-14-5
in Bundesliga play this past season) is on an exhibition tour to conclude its
season. Max scored two goals this past Sunday as Munich pasted the A-League's
Milwaukee Rampage 7-0.
"That score scared a couple of guys in the
dressing room because Milwaukee's not a pushover," Ashton said. "You don't like
to compare it to hockey, but it would be like a European team having the New
York Rangers come over to play a game. Munich could give Manchester United a
run."
The Lynx, however, have made some strides during the off-season.
With seven new players on the roster, the Lynx, who scored a league-low 20 goals
en route to a 7-16-3 record last season, have added some much-needed offence.
Led by rookie Kitchener striker Niki Budalic, the Lynx (1-3-1), who play
their first eight games of the season on the road, already have scored seven
goals this season.
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