Lynx - Storm Match Report & Lynx player ratings...
by
L.T.
To be posted on www.ontariosoccerweb.com soon...
June 15,
2002 - The Lynx (3-7-1) treated 1,118 wet but dedicated fans to a scoring
bonanza tonight. They pumped a franchise high four goals behind Canadian
international Lars Hirschfeld in a come-from-behind 4-2 victory over the Calgary
Storm.
Calgary (1-9-1) are a new addition to the A-league and is largely
made up of players from Calgary's Professional Development team that were PDL
finalists in 2001. They are young, but talented, boasting three Canadian U19
Internationals (Nick Ledgerwood, Nicolas Zuniga and Chris Lemire) to go along
with senior international Hirschfeld, who backstopped Canada to a 3rd place
finish in this year's CONCACAF Gold Cup.
It was a big improvement over
the last game I attended, a 1-0 loss to Charleston. Of course, playing a team
coming in with seven straight losses will do that. Calgary actually outplayed
Toronto early and opened the scoring with a penalty in the 4th minute. And
although Kojic tied it up with a powerful header seven minutes later, Calgary
retook the lead after 15 minutes when Mike Pavik's free kick was deflected into
his own goal by Mauricio Vincello.
Toronto started taking the game to
Calgary soon after Pavik's goal but were unable to crack the Calgary defence
again in the first half. The Lynx came out just as determined in the second half
and were rewarded in the 57th minute when Mauricio Vincello drove home a Robbie
Aristodemo cross from close range. Niki Budalic assured the Lynx of their second
straight win, scoring two goals in the final half hour.
The win moves the
Lynx into a tie the Montreal Impact for third in the Northeast Division and
seventh in the conference. The top six in each conference make the playoffs.
Toronto's next game is at home to Pittsburgh (3-8-4) on Sunday June 23rd at 4:00
pm.
Player Ratings (score out of 10)
GK Theo Zagar - [8] Theo was
solid in tough conditions and could not be faulted on either goal. Unlike his
counterpart Hirschfeld, Zagar has no problem holding on to shots and controlling
balls in the penalty area.
DF Joe Mattachione - [7] Calgary could not
muster any offence once Joe moved into central defence after the second Storm
goal. He held his ground well against the small and speedy Storm
attackers.
DF Mauricio Vincello - [5] Mauricio would like to forget the
first half of Saturday's game. His tackle let the the Calgary penalty, he
deflected the second goal into his own net and he was yellow-carded late in the
half. However he partially redeemed himself by scoring the game tying goal after
finding himself alone in the six yard box on a Robbie Aristodemo
corner.
DF Milan Kojic - [7] Milan scored the Lynx opening goal, his
second in as many games. Once Mattachione organized the back, Milan was free to
push forward and torment the Calgary defence.
MD Nikki Vignjevic - [8]
Nikki showed why he is the Lynx all-time leader in points, goals and assists. He
was all over the midfield in the first half and set up Budalic's second goal. He
continually set up Knights and Budalic, and even had some chances of his own,
driving one over the bar at the end of the first half. Vignjevic definitely made
up for a less than stellar performance against Charleston.
MD Robbie
Aristodemo - [9] Robbie was the undisputed man of the match. He set up three of
the four goals with his insicive corner kicks and total field vision. He did not
seem too concerned about being moved all over the field. Aristodemo was the main
reason the Lynx midfield totally outclassed their younger counterparts on this
day.
MD Adrian Serioux - [6] Adrian moved into the midfield with the
return of Vincello from suspension. He did not look out of place, but he did not
provide any offensive pressure. He may have been injured as the 30 yard
throw-ins he displayed against Charleston were not in his arsenal in this game.
He had to be bailed out by Zagar late in the first half after he let Lemire slip
away inside the box. Zagar made a great save on a shot that would have made it
3-1 Calgary.
MD Brian Ashton - [6] Brian's uniform was much too clean for
the conditions by the time he was substituted after 64 minutes. Playing in the
defensive midfield role, he had many chances to get stuck in and snuff out Storm
attacks, but his token challenges likely contributed to his
substitution.
MD David DiPlacido - [6] David always seemed a step behind
the play in the wet conditions, and was substituted for Elvis Thomas at
halftime.
F Niki Budalic - [8] Budalic continues to show that he has the
skill to move on to bigger and better things in his career. He was held in check
early, but three great chances in ten minutes late in the first half were a
foreshadowing for his second half breakthrough. Budalic hit is first by
finishing off an Aristodemo through ball and scored his second of the game and
sixth of the season by heading in at the back post after a great cross by
Vignjevic.
F Irasto Knights - [6] Not much activity from this tall
forward, who is usually good for a few chances each game. He had two inspiring
runs in the first half, but pretty much left the job of winning the match to his
teammates.
Substitutes:
MF Elvis Thomas [7] - Elvis came in at
half time and providing some offence playing out on the wing. His inclusion
allowed Aristodemo to move into the centre of midfield.
MF Shawn Faria
[7] - Faria played the final third of the game at the defensive midfield role, a
position he had been starting in. Shawn contributed to the complete shutdown of
the Calgary offence in the second half.
MF Julio Penalillo [NR] - Julio
played the last seven minutes, coming in for Adrian Serioux.
Coaching
Staff [8] - Peter Pinizzotto did well to sort out the defence after the
horrendous start. Replacing DiPlacido and moving Aristodemo into the centre of
the field was key to the second half turnaround. Faria was brought in to
strengthen the defence in the second half, but if he was in his usual defensive
midfield role from the start, the Lynx may not have had to come from
behind.
Lino Terra
editor@ontariosoccerweb.com
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