Toronto Lynx Game Report
Brought To You By
Brava
TEMPERS RAGE IN ROCHESTER
CONTROVERSIAL CALLS BY
OFFICIALS PLAGUE
CONTEST BETWEEN A-LEAGUE
RIVALS
Date: Saturday, July 13,
2002
Venue: Frontier Field (Rochester)
Kick-off:
7:50 p.m.
Attendance: 11,066
Final Score: 1 2
F
Toronto 0 0 0
Rochester 1 1 2
Game Summary:
Goaltender Pat Onstad recorded his seventh shutout of the season as the Toronto
Lynx (4-9-3, 20 points) dropped a controversial 2-0 decision to the Northeast
Division leading Rochester Raging Rhinos (9-4-2, 38 points) before 11,066 fans
at Frontier Field in a contest that was plagued with questionable
officiating.
The match started 20 minutes late as the Toronto Lynx
arrived in Rochester behind schedule when their team bus experienced mechanical
difficulties in St. Catharines early in the afternoon.
The first half of
play failed to produce many quality scoring opportunities for the Lynx as the
Rhinos controlled the majority of the possession for the opening 45 minutes.
Toronto, who may still have been feeling the effects of their delayed
bus, was caught flat footed in the fourth minute of play when Lynx defender Joe
Mattacchione was forced to make a goal saving clearance. With goaltender Theo
Zagar out of position, Mattacchione brilliantly headed away a Rhinos shot from
his own goal line to keep the match scoreless.
In the 21st minute
Rochester continued to pressure Toronto as Rhinos forward Kirk Wilson took a
feed from outside the 18-yard box and wired a shot that sailed just wide of the
far post.
The Rhinos were finally able to break through eleven minutes
later as the club was awarded a controversial penalty shot for a hand ball
called on Lynx defender Adrian Serioux. Serioux, who clearly did not agree with
referee Islam Sallaj’s call, kicked the ball away in frustration and was awarded
a yellow card for his actions. Rhino’s midfielder Temoc Suarez then took the
kick and scored his first goal of the year with a low shot to the right corner
that Zagar just missed turning aside. Head Coach Peter Pinizzotto was visibly
upset with the questionable call against his club and he let the officials hear
about it as he gave the referees an earful on his way to the dressing room at
half-time.
After the break, both teams played a fairly controlled game as
neither team was able to generate much in the way of serious scoring
chances.
The Lynx saw a debatable call go their way in the 60th minute as
Rochester defender Bill Sedgewick was issued an immediate red card for pushing
Lynx forward Steve Butcher after the two fell to the ground while challenging
for a loose ball in the air. While replays indicated that Sedgewick’s foul was
not a vicious assault on Butcher, Sallaj deemed it serious enough to warrant an
ejection.
Reduced to ten men for the remainder of the match the Rhinos
tightened up defensively and were able to defuse the remaining Lynx attacks in
the second half.
Rochester was able to add some insurance in the 87th
minute on another questionable marker. With the Rhinos threatening in the Lynx
zone, Yuri Lavrinenko was taken down cleanly by Mattacchione. The ball then
popped free to midfielder Lenin Steenkamp who wired a shot on goal from seven
yards out. Zagar got a piece of the shot but the ball’s momentum carried to the
goal line. With the ball bouncing on the goal line the keeper lunged back and
cleared the ball. With the Lynx ready to move up field the referee immediately
blew the play dead and awarded a goal to Rochester as Sallaj ruled that the
entire ball crossed the line. Once the call was made Zagar immediately left his
crease to protest the call. The referee did not overrule Toronto’s appeal and
Zagar was subsequently awarded a yellow card for his outburst.
Things
should get interesting tomorrow as the two teams square off tomorrow in Toronto
at York University Stadium. Kick off is 6:00 p.m.
Scoring
Summary
First Half
32nd Minute: After Adrian Serioux is called for
a hand ball in the 18-yard box, midfielder Temoc Suarez scores his first goal of
the season on a penalty kick. Zagar guesses right on the play but Saurez’s shot
to the bottom right corner is well placed and the keeper cannot get to it in
time. Rochester 1-0
Second Half
87th Minute: With the Rhinos
threatening in the Lynx zone, Yuri Lavrinenko was taken cleanly by Toronto
defender Joe Mattacchione. The ball then popped free to midfielder Lenin
Steenkamp who wired a shot on goal from seven yards out. Zagar got a piece of
the shot but the ball’s momentum carried to the back of the goal. With the ball
bouncing on the goal line the keeper lunged back and cleared the ball. The
referees blew the play dead and awarded a goal to Rochester. Rochester
2-0
Full Time
Line ups
Toronto: (GK) Theo Zagar,
(D) Milan Kojic, (D) Joe Mattacchione, (D) Adrian Serioux, (M) Robbie
Aristodemo, (M) Brian Ashton (Elvis Thomas 84), (M) Nikki Vignjevic, (M)
Mauricio Vincello, (M) Niki Budalic, (F) Steve Butcher (David Diplacido 73), (F)
Irasto Knights
Rochester: (GK) Pat Onstad, (D) Craig Demmin, (D) Scott
Schweitzer, (D) Mali Walton, (D) Billy Sedgewick, (M) Temoc Suarez (Dan Stebbins
90), (M) Tommy Tanner (Yuri Lavrinenko 55), (M) Martin Nash (Carlos Zavala 85),
(M) Lenin Steenkamp, (F) Jimmy Tanner (Karlin Bankov 75), (F) Kirk
Wilson
Shots 1 2 F
Toronto 4 4 8
Rochester 7 2
9
Saves 1 2 F
Toronto 0 0 0
Rochester 3 1
4
Scorers
Toronto: None
Rochester: Suarez 1
(Penalty Shot), Steenkamp 5
(Unassisted)
Goaltenders
Toronto: Zagar (L,
4-9-3)
Rochester: Onstad (W, 8-2-1), 7th shutout of the
season
Corner Kicks 1 2 F
Toronto 0 0 0
Rochester
2 0 2
Fouls 1 2 F
Toronto 9 7 16
Rochester 14 16
30
Cautions
Toronto: Vincello (27th Minute), Serioux
(32nd Minute), Zagar (88th Minute)
Rochester: Wilson (69th Minute),
Lavrinenko (76th Minute), Onstand (87th Minute)
Ejections
Toronto: None
Rochester: Sedgewick (60th
Minute)
Man of the Match: Pat Onstad, 4 saves for the
shutout.
The Toronto Lynx next game is at home against the
Rochester Raging Rhinos on Sunday, July 14 at 6:00 p.m.
Toronto
Lynx Media Relations Contact: Eric Michalko (416) 251-4625, ext
.
.