OntarioSoccerWeb.com: Lynx Devour Rhinos to Earn the Weekend
Split
by L.T.
Lynx Devour Rhinos to Earn the Weekend Split
July 14, 2002 -
The Toronto Lynx (5-9-3) rebounded from a Saturday night loss in Rochester
(9-5-2) with a 2-0 victory in front of an announced crowd of 1,293 at York
University Stadium. Niki Budalic with his eighth goal of the season, and Brian
Ashton with his first, helped Theo Zagar earn his fourth shutout of the season
and moved the Lynx to within three points of the Montreal
Impact.
Rochester took the game to Toronto early but it was on a
perfectly executed counter-attack that the Lynx opened the scoring in the sixth
minute. Shawn Faria sent Irasto Knights down the left wing with Budalic going to
goal. Irasto shook his marker and laid a beautiful square ball out for Budalic,
who wasted no time driving the ball in the top left hand corner of the Rhino
goal.
Rochester were unlucky not to score an equalizer. They had many
chances, but were turned away as much by the outstanding goalkeeping of Theo
Zagar as by their own poor finishing.
The Lynx starting putting their
stamp on the game late in the first half when Vignjevic began to take a more
active role in the game. Nikki was part of the new look Toronto midfield that
had Shawn Faria, David DiPlacido and Vignjevic in the middle and Robbie
Aristodemo and Mauricio Vincello on the wings.
In the second half, the
Lynx defence cut down on the Rochester chances, although Zagar still had to come
up big on more than one occasion. The Lynx had a lot of the play and were
rewarded with a second goal in the 78th minute. It came from a penalty kick that
was awarded when Rhino midfielder Temoc Suarez stopped a Niki Budalic shot with
his arm. Suarez was red carded and Brian Ashton calmly slotted the spot kick
under a diving Scott Vallow in the Rhino goal.
Full marks to Toronto for
continuing to attack after building up the 2-0 lead. They appeared to be going
for that all important third goal, which would have resulted in a much needed
bonus point in their hunt for the playoffs. This would explain some of the
chances that the Rhinos had late in the game, forcing Man of the Match Theo
Zagar into some big saves.
Lynx Notes: Canadian Men's National Team coach
Holger Osiek was at the match (scouting Niki Budalic perhaps?)...Recently signed
local boy Sergio De Luca saw his first A-league action, coming in as a
substitute late in the game...The official Lynx supporters, the Ultras
(www.torontoultras.com) were in fine form this evening, drowning out their Rhino
counterparts who made the trip up from Rochester...Although the city of Toronto
strike is over, the Lynx will playing their remain July home games at York
University...Toronto's next game is home to the Vancouver Whitecaps on Friday
July 19th...This game will count in the standings to determine the winner of the
inaugural Voyageurs Cup (www.voyageurscup.ca). The Lynx are 1-0-0 in this
competition.
Lynx Player Ratings [score out of 10]
GK Theo Zagar
[9] - Hands down Man-of-the-Match...Made a big save just minutes after Toronto
took the lead...Theo then made a great reaction stop in close against Greg
Simmonds late in the first half...He was just as good in the second half, saving
his best for last with a diving save off Lenin Steenkamp in the 89th
minute.
DF Joe Mattachione [7] - The defence had an effective night after
a shaky first 30 minutes...Joe and his defensive partners watched cross roll
through the box and onto the foot of a Rhino attacker, who put his shot off the
post...As the game progressed Joe began to take control and was able to negate
the Rochester pressure
DF Milan Kojic [7] - Like Mattachione, Milan
quietly went about his business and was never left exposed...He did not
contribute offensively as much as in previous matches, but he wasn't really
needed in that area.
DF Adrian Serioux [6] - Adrian continue his
defensive struggles early, but seemed to finally snap out of his funk in the
second half...Early on he totally misjudged a cross and let his man get in
behind him with a good chance at goal (he missed)...However, in the second half
Serioux was a rock at the back and even contributed to some offensive
thrusts.
MD Shawn Faria [7] - Shawn was inserted back into the starting
lineup and was strong in the defensive midfield roll...Shawn helped start the
play on the first goal, and even had a chance at goal in the second half -
heading an Aristodemo cross directly at the keeper.
MD David DiPlacido
[7] - It may be the physical resemblance, but David reminds me more and more of
Paul Staltieri when he was first inserted into the National team
midfield...David never gives up a chance to have a crack a goal, and in the
second half he sent a couple of attempts just over the bar...David is still
prone to defensive miscues, but his distribution in attack is
improving.
MD Nikki Vigjnevic [8] - Nikki took a while to get going in
this game, but once he did he played his typical aggressive and attacking
game... Vignjevic was able to take the play to the Rhinos and open up space for
his teammates.
MD Robbie Aristodemo [6] - Robbie seems to have been moved
back out onto the wing permanently by coach Pinizzotto... His corner kicks were
disappointing and he did not see much of the ball out on the right flank...
Robbie did manage to get forward on a few occasions and exhibit his immense
playmaking abilities, but he didn't really make his mark on the game.
MD
Mauricio Vincello [6] - Mauricio was moved up to the left wing as part of the
new look midfield... He looked out of place in the first half as he tried to
push forward into attack... In the second half he was much more effective as he
dropped back and allowed Faria and Vignjevic to take a more active roll in the
offence.
F Niki Budalic [7] - Niki scored yet another pretty goal and is
on his way to becoming Toronto's second consecutive A-league rookie of the year
(Aristodemo)...Budalic increased his work rate for this match and even creating
a few of his own chances.
F Irasto Knights [7] - Irasto made good in his
return to the starting lineup, setting up Budalic for the winning goal early in
the game...Knights continually tracked down balls and showed some fancy footwork
until he was substituted in the 63rd minute.
Substitutes:
F Steve
Butcher [7] - Butcher came on for Knights and set up two good scoring
opportunities....The second led directly to the awarding of a penalty kick that
Ashton converted.
MD Brian Ashton [6] - Ashton was bumped from the
starting lineup and came on for the final 18 minutes... Give him credit for
working just as hard as a substitute, not giving any room for the Rochester
midfield to operate... Brian also scored his first goal of the season.
MD
Elvis Thomas [NR] - Elvis played 9 minutes, coming in for Robbie
Aristodemo.
F Sergio De Luca [NR] - Sergio played 3 minutes, coming in
for Niki Budalic. In those 3 minutes he managed to antagonize half the Rochester
team as he was all over the field and in the face of the Rhino
defenders...Notable start to his A-league career.
Coaching
Staff:
Peter Pinizzotto [7] - His shakeup seemed to work, and he realized
that Vincello would be better served hanging back in the second half...I would
still like to see a defence of Mattachione, Kojic and Vincello, with Serioux
moved out onto the wing to make use of his speed.
Lino
Terra
editor@ontariosoccerweb.com
.
.