June 7, 2003
City settles for 1-1 draw
KATHY RUMLESKI, Free Press Sports Reporter
It was Heartbreak City last night as the Mississauga Olympians scored in injury time to tie London City 1-1 at Cove Road field. It looked as if City would get its first win in three seasons over Mississauga, a perennial powerhouse in the Canadian Professional Soccer League, but John Matas sailed one by London goalkeeper Anthony Camacho, who had no chance on the shot. Thirty seconds later, the game ended.
"The referee said one minute left to play and we had the ball (in Mississauga's end). All we had to do was kick it back down," said striker Andrew Loague, who scored City's goal.
Loague said the tie was particularly disappointing since every London player put forth such a good effort.
"We played 92 or 94 minutes hard. Everybody worked hard."
Loague and London Portuguese teammate Ree San, also a striker, were a couple of additions to City's lineup this week that made a difference.
After London manager and coach Harry Gauss made it known that he was looking for a striker, he got two.
"Me and (San) work well together. That's why Harry asked me about Ree," Loague said.
Loague, a former City captain who played a couple of games with the club last year, took a great pass from Attila Salamon and buried it left on goalkeeper Brian Bowes in the 38th minute.
City faced a scare a minute later when Camacho was called for stepping out of the box while throwing the ball to a teammate.
But the ensuing Mississauga free kick was blocked by a wall of City players.
City pressed throughout the game but couldn't get a second goal.
Gauss said City outplayed the Olympians because his players are in better shape.
"And we made really good, intelligent plays," he said.
Mississauga's Darren Tilley, the CPSL's leading goal scorer last year, didn't get a shot on net.
City played the last 20 minutes a man short after Salamon picked up his second yellow card of the game and was ejected. Six minutes later, Olympian Danny Sanna was also sent off for his second yellow card.
The tie improved City's record to 0-1-1.
GAME GLANCE
City 1, Olympians 1
London goal: Andrew Loague
Mississauga goal: John Matas
Next: London plays the North York Astros on Friday at 8:30 p.m. at Cove Road field.
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