2nd Half:...starts 9:58pm.
45 min...TC Laurito passes forward and TC Pavic spins around and 15 yard roller is right to goalie.
47 min...ML defenders knock around ball in own box to clear TC run and TC Pavic sends 15 yard low shot that diving goalie blocks on left post but play whistled down.
49 min...ML Gomez cornerkick from left is over box and TC Chalmers heads ball over end line.
50 min...ML cornerkick from right has ML Levkov checked off ball as they try to work out ball from corner.
51 min...TC sub...Alstitud replaces Bacek.
52 min...ML Janjicek stips around defender and TC goalie steps up to clear ball.
55 min...TC YELLOW card...Adrian Azcurra for feet-up sliding tackle on right sideline.
56 min...ML sub...Mason replaces Janjicek.
58 min...TC Alstitud rolls cross into box from right and TC Laurito just too late and he charges into net webbing.
60 min...TC players throw-in into box passed back and then called on an offside whistle.
61 min...TC Chalmers 25 yard shot from left through box and is wide right.
62 min...TC sub...Kalic replaces Pavic.
63 min...TC Dragonic 25 yard freekick from left is lobbed over net.
66 min...TC player's 35 yard freekick is chipped to edge of box but headed away.
66 min...TC sub...Harris replaces Chalmers.
66 min...TC player's freekick from 30 yards is cleared from box.
68 min...Toronto Croatia Edin Kalic GOAL...TC players on two man charge through Lions defenders in box starting from 30 yards on left and finishing with Kalic getting short pass and sending 8 yard shot into right side of net beyond goalie Patrick Osunduba.
73 min...TC sub...Kulis replaces Draganic.
74 min...TC Zupetic long run in from centerline but pushes ball too far ahead so goalie steps forward to pick up ball.
76 min...TC Kalic rushes down left wing but rolls cross to goalie instead of pulling ball back to teammates in box.
77 min...TC Zupetic rushes dcown right wing and 25 yard shot well over net.
79 min...TC sub...Aniekwe replaces Zupetic.
82 min...Lions Caswain Mason GOAL...Lions Pop Gabriel Salustius 25 yard freekick from left is headed down on right from three yards by Mason on right post and into left side of net beyond goalie George Azcurra.
84 min...ML sub...Backup goalie Drakes puts on the #5 jersey and replaces Salustius.
85 min...ML Gomez 30 yard freekick from left is rolled to defenders in wall.
86 min...ML goalie charges out to knock ball away from charging TC Aniekwe.
88 min...ML defenders prevent TC players from getting shot away on right side of box.
89 min...Toronto Croatia Hugo Alstitud GOAL...TC Jose Aniekwe rushes down right and rolls pass to his left for TC Edin Kalic who rolls ball across goalmouth from left where charging Alstitud runs in to boot 5 yard shot into net.
90 min...game ends 10:43pm.
Final Score:........Toronto Croatia.............2..................Metro Lions................1............
Attendance was about 125 on this cold evening. Parkas were required wearing for the spectators. The field was wet and slippery from the rain we'd had in the last few days.
A few calls against Toronto Croatia got the hometown fans upset. Referee was Gord Arrowsmith who gave out only one Yellow card in the game but kept the players under control.
Toronto Croatia really only needed a tie tonight as that record would have evened them with St Catharines Roma Wolves and would have favoured them as they had a better plus/minus in goal scoring. I didn't realize that until the last five minutes of the game when the team was encouraged to run the ball into the corners to waste time. Metro Lions had upset the Wolves on the weekend to put the team in this postion. Good game by Metro Lions who brought three subs to the game but backup goalie Gregory Drakes put some time in as a midfielder. Toronto Croatia couldn't get their offense going in the first half and reminded me of the first half of the season. Every name involved in the scoring was a second half substitute.
Toronto Croatia immediately has to get ready for a playoff game tomorrow against Brampton Hitmen. (not Brantford Hitmen I reminded announcer John as we don't want the fans driving to Wayne Gretzky's old home town). Winner of that game moves on to London this weekend to play in the wildcard game against host London City. Tough schedule for Toronto Croatia as they played tonight, play tomorrow, play Friday in the wildcard, play Saturday in the semi-final, and play Sunday in the final in the final if they get that far. Five games in seven days and some people feel sorry for the Ottawa Wizards? Toronto Croatia recovered from a one win, five loss start to the season to turn their season around and grab the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Lions play in the tougher Western Conference and finished fifth of the six teams.
Rocket Robin
robing@eol.ca
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