London Free Press: Lions Blank City
Metro Lions blank City for first win
KATHY RUMLESKI, Free Press Sports Reporter 2003-07-12 03:46:07
London City was given plenty of opportunity to win its Canadian Professional Soccer League game last night at Cove Road field. But the Metro Lions hung on to win their first game of the season 1-0. The loss ended City's three-game unbeaten streak in league and Cup play.
"We should have had a couple of goals. The score could have been 2-1 for us," said London goalkeeper Anthony Camacho, who certainly did his part in giving City a chance to win the game by stopping almost everything that came his way.
City just needed someone to finish.
Ashley McMillan, playing in his second game for City, had a chance to tie the match on a penalty kick in the 65th minute.
The shot was awarded after Attila Salamon was hauled down in the box by Metro goalkeeper Gregory Drakes.
McMillan shot right and Drakes stopped it.
McMillan, a former Trinidad and Tobago national team player, said the 'keeper made the save after guessing which way McMillan would shoot.
"He told me he guessed," a distraught McMillan said.
He also had a chance to score in the 49th minute when he was alone in front of the Metro net and blasted a shot that Drakes deflected over the net.
"I'm just an unhappy man," McMillan said. "I want to score too badly. Maybe I need to relax."
The Lions gave City all they could handle in the first half, but luck and some good saves by Camacho kept City in the game.
The Lions hit the post twice and Camacho wasn't afraid to leave the net to challenge the Metro forwards for the ball.
When Metro's Craig Patton came in on the London net on a breakaway in the 20th minute, Camacho came out to challenge him, forcing him to take an early shot, which went wide.
After hitting the post in the 22nd minute, Hayden Fitzwilliams finally put one by Camacho in the 28th minute.
The Lions unglued City with some quick, short passes and Fitzwilliams was able to get an uncontested shot away.
City finally start to come on late in the first half, but were unable to convert.
London's Tonino Commisso got the ball inside 10 yards in the 42nd minute, but waited too long to take a clear shot and a defender came in.
The second half was a different story. City stepped up its pressure and continually came in on net, only to be denied either by Drakes or his defence.
"We played better the second half," said Camacho, who said he felt pretty good for most of the game, but had some problems with his back. He missed last week's 2-0 win over St. Catharines with an injury.
GAME GLANCE
Lions 1, City 0
Metro goal: Hayden Fitzwilliams
Next: London plays the Brampton Hitmen Friday at Cove Road field, 8:30 p.m.
Copyright © The London Free Press 2001,2002,2003
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