GOING, GOING, NGON!!!
Ali Ngon scores late to give Lynx first home victory of the season.
Date: Sunday, June 8, 2003
Venue: Centennial Park Stadium, Toronto, Ontario
Attendance: 1638
Kick off Time: 4:00 PM
Final Score: Toronto 1 Montreal 0
Match Summary.
The Toronto Lynx won their first home game of the season this afternoon in thrilling fashion at Centennial Park Stadium in Etobicoke. Ali Ngon, a second-half substitute, scored on a breakaway in injury time to give the Lynx the win. It was his first goal in a Lynx uniform, and capped off an exciting match which saw the Lynx dominate their cross-Canada rivals from the opening whistle. The win raises the Lynx' record to 3-5-2 (11 points) and into a fourth-place tie with Pittsburgh in the Northeast Division. The loss ends a 7-game unbeaten streak for Montreal. The Impact leads the season series between the clubs 2-1-0.
Before the match, the Lynx welcomed Tina Blaskovic, Melanie Booth, Holly Lincoln and Anne Ogundele from the Toronto Inferno women’s team as part of their Girl Power celebrations, and a large number of girls youth teams were on hand to share in the festivities.
The Lynx came out charging from the start of the match, and took the play to the Impact. Solid midfield play and inspired play from the forwards led to a number of scoring chances throughout the first half, but Montreal 'keeper Greg Sutton made a number of brilliant saves to keep the game scorless. Toronto picked up where they left off in the second half, and peppered the Impact net with shots, but were continuously denied by Sutton. Conversely, the Impact mounted only a few attacks on the Lynx net, but captain Theo Zagar was sharp when called upon.
Late in the match, the Impact were awarded a free kick from 25 yards out, but Canadian international Martin Nash's shot was blocked by the Lynx wall, and the ball rebounded to Sebastion Barclay. The Argentinian striker calmely collected the ball, and launched a 20-yard pass to a wide open Ngon, who streaked towards the net on a clear breakaway. Sutton charged towards Ngon to cut down the angle, but he was unable to stop Ngon's powerful blast, and the ball found the back of the net, giving the Lynx a well-merited 3 points.
Newcomer Tyler Hughes was stellar for the Lynx in the victory, and was selected as the CAW Blue Collar Award winner, recognizing him as the hardest working player on the pitch for the Lynx.
The Lynx' next home game is Sunday June 15 at 4:00 PM when division rivals the Syracuse Salty Dogs make their final trip to Toronto.
First Half Highlights:
4th Minute: Hughes corner kick lands dangerously inside Montreal’s 6-yard box and a frantic scramble ensues, but the Lynx are unable to bury the ball into the net, and eventually a Barclay handball draws a whistle to end the play.
25th Minute: Lucas streaks towards the net on a partial breakaway, and flips ball over a charging Sutton towards an open net. However, Gervais rushes back into the play for the Impact and clears the ball to safety and keeps the scoresheet clean.
33rd Minute: Nash feeds a wide-open Biello through the penalty area, who then dekes around Zagar. However, his off-balance shot sails over the open net.
40th Minute: Ashton launches a powerful shot towards the net, but it hits the top of the crossbar and bounces safely into touch.
Second Half Highlights:
55th Minute: Hughes free kick is redirected by Mayard directly in front of the Impact net, but Sutton is in perfect position and makes the big save.
59th Minute: Barclay evades an Impact defender, dribbles towards the centre of the pitch, and sends the ball towards the goal. Thomas, Lucas and an Impact defender collide while playing the pass, and fall to the ground, allowing Sutton to grab the ball and eliminate the threat.
61st Minute: Thomas tears down the near touchline, and feeds an open Lucas in the six-yard box. However, Lucas’s shot is grabbed by Sutton to rob the striker of a sure goal.
64th Minute: DiPlacido fields a loose ball inside the penalty area, spins around an sends the ball towards the Montreal net, but the weak shot is cleared away from danger by the Impact defense.
66th Minute: Mark Rowland intercepts a clearing pass deep in the Lynx zone and rushes deep into the penalty area. His cross is fielded by Biello and played forward towards Sebrango, but the ball gets lost between the forward’s feet, and is kicked to touch by Mayard.
68th Minute: Sebrango and Zagar collide while playing a volley towards the Lynx net, and the ball bounces dangerously over the Lynx net for a goal kick.
75th Minute: Ngon sends a cross deep into the Impact penalty area, which is fielded by Barclay, who is unable to beat Sutton with his quick shot. The rebound bounces around dangerously in the crease area, and strikes the hand of Impact defender Francois, but the referee does not make the call, and the ball is cleared to safety by Montreal.
85th Minute: Sebrango heads a Nash corner kick narrowly over the Lynx net.
89th Minute: Serioux dribbles down the touchline and crosses towards the Impact net. An open Barclay gets his head on the ball, but his powerful shot rattles off the crossbar.
90th Minute: After a Nash free kick is sent into the wall deep in Lynx territory, Barclay fields the ball on the counter attack and hits a wide open Ngon who streaks in on a breakaway towards the Montreal goal. His thundering shot slams past a charging Sutton into the Impact net.
90th Minute: Biello breaks behind the Lynx defense and takes a cross deep in the six-yard box. His point-blank shot is corralled by Zagar to preserve the Lynx victory.
Final Score:
1 2 OT1 OT2 F
Toronto 0 1 - - 1
Montreal 0 0 - - 0
Lineups:
Toronto: Zagar, Veenhof (Blicharski, 90), Mayard, Hughes, Vincello, Mattacchione, Ashton (Vignjevic, 71), DiPlacido, Thomas (Serioux, 67), Barclay, Lucas (Ngon, 73)
Montreal: Sutton, Gervais, Pizzolitto, Kopp (Fronimadis, 82), DeSantis (DiTullio, 67), Francois, Rowland (Matondo, 71), Nash, Ze Roberto, Biello, Sebrango
Cautions: Toronto: Ashton (45), Vincello (88), Vignjevic (89) ; Montreal: none
Ejections: None
Shots: Toronto 9, Montreal 4
Saves: Toronto 0, Montreal 3
Fouls: Toronto 18, Montreal 11
Corners: Toronto 3, Montreal 3
Offsides: Toronto 2, Montreal 5
Scorers: Toronto: Ngon (90)
The Lynx next home game is on Sunday, June 15 at 4:00 PM versus the Syracuse Salty Dogs. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Lynx Ticket Hotline at 416-251-4625 x 31 or by visiting www.lynxsoccer.com.
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FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
DAVID NUTT, MEDIA RELATIONS
416-251-4625 ext. 30
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