Toronto edges Puerto Rico in OT
Own goal spoils exciting debut of Islanders
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Tuesday, April 20, 2004
Upon Further Review: After reviewing the official game tape from the match, the deciding goal was determined to be an own goal by Puerto Rico Islander Diego Deering. The following is an account of the play.
Toronto's Jamie Dodds sent a free kick from the right wing to Joe Mattachione at the top right corner of the six-yard box. Puerto Rico’s Mauricio Salles beat Mattachione to head the ball away, but it falls to Ali Gerba at the top of the box on the left side. Gerba volleyed the shot before it reached the ground only see Islanders goalkeeper Andrew Nucifora make the save with his knee. The rebound was gathered by Toronto’s Andres Arango inside the six-yard box on the right, and with his back to the goal, Arango dribbled outside the box before turning to take a shot on goal. Nucifora, again, made a great save on the point-blank shot. However, Puerto Rico midfielder Diego Deering gathered the rebound and put the ball into the back of his own net as he hurried his clearance attempt from inside the six-yard box with the Lynx' Josue Mayard closing in.
Saturday, April 17, 2004
By GABRIELLE PAESE
Of The STAR Staff
BAYAMON, PR -- Toronto forward Ali Gerba rescued the ball from a mad overtime scramble at the Puerto Rico goal to score the Lynx' sole goal at 10th minute of the first A-League sudden-death overtime Saturday night. With the goal, the Lynx defeated the Puerto Rico Islanders in their first game of the season, 1-0, at Juan Ramon Loubriel Stadium.
"The match could have gone either way," said Toronto coach Duncan Wilde afterward of the 0-0 90-minute regulation time score. "It was hard to see exactly what happened but Ali and their defender both had the ball at the same time and it looked like Ali was just able to get it past. But it was a very close match."
It was a match marked by yellow cards in regulation time, Toronto was charged with four and Puerto Rico three. Toronto also was charged with a red card.
"They'll have to learn that in a match like this there can't be that many yellow cards," said Wilde, who made a call to the Islanders to control the game. "Of course you can't stop the guys from playing from the heart but you have to have control. We had a red card as well. But we still have a lot to work on."
Wilde, in his first season with the Lynx, said he was surprised by the caliber of players Islanders coach Vitor Hugo has rounded up for this inaugural team.
"I was expecting a Latin style of play because I know of it," said Wilde of Hugo's penchant for short passes versus the long ball movement of the Lynx. "What I wasn't expecting was the caliber of players they have."
Wilde said Islanders forward Martin Zapata was particularly troublesome for the Lynx. Islanders coach Hugo said despite the loss he was pleased with his team's play.
"Since it's the first time we play I didn't really know what to expect but I was happy to see we are more or less at this level," said Hugo. "We have had a tough preseason without tuneup matches but the victory could have been for either team."
"We had a clear chance but we weren't able to capitalize on it," said Hugo. "In the first half we hit the ball to the goal post but couldn't make it go in. Mauricio [Salles] was close twice. It was 50 percent from each team."
Both Wilde and Hugo said they were impressed with the fan turnout of approximately 6,000.
"Our team was really motivated to hear all the fans here cheering," said Hugo. "It was an added advantage."
Hugo said he knows the newly-installed pitch will improve with time.
"The field is still a little rough in spots and as the grass matures the ball is going to move a lot better," said Hugo. "The ball still rebounds a bit."
Wilde said his team would now work on refinement for the rest of the season.
"This was a great win for us because now we have two weeks off. We still have a lot of work to do. We lost our striker after 15 minutes and we have to work on our defense early in the game."
Puerto Rico plays its next match on Sunday versus the Montreal Impact in Bayamon.
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