FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TORONTO LYNX GAME REPORT
presented by Heineken
Lynx Wrap Up Home Schedule In Style
Toronto Dominates Edmonton In 3-1 Win
Date: Thursday, August 26, 2004
Venue: Centennial Park Stadium, Etobicoke, Ontario
Attendance: 2,075
Kick off Time: 7:30 PM
Final Score: Toronto 3 Edmonton 1
Match Summary:
For the final time this season the Toronto Lynx took to the pitch at Centennial Park Stadium against Edmonton FC on Fan Appreciate Night in front of 2,075 boisterous and supportive fans. Prior to game time the Lynx announced their 2004 Player Awards and recognized their best and brightest stars from this season. The award winners were as follows:
Public Relations - Rumba Munthali
Fan Favourite - Shawn Faria
Best Defensive Player - Bryheem Hancock
Best Offensive Player - Darren Baxter
Most Valuable Player - Ali Gerba
Edmonton came into Thursday's match having spent most of the season in the Western Conference basement, not surprising considering their challenges both on and off the field. The Lynx lost 1-nil to Richmond last Saturday night and were looking to avenge an earlier loss to Edmonton back on July 26th. The opening half saw the Lynx establish themselves at both the offensive and defensive end of the field out shooting Edmonton 12-5. Still looking for the A-League scoring title, star striker Ali Gerba had a chance early on to get Toronto on the board with a hard right footer from the right side of the box but it was stopped by 'keeper Nicola Stankov. He followed that up in the 16th minute by winning a footrace with Stankov but sending his chip just wide of the left post. Fortunately the Lynx did manage to find the mark when Gerba's cross went off a defender and Vinicius Brito buried the loose ball into the low left corner in the 27th minute, for his first goal as a Lynx player and a 1-nil Toronto lead. The Lynx almost added another later in the half when Darren Baxter unleashed a rocket from the top of the circle that Stankov got a glove on and deflected over the crossbar.
The Lynx started the second half the same way as the first dominating both ends of the pitch. In the 61st minute Ali Gerba and Charles Gbeke broke in on a 2-on-none with Gbeke ball handling around a charging Stankov and taping the ball into a wide open goal for a 2-0 lead. Just 6 minutes later Jamie Dodds had his shot stopped but Shawn Faria was there to hammer the rebound into the far corner, 3-nil Toronto. Edmonton finally got on the board in the 75th minute courtesy Eric Chin. He took a pass from Sipho Sibiya and chipped a ball past 'keeper Brian Rowland to cut the deficit to two. It proved meaningless as the Lynx managed to control the remainder of the match and cruise to an easy 3-1 victory. With the victory the Lynx improve to 9-15-1 and will complete the 2004 season on the road with matches against Atlanta on Saturday August 28th and Charleston on Sunday, August 29th.
Highlights:
1st Half
9th min: Gerba with a hard right footer from the right side that was stopped nicely by Nicola Stankov.
11th min: Edmilson DeCarvalho with some fancy footwork inside the box beat a defender but his hard strike was handled by Stankov.
16th min: Gerba in a footrace with Keeper Stankov got to the ball first and chipped a ball that just missed the left post.
19th min: Desmond Tackie hard shot that went wide of the left post.
27th min: Ali Gerba's cross that went off a defender, Vinicius Brito buried the loose ball into the low left corner, 1-0.
35th min: Sibya unleashed a blast from inside the penalty area that was hauled in by a diving Brian Rowland.
43rd min: Darren Baxter's left footer from the top of the circle was deflected over the crossbar by Keeper Stankov.
2nd Half
48th min: Sean Fraser split the defense but he was stopped by a charging Brian Rowland.
61st min: Akoke with a pass to Fraser who delivered a perfect ball to Eric Munoz but once again Rowland came up with a big stop.
61st min: In transition Gerba and Gbeke on a 2-on-none saw Gbeke ball handle around Stankov and tap it into an open goal, 2-0.
67th min: Jamie Dodds had his hard shot from the top left of the penalty area stopped but the rebound found Shawn Faria and he picked the far corner, 3-0.
75th min: Sibiya delivered a sweet ball to Gordon Chin and he chipped it by Rowland, 3-1.
80th min: Jamie Dodds cross to Gerba for the header but it was stopped by Stankov.
Final Score: Toronto 3 Edmonton 1
Lineups:
Edmonton: Stankov, Kassaye (Devlin, 45th min), DeSilva, Bosch (Drummond, 71st min), Hart, Chin, Munoz, Akoke, Tackie, Fraser, Sibiya
Toronto: Rowland, Munthali (Mayard, 55th min), Mattacchione, Steele, Hughes (Bartholomeu, 53rd min)(DiPlacido, 62nd min), Dodds, Faria, Baxter, Brito (Gbeke, 45th min), DeCarvalho (Blois, 45th min), Gerba
Cautions: Edm: Bosch (50th min), Hart (56th min), Munoz (74th min) Tor:
Ejections: None
Shots: Edm: 12 Tor: 22
Saves: Edm: 10 Tor: 4
Fouls: Edm: 7 Tor: 11
Scorers: Edm: Chin (75th minute) Tor: Brito (27th minute), Gbeke (61st minute), Faria (67th minute)
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
DAVID NUTT, MEDIA RELATIONS
416-251-4625 ext. 30
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