June 9, 2004 A-League Toronto Lynx vs Puerto Rico Islanders (from Lynx media release)

TORONTO LYNX GAME REPORT
presented by Heineken

Lynx Sweep Puerto Rico Back to the Island
Lynx edge valiant Islanders in front of sold-out School Day crowd

Date:                Wednesday, June 9, 2004 
Venue:             Centennial Park Stadium, Etobicoke, Ontario        
Attendance:      4,950    
Kick off Time:    11:00 AM
Final Score:      Puerto Rico   2    Toronto   3

Match Summary: 

The Toronto Lynx sent their nearly 5,000 young School Day fans home happy with a thrilling 3-2 victory over the visiting 
Puerto Rico Islanders on a hot afternoon at Centennial Park Stadium.  The win, the Lynx' second in a row, raises their 
record to 4-6-0 (12 points) and moved them into fifth place in the Eastern Conference, just four points behind the Atlanta 
Silverbacks and the final playoff spot in the conference.  The Lynx and Silverbacks will meet on Sunday at Centennial 
Park.  The Islanders failed once again to claim their maiden victory in their inaugural A-League season, dropping their 
record to 0-9-3 (3 points).  The huge crowd was the largest for the Lynx since their move to Centennial Park Stadium 
in 2002.  Toronto swept the season series between the clubs 3-0, outscoring the Islanders 9-3 in the process.

The thousands of young fans were treated to an exciting afternoon of soccer and entertainment.  The WIllowdale Middle 
School band and the Islington Public School provided musical performances to warm up the crowd prior to the kick-off.  
OFSAA Executive Director Colin Hood performed the ceremonial kick-off, as the game was part of a double header with 
the OFSAA Girls AAAA/AAA Girls Final to be played following the Lynx/Islanders match, between Birchmount Park CI 
(Scarborough) and Catholic Central HS (London).

The Islanders, bolstered by the return to the lineup of Mario Zapata, who missed the first Toronto/Puerto Rico match on 
Sunday, came out of the blocks strong, playing inspired soccer.  They dominated the early part of the match, and were 
rewarded for their efforts when Raul Arce-Diaz, a former MLS star, headed home a powerful free kick from Zapata.  The 
Islanders continued to press for much of the half, as the Lynx appeared listless in the humid conditions.  The Lynx came
to life just prior to the half with two quick strikes from their star striker, Ali Gerba, his fourth and fifth goals 
in the club's past two games.  The first goal saw Puerto Rico 'keeper Eduardo Memendi make an incredible diving 
save off a powerful strike from Adrian Serioux from near the top of the penatly area, but he was unable to hang on 
to the ball, and the ever-dangerous Gerba made an alert move to dash in and push the ball past the supine keeper.  
In injury time, two minutes later, Gerba was left all alone near midfield, and he eluded a charging Memendi to score 
his seventh goal of the young season, giving the Lynx the lead going into the lockerroom.  Memendi appeared 
shaken up on the play, but did not leave the game.

The second half was a wide-open affair, with both teams taking turns carrying the play.  Puerto Rico levelled the score 
after Diaz-Arce scored his second goal of the afternoon, converting a penatly after Joe Mattacchione was called for 
handling the ball inside the box in the 61st minute.   Eleven minutes later, midfielder Jamie Dodds gave the Lynx the 
lead for good with a stunning goal.  After picking up the ball following a scramble in the Islander's box, he juggled it 
over the head of a stunned defender, turned, and blasted a shot just inside the far post, past a limping Memendi, 
eliciting a deafening roar from the huge throng, giving the Lynx their fourth win of the year.

The Lynx return to action Sunday in an important Eastern Conference clash with the Atlanta Silverbacks, with kick-off 
scheduled for 6:00 pm at Centennial Park Stadium.

Highlights:
1st Half
15th Minute:    Zapata free kick from top of 18-yard box is corralled by Goddard.
16th Minute:    Gerba battles free deep inside the Puerto Rico penalty area and is brought down, but instead receives 
a yellow card.
18th Minute:    Powerful Serioux strike from 20 yards out sails dangerously over the Islander net.
20th Minute:    Zapata free kick from near sideline, 30 yards out is headed home by Diaz-Arce after a scramble in the 
Lynx box.  Puerto Rico 1, Lynx 0
29th Minute:    DiPlacido plays precision strike into the box, but Nusum is unable to control it with his head and it is 
cleared to safety by the Puerto Rico defense.
33rd Minute:    Garay receives through ball between two defenders 10 yards in front of the Lynx net, but is unable to 
beat Goddard who makes the big save.
36th Minute:    Zapata dribbles deep into Lynx penalty area, and crosses back to Maliza at the top of the box, who 
slams the ball narrowly by the far crossbar.
41st  Minute:    Another Zapata free kick from the near sideline is firmly redirected towards goal by Garay from the top 
of the box, but Goddard makes an easy save.
43rd Minute:    Serioux takes a ferocious shot from the top of the box, and Memendi makes a diving save.  However, 
he is unable to hold on to the ball, and an alert Gerba rushes to the ball and knocks the ball home to level the score.  
Lynx 1, Puerto RIco 1.
45th Minute:    Dodds dribbles deep into the box near the far corner and crosses to Nusum, who redirects it to goal.  
The ball is blocked and cleared by the Islanders defense back to Baxter, who then rips a shot just over the Puerto 
Rico  net.
45th Minute:    Gerba receives pass all alone near midfield and races towards the net on a breakaway accompanied 
by Munthali.  Memendi charges out towards Gerba to try and strip the ball from him, but Gerba eludes him 35 yards in 
front of the net and slams the ball into the empty net from 20 yards away.  Lynx 2, Puerto Rico 1
2nd Half
46th Minute:    Baxter brought down near penalty area on far side of field.   Prostrans's ensuing free kick is headed to 
safety by the Puerto Rican defense.
51st Minute:    Diaz bends a free kick towards the Lynx net, but it soars harmlessly over the cross bar.
56th Minute:    Nusum receives a precision pass and dribbles into the Islanders box, but his left-footed strike flys just 
past the far post.
59th Minute:    Garay lifts a harmless looking shot towards the Lynx goal, but it eludes Goddard.  However, the ball 
carroms off the near post to preserve the Lynx lead.
61st Minute:    Astonda plays the ball towards the Lynx net from the top of the penalty area, and it strikes Mattacchione 
in the hand inside the box.  Puerto Rico is awarded a penatly kick.  Diaz Arce buries the kick to tie the match.   Lynx 2, 
Puerto Rico 2.
63rd Minute:    Dodds reins in a loose ball after a scramble following a Lynx corner but his shot strikes a Islander 
defender and it is cleared for another corner kick.  Prostran bends the second corner dangerously towards the 
goal but a limping Memendi grabs the ball and clears it to safety.
72nd Minute:    In an incredible individual effort, Dodds picks up a loose ball at the top of the Lynx penalty area, 
juggles it over the head of an Islander defender, turns, and strikes the ball past a helpless Memendi to give the Lynx 
back the lead.  Lynx 3, Puerto Rico 2.
73rd minute:    Gerba receives a pass on the fly and dribbles at full speed towards the Islanders net.  His powerful 
shot sails just inches over the Islanders net.
77th Minute:    Zuleta receives a Zapata free kick 2 yards from the Lynx net and hammers it towards goa with his 
head.  Goddard makes a brilliant leaping save and punches it mere inches over the crossbar to preserve the 
Lynx lead.
86th Minute:    Goddard beats a charging Islanders forward to the ball and reels in a strong Garay cross.

Final Score:    Toronto 3   Puerto Rico 2
Lineups: Puerto Rico: Memendi, Gores, Zuleta, Ortiz, A. Rivera, Deering (H. Rivera, 21), Zapata, Maliza (Toal, 76), Alcero (Astondoa, 45), Garay (Nieves, 88), Diaz Toronto: Goddard, Steele (Prostran, 45), Mattacchione, Hughes, Baxter, Serioux, Nusum (Pavic, 67), DiPlacido (Dodds 38), Bartolomeu (Blois, 45), Gerba (Arango, 76), Munthali Cautions: Puerto Rico: Zapata (31) Tor: Gerba (16), Mattacchione (70) Ejections: Blois (75) Shots: PR: 11 Tor: 13 Saves: PR: 4 Tor: 4 Fouls: PR: 14 Tor: 18 Offsides: PR: 2 Tor: 9 Corners: PR: 4 Tor: 2 Scorers: Tor: Gerba 2 (43,45), Dodds (72) Puerto Rico: Diaz 2 (20, 60-PK) Assists: Tor: Munthali (45) PR: Zapata (20) The Lynx next home game is Sunday, June 13th at 6:00 pm versus the Atlanta Silverbacks. DAVID NUTT, MEDIA RELATIONS

back to Lynx menu

.

.