Sun, May 29, 2005
Injury-time goal denies Lynx a winTORONTO WINLESS EIGHT GAMES INTO USL SCHEDULE
By MIKE KOREEN, TORONTO SUN
IT WAS Liverpool-esque, except for the bitter ending.
The struggling Toronto Lynx staged a huge comeback of their own last night, only to spit out an elusive win last night in United Soccer League first division play at Etobicoke Centennial Stadium.
The Lynx (0-5-3) rallied from a 3-1 halftime deficit to take a 4-3 lead in the first minute of injury time, but the Puerto Rico Islanders came right back down the field and scored about 20 seconds later to make it a 4-4 final.
"When I scored, I thought it was a Liverpool comeback," said Lynx forward Dave Simpson, who notched the go-ahead goal after a fine free kick crossing pass from Jamie Dodds.
"You're on top of the world ... I think we were so excited, we weren't really ever expecting them (to tie it at 4-4). After the (fourth goal), we thought we had it. Never in our wildest dreams did we think they'd come back and score that one."
The Lynx, missing four starters because of injuries, seemed to fall asleep after going up 4-3. The Islanders waltzed down the field and scored on Edivaldo Juninho Da Silva's rebound.
"It does show a lot of resiliency that we came back and evened up the game," Islanders defender Christopher Gores said. "A lot of crazy things happen in soccer. We were talking at halftime about not being AC Milan (which blew a 3-0 lead against Liverpool in the Champions League final earlier this week). At least we got out with the tie and salvaged the point."
While the Lynx remain winless, they hopped out of the 12-team league's basement and sit in a tie for 10th with the Rochester Raging Rhinos and the Minnesota Thunder.
"I think we just lost our focus and our concentration toward the end," Lynx coach Hubert Busby Jr. said. "It's been the story of our season. We let one slip away. We just have to keep plugging away."
Marcio Salles De Alencar, with two, and Corey Woolfolk also scored for the Islanders. Simpson had two for the Lynx, while Dodds and Conrad Smith added singles.
The Lynx play host to Rochester on Tuesday at 11 a.m. in their annual school day promotion.
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