September 10, 2006 USL Toronto Lynx vs Minnesota Thunder (from Lynx media release)
Lynx Thunder Past Minnesota, 5-0
Toronto ends season unbeaten in 10 games at home
Date: September 10, 2006
Venue: Centennial Park Stadium, Toronto, ON
Attendance: 1,078
Kick Off Time: 6:00 PM EDT
Final Score: Toronto 5 (3) Minnesota 0 (0)
Match Summary:
Led by three goals from striker Kevin Jeffrey, the Toronto Lynx ended their 2006 USL First Division season on a winning note, defeating the Minnesota Thunder 5-0 at Centennial Park Stadium in Toronto. The Lynx finish the season in 9th place with a record to 8-12-8 (31 points), while Minnesota fell to 7-14-6 (27 points). The match was the second meeting between the two teams this season, with the Thunder taking the previous match 3-0 in St. Paul on August 10.
In a match designated as “Guaranteed Win Night” for the Lynx fans, Toronto did not disappoint. The Lynx controlled the possession and pace of the game early, and benefited from an error by Thunder goalkeeper Joe Warren. A giveaway in the 10th minute deep in Minnesota territory lead to an acrobatic goal by Kevin Jeffrey. Five minutes later, a Jamie Dodds free kick deflected off defender Dustin Branan for an own goal. Kevin Jeffrey would add another goal before the end of halftime with a superb individual effort, sprinting past a lunging defender and to fire a low shot into the far side of the goal. Toronto out shot Minnesota 7-3 in the first half.
In the second half, Toronto scored two nearly identical goals on set plays. In the 58th minute, Jamie Dodds took a corner kick from the left side which was met by Kevin Jeffrey who headed the ball in from close range. Then in the 73rd minute, another corner taken by Dodds from the left found Damian Pottinger alone at the near post, who headed the ball in from 2 yards. The five-goal output was the most scored by Toronto since June 6, 2004 against Puerto Rico.
Notes: The Lynx presented their annual player awards prior to tonight’s match. Public Relations Award - Chris Williams; Best Offensive Player - Jamie Dodds; Best Defensive Player - Andres Arango; Fan Favourite Award – Matt Palleschi; Most Valuable Player – Rick Titus…… With three goals in today’s match, Kevin Jeffrey tied a franchise record for most goals in a single game. Previous Lynx players with three-goal games were Michele Gioia in the 1997 season, Nikki Vignjevic in 1999, Francisco Dos Santos in 2000, and Ali Gerba in 2004.
Highlights:
5Th Minute: Warren’s short clearance throw is intercepted by Palleschi deep in the Minnesota half. Palleschi carries the ball into the box and centres a pass to Dodds. Covered by two defenders Dodds is unable to get a clear shot so chips the ball left to Jeffrey who performs an acrobatic bicycle kick to put the ball over goalkeeper Warren. LYNX 1, THUNDER 0.
10th Minute: Dodds FK from the left near touchline deflects off defender Dustin Branan for an own goal. LYNX 2, THUNDER 0.
20th Minute: Palleschi’s free kick from 15 years is just high of the net.
23rd Minute: Palleschi takes a pass on the left wing and sprints past Brett Branan toward centre. He tries to chip over the charging goalkeeper, but his shot is over the bar.
25th Minute: Diplacido has a breakaway, but Warren rushes out to block the scoring opportunity.
27th Minute: Dodds hard shot from just outside the box beats a jumping Warren but is over the bar.
29th Minute: Jeffrey’s curling volley from centre goes is wide right.
32nd Minute: Against the run of play, Minnesota gains possession in the Lynx half. Dombrowski’s long range shot is wide right of the goal.
38th Minute: Goddard’s missed clearance attempt goes to Toure, but his weak shot is cleared out of danger by Arango.
39th Minute: Thunder maintain possession in Lynx territory. Winkel’s shot from just outside the box is parried wide by Goddard.
43rd Minute: Jeffrey sprints down the right wing and dekes past Branan’s slide tackle. His quick shot beats Warren into the left side of the net for his second goal of the game. LYNX 3, THUNDER 0.
45th Minute: Lara’s corner kick falls to Dombrowski, whose header is straight on, but hits the crossbar.
*SECOND HALF*
50th Minute: Toure’s high cross from the left wing is caught by Goddard.
51st Minute: Pottinger takes a lead pass near midfield and makes a run through centre. Jeffrey and Neto join the rush to draw off the defenders. Pottinger’s attempt at goal sails high.
55th Minute: Diplacido’s free kick from 20 yards is chested down by Jeffrey who turns and fires a low shot just wide.
57th Minute: Dodd’s in swinging corner kick from the left finds Jeffrey who completes the hat trick with a header right into the top left corner. LYNX 4, THUNDER 0.
58th Minute: Neto sprints down the left wing and chips a shot over Warren, but also over the bar.
59th Minute: Thunder storm back. Lara fires a low hard shot across the goalmouth wide.
59th Minute: Dombrowski’s high pass from the left wing finds 16, but his header is caught by Goddard.
67th Minute: Mattacchione sends a lead pass to a sprinting Neto on the left wing who rushes into the box. His low hard shot beats Warren but hits the post.
72nd Minute: Another left corner kick from Dodds that finds a Lynx player at the near post. Pottinger head the ball in from two yards. LYNX 5, THUNDER 0.
73rd Minute: Lara’s high cross over Goddard picks out Toure, but his header from a wide angle goes into the side netting.
79th Minute: Tenoff chips a pass over defender Titus for Brisson, but he can’t corral the high pass and his lunging kick hits the ball right at Goddard who makes the save.
84th Minute: Minnesota on a counterattack. The ball bounces to Dombrowski who one-times a shot from 20 yards that goes wide left.
89th Minute: Lynx make a rush down the left. Neto centres to Dodds at the top of the box, who misfires and his attempt at goal is well wide.
Final Score: Toronto 5 (3) Minnesota 0 (0)
Lineups:
Toronto: Richard Goddard, Rick Titus, Andres Arango, Chris Williams, Edgar Bartolomeu (Bedenikovic, 55), Robbie Aristodemo (Joe Mattacchione 45’), Gordon Chin (Osni Neto 45’), Jamie Dodds, David Diplacido (Medwin, 63), Kevin Jeffrey, Matthew Palleschi (Damian Pottinger 45’)
Minnesota: Joe Warren, Brett Branan (Wilson, 70), Chad Dombrowski, Dustin Branan, Frederico Juarez, Chris Brisson (Platter, 86), Godfrey Tenoff, Kiki Lara, Nate Winkel, Ansu Toure
Officials: Referee: Carol Anne Chenard Referee’s Assistants: Denise Robinson, Amato DeLuca Fourth Official: Stephen DePiero Cautions: Toronto: 1 (Titus, 14; Jeffrey, 58) Minnesota: 2 (Juarez, 14; Toure 14) Ejections: Toronto: 0 Minnesota: 0 Shots: Toronto 13 (7), Minnesota 10 (3) Saves: Toronto 2 (1), Minnesota 1 (1) Fouls: Toronto 8 (5), Minnesota 8 (4) Offsides: Toronto 7 (4), Minnesota 2 (0) Corners: Toronto 4 (1), Minnesota 4 (2) Scorers: Toronto: Jeffrey (Dodds) 5th minute Jeffrey (unassisted) 43rd minute Jeffrey (Dodds) 58th minute Pottinger (Dodds) 73’ Minnesota: D. Branan (own goal) 10’ FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: ROB IRWIN, MEDIA RELATIONS 416-251-4625 ext. 23
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