July 5, 2007 PDL Cleveland Internationals vs Toronto Lynx (from Lynx media release)

TORONTO LYNX GAME REPORT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PRESENTED BY CAW - THE CANADIAN AUTO WORKERS UNION

Lynx Collapse in Cleveland
Fall 3-1 to Internationals

Date: July 5, 2007

Venue: Don Shula Stadium, Cleveland OH

Kick Off Time: 7:00 PM EDT

Final Score: Toronto 1 Cleveland 3

Match Summary:

It was a tale of two halves this evening as the Toronto Lynx fell on the road 3-1 to the host Cleveland Internationals. The Lynx dominated the first half, and took a 1-0 lead into the locker room, but the entire team collapsed in the second half, conceding three goals in a 20-minute span, giving the hosts the victory. The loss drops the Lynx' record to 3-5-3 (12 points) in their inaugural PDL season, while the Internationals improve to 2-7-1 (7 points) on the year. The two clubs meet again on Wednesday afternoon in Toronto to close their season series.

Toronto dominated the game from the opening kick-off, and jumped to a quick lead in the 28th minute. Derek Rios unleashed a mammoth blast from the edge of the penalty area, but was denied by the Cleveland keeper. Red-hot Murphy Wiredu pounced on the rebound, and tapped it home to put the Lynx ahead 1-0. The Lynx continued to control play for the remainder of the half, but were unable to add to their advantage, and went to the break ahead by one.

The Lynx did not maintain their momentum after play resumed in the second half, and the team allowed Cleveland back into the match. The Internationals notched two goals in quick succession early in the half, and took over the game. Steve Gillespie scored his first goal of the year when he tapped home a flicked-on throw-in to tie the match in the 66th minute, closely followed five minutes later by Corey Sipos' fourth of the year. Sipos scored after he corralled a loose ball following a corner kick by the Internationals, giving the hosts their first lead of the evening. Matt Tutich rounded out the scoring for Cleveland in the 86th minute when he forced a turnover deep in Toronto territory and slipped the ball past a stranded Chris Baker in goal for the Lynx.

"Tonight was a very disappointing result for us," said Lynx Head Coach Duncan Wilde. "That's the biggest collapse I've seen from one of my Lynx teams. They beat us to every ball in the second half, and we couldn't get anything started. It was a shame after we had started the match so strongly."

Toronto heads to Grand Rapids for an encounter with the West Michigan Edge on Saturday evening at 7:00 PM before returning home for a three-game home-stand next week. The club will seek to avenge tonight's disappointment on Wednesday afternoon, July 11, when Cleveland visits Centennial Park Stadium at 12:00 PM for the team's annual Youth Day Matinee. The team then finishes their home season with a pair of matches against the Fort Wayne Fever on the weekend, 7:30 PM on Friday July 13 followed by Fan Appreciation Day on Sunday, July 15 at 4:00 PM. Tickets for all three matches can be secured by calling the Lynx ticket hotline at 416-251-4625 x 31 or at the stadium box office two hours prior to kick-off.

Final Score: Toronto 1 (1) Cleveland 3 (0)

Scorers:  
Toronto: 
28’        Wiredu

Cleveland:
66'     Gillespie
71'     Sipos
86'     Tutich

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
ROB IRWIN, DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS, TORONTO LYNX SOCCER CLUB
416-251-4625 ext. 23

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