July 1, 2009 PDL FC London vs Toronto Lynx (from fclondon.ca site)
FC London Wins on Canada Day
July 2nd 2009
They knew what they had to do, they knew why they were there, they knew that a win in this game would be more important than most others. The boys of Forest City London weren’t just playing for their fans or themselves they were playing for one of their own. Earlier this week Londoner and FC London defender Todd Rutledge’s father past away suddenly. Wearing their black arm bands in memoriam the squad wanted to provide him some relief with a win. Little did they know how difficult that would be.
On Canada Day, July 1, 2009, FC London faced the Toronto Lynx, a team currently ranked in last place, but tougher and faster than perhaps the Londoners assumed. For most of the first half FC London’s attack was suppressed time and again and Toronto seemed to gain one too many close calls. The conditions were also not ideal with rain making the already slippery TD Waterhouse turf near impossible to navigate on.
Midway through the first FC London appeared to get some breathing room when Kevin Zimmerman put a header by the goalie but it was declared offside and play resumed, not before some angry shouts from the crowd of over 1,300. In the end the heroics would come from Alan McGreal, Carl Haworth and Haris Cekic. At the 55 minute Cekic sent a ball in on the right which found Haworth who struck a shot directly across the net when McGreal headed the ball into the netting. It was picture perfect and it would be all the team would need as they won with a final score of 1-0.
Also what kept London alive during the game was the settling down of the defense in the second half. Sebastian Stihler got subbed in as Jovan Ivanovich was forced to retire injured. From then on Stihler took over and forced back many strong Lynx attacks, specifically by Lynx forward Jordan Webb who came close on several chances.
Quotable: “It was messy soccer, with both teams having trouble with the elements and they are a tough team. Overall we got the win and we all really wanted it for Todd’s sake. We weren’t the better team in the first half but we never gave up and that’s the key when playing with such high emotion.” –FC London Head Coach Martin Painter
FC LONDON now go on the road for 4 away games, 2 in Indiana and games in Chicago and Kalamazoo. Once these games are over, the writing should be on the wall as to who is playoff bound.
FOREST CITY LONDON’s next home game is on Sunday July 12th at TD Waterhouse Stadium at 3:30 in the afternoon. They will be playing the Fort Wayne Fever and will be hoping to wrap up their final two home games with consecutive wins. Tickets are now available online or at the FC London store on Richmond Street downtown. . Www.fclondon.ca >Tickets (519) 902 7120
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