"It's funny", mused assistant Les Anning at an upstate New York eatery following the Lynx 2-0 loss to Rochester on August the 24th. "Such a strong season for us, and now it all comes down to the last game."
Relatively speaking, at least in terms of the W-L-T factor, the Toronto Lynx haven't had a season to numerical compete with clubs like Charleston, Seattle, or Milwaukee. Realistically, this wasn't really meant to be the point; Toronto came into the 2002 season with one goal in mind, to make the A-league post-season. This has been a year of rebuilding for the proud Lynx. In that respect it's been an extremely successful one.
As a team, their stats have swelled in all the right places. Mighty Theo Zagar has once again found himself amongst the league's elite goalkeepers, again finding his form and his "#1". (Months ago, I had asked "Super-Theo" why he had abandoned 2001's #22 for the more traditional #1 marking: "2001 wasn't my greatest season, and I wanted to put that behind me. I came into this league wearing #1, and now I'm going to reclaim it for myself and for the team.") A little superstition can be a powerful motivator.
With the return of Milan Kojic on the backline, easily one of the most feared fullbacks in the league, the rip-snorting style of Mauricio Vincello, Adrian Serioux, and Joe Mattacchione has been complimented to a science. Understudy Matt Rosenfeld, while not receiving the match time required to bring him along gloriously, has shown moments of promise, most noticeably in the exhibition match against Munich 1860 back in mid-May.
In the midfield, the reclaiming of viper-like Nikola Vignjevic has been nothing short of a Godsend. Owner Bruno Hartrell commented, "when Peter (Pinizzotto, GM/coach) came to me pre-season and said he was thinking of bringing Nikola back on, I couldn't raise a single point in argument. There is no one in this league more dangerous on the outside of the 18-yard box, free kick or otherwise. He's always played great for us, and we're very glad to have him back." Alongside Vignjevic's reptilian grace, we've seen the emergence of utility man Shawn Faria partnered with either steely Brian Ashton or David DiPlacido. These three have created a flesh-and-bone citadel in the midfield, erected to allow safe passage on either wing for the aforementioned Vignjevic or Mercurial Robbie Aristodemo, 2001's A-league's Rookie of the Year. So much has already been written about Toronto's Little Dragon, and his future is such that the trend will unquestionably continue. As the Lynx continue to develop, so does the speeding local hero that wears #10. Currently injured Elvis Thomas has also been a solid contributor, and Peruvian Julio Penalillo has worked fantastically with adaptability as an alternate for the starting line.
Toronto's proverbial fly-in-the-ointment, at least as far as 2001 was concerned, is goalscoring. This season, a complete retooling and overhaul has made that a thing of the past. At a marker of 37 for the season so far, they sit in the top third of the league for goal output. Some growing pains put aside (the hiring and quick release of unfortunate Steve Butcher and Diego Santilliana), the Lynx have found their numbers and conviction in rookie Niki Budalic. With an impressive 12-goals (4th in the league), he has been the venom in Toronto's bite since game one. Let's face facts, 2001 gave the rookie hardware to Aristodemo, and I sincerely doubt its 2002 counterpart will be leaving Southern Ontario for this year's winner. Still emerging yet already playing like a striker beyond his years, Niki has rapidly become a feared sniper around the league and an immediate hometown favorite; his arrival has been like a canteen in the Sahara.
Although Irasto Knights has not exactly been the power finisher originally expected (1G, 2A), there lies a true sense of conviction in his attacking prowess. 'Oba' plays like a man possessed, with sinewy resolve and excruciating effort. Were awards handed down to "most crossbars and posts hit", here's your man. Some of the pressure on the Trinidadian has been lifted with the arrival of Ryan Lucas, a giraffe of a forward with a flare for the quick goal and blazing kick.
The Lynx, looking for some insurance, brought Lucas in late in the season with a few other interesting hopefuls: Toronto born midfielder Atiba Hutchinson, Czech Antonin Plachy, and former Riverhounds sub Ali Ngon. While all are still developing (Hutchinson is a mere 19 years old) or settling, they give some quality bench strength to a team that seemed to have no luck with the concept this time last year. All have been put under contract until the end of the 2003 season.
Taking all of this into consideration, the Lynx berth into the 2002 playoffs comes down their final game. They sit with 45 points in the Eastern conference, holding onto the 6th and final playoff spot for their region. Until a week ago, their position was comfortable and seemingly unattainable to all those beneath. However, two unlikely and inspired back-to-back victories by chasing Charlotte (over the Richmond Kickers) put them within a 2-point breath of the Lynx.
This brings us back to Anning's original lamentation about it all coming down to that final fixture. The scenarios here are tense and boldly laid out in the coldest of fashions. To be as safe as possible, Toronto need to roll over the visiting Silverbacks on the 30th. Even if Charlotte pulls off a 5-point game against Rochester (at Frontier Field, no less), an extremely unlikely scenario all-around, the Lynx will still be through with a mere, but gloriously important, point in hand. Should Toronto tie visiting Atlanta and take only a single point, the Lynx must hope for a Charlotte loss or tie. Ditto if Toronto loses their final match of the season as well; Charlotte simply cannot walk away victorious. "It's a playoff game, simple as that" deadpanned Pinizzotto.
This is the stuff legends are made of. Two thoroughbred teams neck in neck, final game of the season, a minor smattering of points between them in the quest for cup glory. Embrace this A-league fans, this is what the sport is, and ultimately all sports are, about. Forget everything else, this is here and now. A playoff-game indeed, Peter.
Implausibly, Ultras all throughout Centennial Park will be muttering to themselves "go Rochester."
