Hampton Roads outshot Toronto Saturday night 14-9 and still lost the match 2-1. This was the third straight match Hampton Roads has lost by the same score.
The Mariners had much of the play in the first half scoring first seventeen and a half minutes in with a blast from Sean Callahan that beat Toronto keeper Theo Zagar. Toronto tied it up at 31 minutes when Nikola Budalic who was clearly offside, got a shot past Mariner goalkeeper Tim Figureido. The half ended 1-1.
The Mariners threatened time after time but couldn't finish their chances. The front-line, recently rebuilt with forwards Steve Butcher and Ricardo Villar dominated the play. Villar, open in the box, was taken down and couldn't get his shot off. Butcher got open at 24:35 but shot over the crossbar. Villar was wide open just feet in front of the net but again hit it high over the bar; minutes later he was open again but his shot cleared the crossbar.
Toronto went ahead for good at the 71:02 mark when Elvis Thompson caught a pass at the top of the box. Figureido challenged and Thomas went down. Mariner defender Ian Checcio desperately chased the ball as it rolled into the net. Thomas was knocked out on the play, but regained consciousness before being removed from the field on a stretcher.
"For all the pressure we put on them, we didn't get it done," said head coach Shawn McDonald.
The Mariners almost tied the score in the final minutes on a header by Butcher and a booming shot by midfielder Arron Lujan. But both shots were saved by Zagar.
The Mariners host Charleston Tuesday night April 30, at the Virginia Beach Sportsplex at 7 p.m.
Scoring summary: 1 2 OT OT F
Toronto 1 1 2
Hampton Roads 1 0 1
Players: Hampton Roads
Tim Figureido,. Gary Brooks (Keith Donohue 86), Ian Checcio, Darren Warham (Rich Hansen 29), Kevin Knott, Sean Michael Callahan, Guillermo Henriques (Arron Lujan 58), Jeff Dominguez, Mark Rowland, Ricardo Villar (Cecil Lewis 66), Steven Butcher.
Shots:14; Saves 3, Fouls 14, Corner Kicks 3, Offsides 3, Penalty Kicks (None), Cautions (None), Ejections (None).
Players: Toronto
Theo Zagar, Mario Reda, Mauricio Vincello (David Displacido 17), Milan Kajic, Adrian Serious, Brian Ashton, Robbie Aristodemo, Nikola Vianjevic, Shawn Faria (David Mattacchione 66), Nickola Budalic, Irasto Knight (Thomas 66, Santillano 77)
Shots: 6, Saves 4, Fouls 9, Corner Kicks 3, Offsides 10, Penalty Kicks (none), Cautions ( Kojic 34, Santillara 79), Ejections (None)
