I'm looking for a word that describes my emotions after watching the Hounds fall 2-0 to the Toronto Lynx. "Disappointment" is the word. I was disappointed in their play, disappointed by the final score, disappointed that only 1,567 fans showed up for the home over.
It's not that the Hounds played badly last night or even looked that bad. They were just flat, didn't adjust their game when they needed to and overall looked like a team on Prozac. There were several reasons for this but in the end the final blame has to be laid on the players themselves.
After the game both Randy Dedini and Coach Tim Carter were quoted as saying that their was no urgency in the Hounds game. That the team was very slow playing the ball into space and this allowed the Toronto defense to get seven and eight guys back each time. Even the fans could sense it.
The game started well for the boys in black in gold under clear skies and a temperature somewhere around the high fifties. They were controlling the ball well and advancing on Toronto's net. The Lynx seemed happy just to contain the Hounds advance and wait for a counterstrike. That counterstrike came in the 16th minute of play. Former Hound Ali Ngon gathered up an errant pass and fed forward Sebastian Barclay who easily beat an outstretched Randy Dedini to put the Lynx up 1 - 0.
Pittsburgh's first true good chance to tie the game up came in the 21st minute. Some sustained possesion leads to a deep cross from Joey Worthen to the head of Corey Woolfolk. Woolfolk's header just flew over the bar and the fully extended Theo Zagar.
Another opportunity came in the 29th minute when wonderkid Thiago Martins was able to turn on his jets and get around his defender. The cross to Joey Worthen on the far side of the goal was a bit over his head however.
Martins would came down the same side again in the 32nd minute and this time under heavy pressure from the Toronto defense took the shoot. It rebounded off a leg and into the outside netting of the Lynx goal. Pittsburgh was unable to do anything with the two corner kicks that followed.
The first half ended with no other good attempts on goal by either side. Toronto looked like they were happy to defend their slim lead and Pittsburgh looked like they just might get one back.
At the beginning of the second half speedy David Flavius replaced Corey Woolfolk. Sadly, that was the last we would see of either player that night.
Martins would get a good driving header off in the 49th minute of play, but it was right at Lynx goalie Theo Zagar. Zagar would have a bit of a tough time handing it but managed to retain hold of the ball.
Zagar also made a good save on a rocket of a shoot from 30 yards out off Gary DePalma's boot in the 63rd minute.
Toronto just sat back and closed down the passing lanes for most of the second half. They did not venture forward much in the second half at all, but when they did they often caught the Pittsburgh defense flat-footed.
Ali Ngon would take a little flick on from about 25 yards out and manage to simply walk through two Pittsburgh defenders. He decided to go straight at Randy Dedini who challenged him at about 16 yards out. Dedini went down and easily stripped the onrushing Ngon of the ball.
Ngon was the Lynx only player up for most of the second half and would have another attempt on goal in the 82nd minute when Dedini bobbled his header.
Pittsburgh had three final chances late in the game. Zagar smothered a wicked shot by Justin Evans from a bad angle in the 63rd minute. In the 74th minute a bit of controversy would lead the last attempt the Hounds would have on the night.
Martins tried to bicycle kick the ball towards the goal from the center of the penalty circle. Toronto's Ryan Lucas threw up his hands to protect his face and clearly handled the ball. He was just inside the penalty area when he touched the ball. The ball was placed in the center of the circle for the resulting free kick. By the time the dust had settled Lucas had a yellow card for dissent. As did Barclay a minute later.
The free kick, taken by Ricardo Villar, dinged off the crossbar and went out.
Pittsburgh's Brent Jacquette would take a free kick in extra time that was easily saved by Zagar.
Injury time proved to be the most exciting part of the game. It seemed obvious that Referee Ricardo Salazar had started to lose control of the game somewhere around the 71st minute. He issued five yellow cards in the second half, two in extra time.
I have to be honest and let you know that I don't know how Toronto scored their second goal. My head was down as I wrote up some notes, and when I looked up I saw Toronto's Elvis Thomas with his arms outstretched.
The final whistle blew before Dedini could get the ball out of the back of his net.
For official stats please see the Riverhounds site at www.riverhounds.com
