Back In First Place

Rhinos Beat Lowly Lynx to Take a One-point Advantage in Division

J-P Altieri,
a-league.com Match Reporter
Rochester

ROCHESTER, NY, August 5, 2003 – In a game marred by slow play and fouls, the Rochester Rhinos found a way to finish off the Toronto Lynx without relinquishing a late goal to a weaker opponent. Recently, this trend caused a 3-game winless streak for the Rhinos, something uncommon for the perennial Northeast Division powerhouse.

The game’s tone appeared to be quick at the onset, with the Rhinos pressuring immediately from the kickoff and nearly taking the lead in the 8’ off a long throw-in and chip in front of Lynx ‘keeper Theo Zagar. Unfortunately, as is the case with most matches between these two sides, the game quickly slid into a lull and neither team looked as if it wanted to take control of the match.

A couple of threats by Toronto forward Alt Ngon were turned away brilliantly by Rochester ‘keeper Bill Andracki around the 30’ mark, and the pace seemed to quicken a little for the Rhinos. In the 32’, forward Ian Fuller was given a gift from Zagar in the form of a rebound of his own shot, which he buried into the far post side of the Toronto goal. Zagar could only lay and watch as the fruit of his efforts went for null.

A couple of cautions to Toronto players were really the only highlight for the Lynx in the first half, as they only were able to muster 3 shots. Rochester didn’t fare much better, only getting 4 on target.

The second half produced more of the same as far as fouls and lazy play were concerned. Second half Rhinos substitute Fred Commodore had a nice combo pass with forward Doug Miller in the 71’, but Commodore lost the handle on the ball as he was approaching the Toronto goal and a clearly out-of-position Zagar.

Toronto again failed to build any kind of real pressure on the Rhinos and went a man down in the 82’ when defender Adrian Serioux, carded only 21 minutes earlier, was given a red card. His sideline antics and refusal to leave the pitch and then the players’ tunnel were the only real action the Lynx provided in a rather drab affair. It wasn’t pretty, but the Rhinos got the full 3 points from the contest and are now one point ahead of idle Montreal.