Drab Draw for Rhinos and Lynx in Can-Am Cup

 

J-P Altieri & Keith Kiedrowski,
a-league.com Match Reporters
Rochester

ROCHESTER, NY, June 13, 2003 – The Toronto Lynx are boring. We’re not being facetious or mean, just honest. The Rhinos, on the other hand, fell right under Toronto’s spell and proceeded to allow a drab match go for over 110 minutes Wednesday evening at Frontier Field.

The backdrop was overcast and muggy and rain began falling midway through the first half. Rochester defender Carlos Mendes tried a lob shot from near the box in the 11’, and Lynx ‘keeper James Kryger made a routine save, except his whole body was in the goal. Fortunately for Toronto, he had the presence of mind to keep the ball out. This play dictated the first half. Rochester strong-armed Toronto into their own end, where the Lynx appeared to nest down and allow Rochester to build and ultimately fire weak and low or high and wide repeatedly.

Toronto’s 5 shots were mostly harmless, as Rhinos ‘keeper Bill Andracki was able to make short use of most Lynx crosses near the goalmouth.

The second half started with Rochester making 3 substitutions. They still managed to press forward, but with much less urgency and control compared to what they displayed in the first half. Hayes nearly converted for Rochester in the 51’ on a Mladenov feed, but his shot sailed harmlessly over the bar.

Rochester earned a corner kick in the 55’, and although nothing came of it, the ensuing possession in Toronto’s defensive third produced the Rhinos’ only goal of the match in the 60’. Mladenov sent a ball into the Toronto goal box, where Steenkamp headed towards the net. A melee of sorts ensued, where Lynx defenders attempted to clear and Rhinos forwards tried to convert. A rebound came out to Rochester forward Viktor Paco, who immediately dished the ball back to an on-rushing Kirk Wilson, a second half sub, who blasted the ball into the upper corner of the Toronto goal, to the left of Kryger, well beyond his reach.

The Rhinos showed several more flashes of brilliance that nearly buried the Lynx, but they couldn’t convert. When Toronto won a corner in the 76’, it appeared that the Rochester defense, which had been solid all evening, would make short use of Toronto’s rare spell of offense. To the contrary, a missed marking by the defense left a rebound wide open to Lynx forward Sebastian Barclay inside the Rochester 6 yard-box, where he converted for the equalizer.

Extra time produced few chances as the teams conceded to play out to a draw. Both extra halves produced more negative soccer than the match could handle, which was a drab affair from the kickoff.

Goal Summary