Toronto Lynx: 1, Minnesota Thunder: 2
Starting Lineups:
Toronto- Zagar, Williams, Francois (SUB: Simpson, 46th min), Arango, Hart (SUB:
Titus, 46th min), Matondo (SUB: Munthali, 60th min), Aristodemo (SUB: Dekker,
83rd min), Huffman, Dodds, Mattachione, Ali (SUB: Fraser, 46th min).
Minnesota- Platter, Knox, Dombrowski C., Brunt, Juarez, Tenoff, Alberts, Lara
(SUB: Friedland, 79th min), Matteo, Menyongar (SUB: Paye, 70th), Schmidt (SUB:
Dombrowski T, 60th min).
(Centennial Park Stadium, Toronto) The 70th minute substitution of Aaron Paye
was the difference in the W or L column in Toronto’s last home game of the 2005
campaign. On the pitch for 9-minutes, the tenacious forward closed the Lynx
hopes of a positive home-stand result with a scorching blast from the left
flank that screamed through the goal mouth and poked into the right side for
his 7th of the year. There was also a complete goalkeeping clinic put on at
either end, with stellar, fearless showings by Toronto’s Zagar and the
Thunder’s back-up, Nick Platter.
Minnesota’s other goal was provided in the 40th minute by Chad Dombrowski on a
low solo-run effort, while Toronto responded in the 65th with a hard worked,
close-range tap that actually banked in off Kiki Lara’s exposed cleats (despite
not being officially listed as an own goal).
Both squads started cautious of one another, with Toronto criss-crossing
tentative penetration on the wings, while Minnesota went for the probing
through ball up the middle to attempt springing either power-vet Menyongar or
Tenoff. Had Toronto’s Arango not marked the Thunder mainstay so furiously (not
to mention the head-on bravery of Zagar), the Minnesota scoring leader would’ve
had more numbers to fill out his already impressive stats in the upper echelon
of USL Goals-For.
Being the Thunder’s first ever visit, there was an interesting sense of the
unknown with the stark white kits and unfamiliar names (save in distant match
reports and official league stats) coming to Toronto. The Thunder play exactly
like what they are, a squad of tightly knit personnel that can read one
another’s collective psyche and fuel a momentum of effective logical football.
(Looking at the team roster, they must remain the most unchanged squad from the
2004 season; obviously, these lads know how to play together and respond to
Coach Lagos).
>From Toronto’s perspective, the evening marked somewhat of an experiment; the
start for some who had spent most of the season either on the IJ list or as
late game substitutes. Without Coach Busby saying so, it was obvious this was a
proving ground for some of the more unknown names in the TO ranks and, dare I
say, with little left to lose this season. Acquitting his inclusion nicely was
Robin Hart, playing his fullback role with a controlled dynamic and pinching on
the offense as dictated by opportunity.
Let’s face it, the Lynx have (in many examples) been saddled with players for
no other reason than bum-trades or lack of availability for anyone better. (Why
2004’s Brit sparkplug Darren Baxter couldn’t crack the squad is still beyond
many Toronto-faithful). Soft spoken and patient, Coach Busby addressed this
after the game diplomatically: “today there was a lot of what we’ve seen all
season, an inexperienced, green bunch of guys that unfortunately showed some
lack of focus at times. Hopefully, the younger guys will learn from that, and
it will show them what it takes to play in this league. There’s a thin line
between success and failure, and far too often this season we’ve fallen on the
wrong side of that line.”
The second half showed more attacking promise than the first for the Lynx, with
breathlessly close moments provided by a stalking Huffman (72nd min), and
Fraser’s redirected header at the top of the goal box in the 84th that swished
inches clear of the right post. But all attacks were thwarted by either the
Thunder’s sardine-packing of the goal box or magnificent stoppage by ‘keeper
Platter, who proved he’s got more than just an aquiline mohawk.
In the other defensive end, Zagar had a suicidally brave moment seconds after
Paye’s inclusion, when the striker rolled in alone and the Toronto GK literally
pulled the stricken ball from his feet with a deft two-handed snatch.
Alas, it was not enough for the hometown Lynx to stay in the game, and Toronto
ended their frustratingly painful 2005 home stand with another all too familiar
one-goal loss.
Cryptically, Coach Busby also added “it’s never too early to start looking at
changes for next season.”
What is to be said about a season that began with such immense promise and
flopped so unmitigatingly? As was sung many times early in the year, this is a
team that had such potential it would’ve been completely unfathomable to think
they would end this dismally. Unannounced and almost sinister, the shedding of
players as the season went on (Conrad Smith, Winston Griffiths, David
DiPlacido, Ali Gerba, Charles Gbeke) left the supporters (and most media, in
truth) in a state of quizzical dizziness. While definite argument can be made
about the horrendous 6-game road start for Toronto (one of the numerous issues
in playing at a city-owned facility), and the squad crippling long-term
injuries of Edgar Bartolomeu and Nigel Henry (sorely missed professionals
both), there are enough quality players on the Lynx to build a truly
competitive team around. Whether this is a personnel availability issue, a
problem of funds, both or neither, it still seems to say one thing: those in
control lack neither the vision nor the apparent interest to make the team a
winning one. Even the quirky attacking play of long-forgotten Irasto Knights or
more-recent Urbain Some would’ve represented something in the way of method, or
at least faith.
Then, until 2006, Go Lynx Go. And if you haven’t heard the Ultras singing the
infectious theme to Spongebob Squarepants, you haven’t yet lived.
The Lynx end their 2005 effort with two away games in Puerto Rico against the
Islanders on September 9th and 11th.
Card Infractions- Toronto: Matondo (YELLOW, 52nd). Minnesota: Knox (YELLOW,
50th).
The 2005 Season Awards were given as follows (well done, lads!): Public
Relations: Rumba Munthali, Fan Favorite: Chris Williams, Defensive Player of
the Year: Andres Arango, Offensive Player of the Year: Sean Fraser, MVP: Jamie
Dodds.
