2005 Jul 16

Toronto Lynx 2-1 Seattle Sounders
Centennial Stadium, Toronto, Ontario

Toronto: Theo Zagar; Andres Arango, Rick Titus, Nigel Henry; Robbie Aristodemo, David Diplacido, Jamie Dodds, Sita-Taty Matondo (Said Ali 56'), Rumba Munthali; Sean Fraser (Joe Mattacchione 82'), Charles Gbeke (Wyn Belotte 72'). Substitutes not used: Richard Goddard, Huffman El Tabe, Abraham François, Robin Hart.

Seattle: Preston Burpo; Taylor Graham, Ryan Edwards, Zach Scott, Billy Sleeth (Brent Whitfield 46'); Kevin Sakuda, CJ Klaas, Ben Somoza (Jake Sagare 46'), Andrew Gregor (Gabe Sturm 78'); Roger Levesque, Welton. Substitute not used: James Ward.

Goals:
21' TOR - Gbeke (Dodds)
81' TOR - Belotte
90' SEA - Welton


Additional match reports: Toronto fan Rob Lynch, Lynx.

Match report from the Sounders:

The Seattle Sounders run of bad luck north of the border continued as they dropped a 2-1 decision to the last place Toronto Lynx Saturday before 1,811 at Centennial Park. The Sounders are 0-1-3 (W-D-L) in their last four matches in Canada dating back to last season's championship match.

Once again a slow start nearly doomed the Sounders in the game's opening minutes. Only the right post denied the Lynx Sean Fraser from scoring in the 11th minute. But ten minutes later there was no post to deny Charles Gbeke from eight yards out after he took a cross from Jamie Dodds and sent the ball under the right arm of a diving Preston Burpo.

Toronto kept their foot on the accelerator and continued to attack the Seattle goal throughout the remainder of the first half. Twice Burpo was forced to parry shots over the crossbar including a Nigel Henry header off a corner kick in the 45th minute.

Even a chance to regroup at halftime couldn't turn the tide for the Sounders. Toronto continued its relentless attack, forcing Burpo into four more sprawling saves including stopping Henry again on a penalty kick in the 69th minute after a questionable foul was called on Seattle inside the 18-yard box. Meanwhile, the Sounders offense sputtered as they continuously failed to penetrate through a stifling Lynx defense.

Toronto finally iced their first home win in the 88th minute as Wyn Belotte took a throw-in off the left touch line, muscled his way across the top of the penalty box and beat Burpo with a left-footed strike to the right post from 17 yards.

Seattle avoided the shutout when Welton tallied his fourth goal of the season in stoppage time by powering a strike past Theo Zagar from 16 yards after a strong run down the left side.

Statistics:
         Toronto    Seattle
Shots:      18         9
Saves:       3         8
Corners:     5         1
Fouls:      16        12
Offsides:    5         2

Misconduct:
23' TOR - Matondo cautioned
69' SEA - Gregor cautioned
81' TOR - Belotte cautioned
85' SEA - Levesque cautioned

Referees: D Scali; Denise Robinson, Michael Lambert; Silvio Petrescu

Attendance: 1,811