Super-20 Finals Round-Up
Saturday, July 23, 2011
By NICHOLAS MURRAY
BRANDON, Fla. – The Toronto Lynx got a goal and assist from Nicolas Harster to defeat the Northern Virginia Royals 3-1 and earn the second-place wild card into the semifinals, finishing as the only group runner-up with two victories.
Toronto struck early, Harster giving his side the lead within the first 10 minutes as a well-worked passing move from a throw-in on the right put Ryan McLeod in on the right side of the penalty area and his low cross found Harster at the far post for the finish. That would be the only goal of the first half, although both sides came close to finding the back of the net before the break.
Northern Virginia almost had an equalizer when Yemane Berhane’s shot went just over from 25 yards, while Toronto had a late chance for Stephen Fattore well saved. The Lynx also had a great chance to double their lead early in the second half when Terence Smith found a way through the defense, only to be denied.
The Lynx would double their lead when Brandon Wellington scored from close range from Fattore’s cross. While the Royals pulled a goal back inside the last 10 minutes through a fine finish by Luis Cartagena after he latched onto an excellent pass by Timur Salah, the Lynx would hit back moments later when Harster set up Mbeki Johnson as the Royals defense tired in the warm morning sun.
“Last night we brought a good game and today, it was really the first time we’ve played in the heat so it took a lot out of us, but we think we’ve got enough to compete,” Lynx coach Duncan Wilde said.
The Lynx will face group-winner Lower Merion in this evening’s semifinals. The first meeting between the two teams on Thursday night saw Lower Merion come away with a pair of late goals for a 2-0 victory, but Wilde believes his side will be prepared for anything.
“Whoever we get is going to be quality now,” Wilde said. “It becomes an endurance test now with the second game today and then tomorrow hopefully if we’re in, but the boys are enjoying it.”
LOWER MERION 3, BEACHSIDE 0: Lower Merion completed its perfect run through the group stage as Stephen Baker, Peter Janelli and Juan Munoz all found the back of the net and Dylan Bowman had a pair of assists in its victory.