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Austin Aztex FC earn 1-1 draw against defending USL-1 champion Vancouver Whitecaps

April 21, 2009 - USL First Division (USL-1)
Austin Aztex News Release


AUSTIN, Texas - The Austin Aztex FC and the Vancouver Whitecaps came into the mid-week matchup at Nelson Field each seeking its first respective victory of the season. Instead of earning three points, both came away with a point each in a hard-fought 1-1 draw.

On an unseasonably warm spring evening in the Texas capital city, the home squad came out the more aggressive team in the early minutes of the contest. Despite being the aggressor, the Aztex had little to show for it and was unable to get any real good chances in the Vancouver end near goalkeeper Jay Nolly. The Whitecaps never seriously threatened Aztex goalkeeper Miguel Gallardo either in the first 15 minutes. In the 18th minute, Vancouver found some offense, in an unorthodox way. In what appeared to be an innocuous throw-in near the Aztex corner, midfielder Wes Knight ran up and lofted a deep toss to the middle of the 6-yard box in front of the Aztex goal. The Aztex defense, the crowd, and even the Vancouver bench acted in somewhat disbelief when Knight's toss found unmarked defender, Marco Reda, who headed the ball past Gallardo, who had little to no time to react.

Not surprisingly, the Whitecaps' score jumpstarted the visitors, who then put together a sustained offensive attack over the course of the next 10 minutes. In the 24th minute, Vancouver nearly added to its total when a corner kick was sent into the middle of the pitch by Marcus Haber. Several Aztex defenders attempted to punch the ball away from danger, but the Whitecaps maintained possession and served the ball back into the middle. Just in front of the Austin goal, Vancouver forward Charles Gbeke slid hard in front of Gallardo and deflected the ball on goal, but just over the crossbar.

Following the halftime break down 1-0, the home side once again came out the aggressor. Just two minutes in and forward Sullivan Silva streaked up the right side before sending in a cross to the top of the box and fellow striker Eddie Johnson. Johnson settled the ball, then fired a rocket that sailed over the crossbar. In the 50th minute, the Aztex once again nearly tied the game when Silva dropped off the ball to Yordany Alvarez, received it back, then delivered a cross to the big man in the middle, Gifton Noel-Williams, who had subbed in for Kyle Brown to start the second half. The ball somehow managed to find its way through to Noel-Williams, who right-footed the ball down to the ground, but just outside of the near post.

In the 57th minute, Vancouver Captain Martin Nash almost had a Goal of the Year nominee. Following an errant pass from the Aztex offense at midfield, Nash never hesitated and drove the ball high in the night sky from the 50-yard line. Aztex keeper Gallardo retreated from his position at the edge of the 18-yard box toward his net. The ball and Gallardo arrived simultaneously. Gallardo went into the net as the ball sailed just over the top of the crossbar.

The Whitecaps once again put a scare into the home side and the 1,549 in attendance in the 73rd minute when Gbeke launched a shot at Gallardo, who made a one-handed diving save to his right. The ball returned back to Gbeke, who slid over to his left, then fired another shot, which Gallardo then secured to end the threat.

The Aztex had several opportunities late in the game but were unable to capitalize and had to settle for a 1-1 tie.

Aztex head coach said he was disappointed with the team's first half, but saw progress in the second. "The shape looked better and we were more of a threat in the second. We had a couple great chances. I thought we would win. But we just played the defending champs and this should give us a good feel of the league."

Whitecaps boss Teitur Thordarson was not happy with the result, especially coming in as the defending USL-1 champs. "We should've scored so many times in the first. We had great chances. This field is difficult to play on. The second half was a disappointment."

When asked about the team's 0-1-1 start, Thordarson expressed more discontent with his team's overall performance in its first three games. "This is not a good enough start for us. We are going to have to do better if we want to defend our title."



USL First Division Stories from April 21, 2009


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