Austin Midfielder Yordany Alvarez Powers Aztex Past Islanders 3-1

May 29, 2009 - USL First Division (USL-1)
Austin Aztex News Release


AUSTIN, Texas - With the team down key forwards and new faces in the lineup, the Aztex needed someone to step up to lead the offense.

Yordany Alvarez got the message.

Alvarez tallied two goals and an assist to lead the Aztex (2-2-3, 9 points) to a 3-1 victory over Puerto Rico (2-3-3, 9 points) Friday in front of 2,019 fans at Nelson Field.

"Personally, this was really important," Alvarez said through a Spanish translator. "I'm getting confidence and I need that confidence."

Alvarez's two-goal night pushes his season goal total to three, all of which have come against Puerto Rico. Alvarez said he's spent time in Puerto Rico before and knows a few players on the team. Head coach Adrian Heath had a different reason for Alvarez's success against the Islanders.

"It must have been those bongo drums or something," Heath joked.

Whatever the reason, Alvarez's play sparked a team with a depleted front line and in need of offense. Late in the first half, with the game going back and forth between the two sides, Jeff Harwell, a recent U23 callup to deal with the team's injuries, sent in a bending cross to the box where Alvarez found position against a defender and made just enough contact to send the ball straight to the ground, skipping by Islanders goalkeeper Bill Gaudette.

The goal put Austin ahead and tilted an evenly-matched half in favor of the Aztex.

Alvarez pushed the lead wider in the 52nd minute by sending in a corner kick to the middle of the box to find an unmarked Lyle Adams wide open. Adams finished off the play with a header that found its way past the keeper and doubled the Aztex lead, 2-0.

Not out of it yet, the Islanders struck back less than 10 minutes later off a similar corner kick. Sandy Gbandi sent in a ball to Cristian Arrieta who leaped over the Aztex defender to send the ball past the Austin goalkeeper Miguel Gallardo.

But Alvarez put the game away in the 86th minute when a counter attack found him with plenty of space on the right side. Alvarez chipped the ball over the charging Gaudette for his second goal and seventh point of the night.

Austin's 3-1 victory gives the team a much-needed three points in the standings, tying them with Puerto Rico for sixth. It is the second time in the franchise's short history that the Aztex have scored three goals and their second victory.

"He's got a lot of talent," Heath said of Alvarez. "If he listens and works hard and he has a little bit of luck, he's got a big future ahead of him."

The victory comes at an important time for the Aztex, who have been hobbled in the last few weeks with injuries and work permit issues. Hit the hardest has been the team's front line with Gifton Noel-Williams (hamstring) and Sullivan Silva (ankle) both out with injuries. Eddie Johnson is currently in England waiting for his work permit to make its way through the English system, leaving the Aztex with only one outright forward on the roster.

"We needed a win," Alvarez said. "I'm extremely happy."

To fill the roster holes, the Aztex called up Harwell from the U23 squad and signed Real Salt Lake's Jean Alexandre on a free loan. Both played Friday and impressed Heath in their performances.

"I've pleased with the effort they've put in," Heath said. "They've now got a little bit of a reward."



USL First Division Stories from May 29, 2009


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