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Austin wraps up two-game road trip with disappointing 3-0 loss at Carolina

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


CARY, North Carolina - Early in the match against the visiting Austin Aztex, Carolina's speedy forward Gregory Richardson sent in a low cross to a wide-open Joseph Kabwe, who with no defenders around, slipped before sending his shot harmlessly to the right of the post.

If at first you don't succeed...

Just before halftime, the Richardson-to-Kabwe connection didn't fail a second time as Kabwe handled the pass better this time around and sent in a goal past Austin goalkeeper Sam Reynolds in what turned out to be a convincing 3-0 victory for Carolina (11-5-3, 36 points).

The Aztex (3-11-7, 14 points), who concluded a two-game road swing through the Carolinas including a 1-0 loss on Thursday at Charleston, struggled to solve a tough Carolina midfield and couldn't contain the lightning-quick Richardson.

Austin's best stretch of play came halfway through the second half, when the Aztex offense showed some aggression.

Richardson, somehow managed to turn that offensive energy in Carolina's favor as he unleashed a one-man counterattack that eventually resulted in a free kick from 25 yards out. On the set piece in the 69th minute, the ball bounced around in the box before it caromed off Austin's Gareth Evans for an own goal and a 2-0 RailHawks advantage.

Austin responded as Mike Callahan, who was playing in his hometown in front of a vocal group of followers, sent in a cross that found a leaping Gifton Noel-Williams for a header that sailed just wide for what would be Austin's best chance the rest of the match.

But another Richardson solo counterattack off the ensuing play that almost resulted in another Kabwe goal killed the brief Aztex flurry.

To close out the night's scoring, Carolina's Luke Kreamalmeyer made a run in the 85th minute to track down a long ball that caught the Austin backline off guard. Kreamalmeyer sent in an unselfish ball to Andriy Budnyy who sent it past Reynolds for the final 3-0 score.

The goal capped off an impressive performance by the home side and pushed the RailHawks' cumulative scoreline in its last three home games to 9-1. Meanwhile, Austin has now failed to earn a point in its last four road games, scoring only one goal in that same stretch.

The Aztex head back to Austin for a few days of training before returning to the east coast and a match next Saturday night in Rochester.



USL First Division Stories from August 1, 2009


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