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Aztex Battle to Second Consecutive Draw Against Tampa Bay

May 19, 2010 - U.S. Soccer Federation D-2 (USSF D-2)
Austin Aztex News Release


In front of a record crowd of 6,051 people, the Austin Aztex and Tampa Bay Rowdies played relentlessly en route to a 3-3 draw Wednesday night at House Park.

The Aztex (4-1-2) got to work quickly taking the first couple shots of the game. They were really able to push the pace early and were extremely aggressive defensively as they put a lot of pressure in the Tampa Bay midfield and defensive thirds. Due to that pressure, the Aztex were able to dominate possession in the first 10 minutes and created some positive scoring chances.

The Rowdies (2-1-3) were almost able to put one in early when Jay Needham was tripped up and lost control of the ball in the Aztex defensive half, but Yohance Marshall had other ideas as he quickly recovered for his teammate and thanks to some stingy defending was able to take the ball away from the Rowdies' attacker.

Then the Aztex attack created some opportunities with one coming on a back heel from Max Griffin, which was deflected away by a defender. Only seconds later the Aztex were given a free kick just outside the top corner of the box.

Leonard Griffin took the free kick and placed it beautifully onto the head of a running Marshall for the first goal of the game in the 28th minute. Two minutes later, the Rowdies almost evened the score but Aztex goalkeeper Miguel Gallardo was up to the task and came up with a big stop.

The Rowdies did get their chance in the 35th minute, however, when they pushed the ball down the left flank and eventually put the ball into the center of the goal box where it was bounced around and finally ended up on the foot of Aaron Wheeler of the Rowdies who was able to put it away.

This is when the Rowdies began to find their stride as they were finally able to put the Aztex under some pressure in their defensive third. Gallardo was again up to the task and came up with a few big stops. This surge of momentum carried the Aztex defensively as they continued to put pressure on the Rowdies' backline.

The pressure by Eddie Johnson on the Rowdies right back Joe Donoho forced the right back into giving up the ball and eventually led to another Aztex goal. Once again, it only took the Rowdies a couple seconds and a corner kick to knot it up at 2 and to give the Rowdies an edge going into the second half.

The Aztex quickly did away with the Rowdies momentum as Johnson put another goal in at the 53rd minute mark off of a corner kick from Olum.

Midway through the second half, the Aztex turned up the intensity. Shots by Johnson and Olum were either pushed wide or cleared away by Lambo.

The Rowdies almost found a blessing when Gallardo lost control of the ball outside of his goal box. Gallardo was able to quickly react to the play and got a leg out in time to knock the ball away from danger.

After a foul called on the Aztex about 30 yards out from their own goal box, the Rowdies' Gordon Kljestan sent a ball curling into the far post just over the outstretched arms of Gallardo. This goal tied the game at 3-3 and gave the Aztex their second draw of the season.



U.S. Soccer Federation D-2 Stories from May 19, 2010


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