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Aztex Blank AC St. Louis: Further Stretch League Lead

July 17, 2010 - U.S. Soccer Federation D-2 (USSF D-2)
Austin Aztex News Release


AUSTIN, Texas (www.austinaztex.com) -- The first place Austin Aztex used goals from Jamie Watson and Maxwell Griffin to earn a 2-0 victory Saturday night against a streaking AC St. Louis at House Park.

With the win, Austin's unbeaten streak increased to five games and stopped AC St. Louis' at three.

Austin's first opportunity came early on in the fourth minute when leading scorer Eddie Johnson broke through the St. Louis backline and attempted to chip St. Louis goal keeper Alec Dufty. Johnson's shot sailed just over the crossbar though.

Ten minutes later, J. Watson was able to deliver a ball to Lance Watson that put the midfielder in a favorable scoring position. In an effort to halt L. Watson's scoring chance, Dufty took him down inside the six-yard box, resulting in a penalty kick for the Aztex.

Johnson stepped up to take the kick for the Aztex and attempted to place it to the Dufty's left. With a quick reaction, Dufty was able to push the ball away from goal, denying Johnson of his 10th tally this season.

The Aztex didn't have to wait long for good fortune to come their way again. In the 34th minute, St. Louis forward Jeff Cosgriff, who stands 6'4, was called for a handball inside his own penalty area when he attempted to clear Aztex midfielder Yordany Alvarez' cross.

Cosgriff was called for an intentional handball and was shown a red card. Austin was awarded another penalty kick but this time Jamie Watson's low strike to the right got past a sprawling Dufty.

J. Watson's penalty strike was the first to get past Dufty this season. Dufty had saved the previous two penalty kicks he faced in the 2010 season.

Austin outshot St. Louis 15-1 in the first half alone, but only was able to get the one past the sturdy keeper.

The league-leading Aztex pushed the ball forward again in the second half in attempt to put AC St. Louis down for good.

Keeping the ball on the St. Louis side of the field allowed the Aztex to fire off an array of shots. Unfortunately, many of the Aztex attempts were either slightly off target deflected away by a St. Louis defender.

That is until the 68th minute when Aztex forward M. Griffin was able to squeak past the St. Louis backline and rifle a shot past Dufty and into the upper half of the St. Louis goal.

Griffin's goal was orchestrated by some crafty ball-handling from Johnson who was able to find M. Griffin streaking across the backline into open space. From there, he was able to rocket the ball into the back of the net for the Aztex second goal of the game and his sixth on the season.

AC St. Louis would not quit though. Forward Mike Ambersley, who has two goals for AC St. Louis this season, struck a ball from about 25 yards out. The shot forced Aztex goalkeeper Miguel Gallardo to spring to his right and parry the ball away from the goal. Gallardo's big save kept AC St. Louis from gaining momentum late in the match.

With the win the Aztex increase their league-leading points total 35 points. Austin has a bye next week before their heated matchup with rival Miami FC at 7:30 p.m. on July 31 at House Park.



U.S. Soccer Federation D-2 Stories from July 17, 2010


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