Aztex give up late goal but secure 2-2 tie and earn first road points of season

Published on June 27, 2009 under USL First Division (USL-1)
Austin Aztex News Release


CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Austin Aztex looked prepared to ride out the final moments of it first road win of the season on Saturday night, but a persistent Cleveland squad had other plans.

With stoppage time ticking off the clock and his team down a goal, the City Stars' Ricardo Pierre-Louis, who came on in the 83rd minute, scored on a diving header past Aztex keeper Sam Reynolds to clinch a 2-2 draw and snatch a point away just before the final whistle.

Pierre-Louis' goal spoiled a grinding comeback performance from an Austin squad that once again found itself down a goal early in the match. Despite falling behind early, the Aztex (2-6-6, 12 points) eventually found a rhythm and capitalized in the 30th minute when defender Josh Alcala found room on the wing and promptly sent in a shot that found its way over the fingertips of Cleveland keeper Hunter Gilstrap to level the score.

Jeff Harwell put Austin on top in the 38th minute when he found enough space in the midfield, made a nice move past his defender, then scored a goal in the lower corner at the near post past a diving Gilstrap.

Cleveland (2-9-4, 10 points) put pressure on the Austin back line to start the second half, but never managed to find the net. A free kick at the top of the box that bent around the wall proved to be its best opportunity during the stretch, but a diving Reynolds thwarted the attempt.

Behind a steady Reynolds, the Aztex defense stiffened up and Austin slowly took control of the match. The City Stars didn't see many quality chances and the momentum swung in Austin's favor as the visitors came close to scoring a third goal that would have put the match out of reach when Ryan McMahen's free kick in the 75th minute found an open Johnson in the box, but the header was cleared over the crossbar by Gilstrap.

There were other Austin chances in the final 15 minutes including a free kick from less than 24 yards out that sailed harmlessly over the goal as well as a counterattack that saw Austin's Kyle Brown slip behind the Cleveland defense and send in a low cross to a streaking Johnson, who then mishit the pass.

Each Aztex chance failed to yield the decisive goal, leaving the door open for Cleveland.

In the 93rd minute, Cleveland made the Aztex pay when Isreal Sesay chased down a long ball and sent in a desperate cross toward the box. The cross deflected off of Austin's Yohance Marshall and found a diving Pierre-Louis for the goal, clinching the draw and salvaging a point for Cleveland.

The Aztex return to action at home on Wednesday night (July 1) in the biggest game of the season, a third round U.S. Open Cup match against the Houston Dynamo at Nelson Field. Kickoff is set for 7:30pm.

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USL First Division Stories from June 27, 2009


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