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Aztex Inch Closer to First Place with Draw

August 29, 2010 - U.S. Soccer Federation D-2 (USSF D-2)
Austin Aztex News Release


BURNABY, British Columbia (www.austinaztex.com) - Two minutes after trotting onto the field in the 78th minute, Eddie Johnson snapped a header into the Vancouver Whitecaps goal to send the Austin Aztex home with a 2-2 draw at Swangard Stadium, giving Austin at least one point against every team in the USSF D-2 Pro League.

The Aztex fought back from behind seemingly all game long, having to gather themselves from 1-0 and 2-1 deficits to take the point. After falling behind for the first time in the game, Randi Patterson leaped above the Vancouver defense to get a head on a cross by Lance Watson in the 44th minute that went right to the head of Yohance Marshall to send his team into the locker room squared at 1.

From there, Johnson's goal allowed the Aztex to rise to just two points behind the Rochester Rhinos for first place in the league with three games still in hand.

Vancouver dominated the Aztex defense at the kickoff, in particular the two speedy forwards, burning behind the defense time after time.

Searching for his first goal as a Whitecap, forward Ridge Mobulu was almost able to put his team on the board multiple times with the deep ball that Vancouver was able to use so effectively in the first half. The first chance proved just inches out of reach for Mobulu, allowing Miguel Gallardo to dive on the ball before any damage was done.

Just like the Aztex game at Portland on Thursday though, the opponent got on the board first when for the second time in the opening minutes, the Whitecaps sent a pass deep in the Aztex territory to a forward that got behind the defense - only this time, Cornelius Stewart capitalized, sending his strike past Gallardo.

Later in the half, Mobulu got free for the second time and had a one-on-one chance against Marshall, but his shot went just wide of the post.

The second half opened congruently to the first half with Mobulu breaking free of the defense, receiving a long pass and putting his team on the scoreboard. The goal came from an almost impossible angle on the sideline between two defenders after fighting free to get past the goalkeeper.

Following the Whitecaps go-ahead goal, the tide of the game turned in the Aztex favor. Austin finished with a flurry of opportunities, which included Johnson's team-leading 11th goal of the season. In the 90th minute, Johnson nearly played the role of the hero with a game-winning goal, but was unable to keep the ball below the crossbar after Max Griffin set him up for the shot.

Prior to this contest, Austin was 0-19-1 all-time when trailing at the 75 minute mark and was only 0-3-1 against the MLS-bound Whitecaps.

The Aztex played the match without five starts, as Jay Needham and Lawrence Olum were held out due to injuries, forwards Eddie Johnson and Max Griffin started the game on the bench and midfielder Yordany Alvarez did not make the trip. Adrian Heath was also unavailable on the sidelines due to a suspension following the match at Portland.

Following the two-game road trip, Austin comes home for Military Appreciation/Camps Reunion Night to face the NSC Minnesota Stars at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday at House Park.



U.S. Soccer Federation D-2 Stories from August 29, 2010


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