Aztex Shut Down League Champion Sacramento 1-0
Published on June 7, 2015 under United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Austin Aztex News Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. - The Austin Aztex (5-6-1) defense stood tall versus Sacramento Republic FC, defeating the reigning league champion squad by a score of 1-0 at a sold-out Bonney Field Saturday evening.
Kris Tyrpak netted the lone goal of the game in the 58^th minute when he took a pass from Max Gunderson and quickly hit it past Sacramento goalkeeper Patrick McLain. The goal was Tyrpak's team-leading sixth goal of the USL season.
Heading into the game, the Aztex were on a three-game slide and knowing that they needed three points to begin the climb back into playoff seeding.
Sacramento Republic FC tried to capitalize on the strong home field advantage in the first half and largely controlled the tempo of the half. However, the Aztex defense led by team captain Lance Rozeboom remained calm and organized and parried away a series of crosses throughout the half.
Sacramento thought they broke through in the first half off of a corner kick in which a Sacramento player got a shot off on a second chance. Cameron Iwasa, who was in front of Aztex goalkeeper Devin Perales, backheeled the attempt past the keeper to put the ball in the back of the net yet the goal was disallowed as Iwasa was ruled offside.
The Aztex absorbed the pressure through the opening half and started to build pressure in the closing 15 minutes of the opening half. Fernando Timbo nearly scored for the Aztex when he got a second chance from an Aztex corner and ripped a shot that went over the crossbar. One minute later, Andres Cuero had a chance for the Aztex when he hit a low shot that required a diving save from Sacramento goalkeeper Patrick McLain.
While Sacramento continued to hold possession in the beginning of the second half, it was the Aztex who tallied the first goal. In the 58^th minute, Max Gunderson received the ball on the right side and was able to get behind the defense before he found Kris Tyrpak in the middle of the box. Tyrpak took one, sure shot with his left to hit the ball past McLain to give the Aztex the goal advantage.
Aztex Head Coach Paul Dalglish took the one-goal advantage and strategically began to deploy his substitutes, starting with the return of Sainey Touray right after the goal. Touray made his first appearance in over a month since undergoing arthoscopic surgery and looked sharp as he pressured Sacramento's defense while holding up the ball. As the second half progressed, Sacramento tried to claw back into the game while Austin's defense stood tall. Tony Rocha, Leone Cruz, Ryan Roushandel all helped push the opponent's attack away from goal.
Aztex goalkeeper Devin Perales receives credit for the win and earned his third shutout in league play. Counting U.S. Open Cup action, Perales now sits at five shutouts on the season. Perales came up with a heroic save in the 56^th minute when he dove to his right to stop a headed shot from Iwasa.
The Austin Aztex will close out their road trip with versus Portland Timbers 2 on Sunday, June 6th at 8:00 p.m. CDT before shifting gears to the Fourth Round of the U.S. Open Cup on Wednesday, June 17 versus the Houston Dynamo at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston.
United Soccer League Championship Stories from June 7, 2015
- Early Goals Cost Charlotte in 2-1 Loss to Richmond - Charlotte Independence
- Kickers Hold off Charlotte 2-1 - Richmond Kickers
- Switchbacks FC Continue Home Winning Streak - Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC
- espite outshooting the Austin Aztex 20-4, Republic FC fall, 1-0, at home in front of a sold-out crow - Sacramento Republic FC
- Aztex Shut Down League Champion Sacramento 1-0 - Austin Aztex
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