Miami FC Suffers Home Loss to Aztex as Team Prepares to Face Dymano
Published on June 26, 2010 under U.S. Soccer Federation D-2 (USSF D-2)
Fort Lauderdale Strikers News Release
Miami - Despite a hard-fought second half effort, Miami FC was unable to defeat the Austin Aztex at home as a late penalty kick gave the visiting Aztex a 2-1 victory as the Blues prepare for an extended road trip. The Blues will travel out west to take on the Houston Dynamo on Tuesday, June 29 in the third round of the U.S. Open Cup. The match is set to begin at 8:30 p.m. EST.
"We're bothered by the loss but we must move on," Miami FC Head Coach Victor Pastora said. "We have a big game on Tuesday and we gave it a good effort today, but now we have to move on."
Both teams battled for control of the midfield for most of the first half as the teams looked to create scoring opportunities early on, but both defenses held firm and limited the number of quality chances for either squad through the first 45 minutes of play.
Austin began to apply some pressure on the Blues backline about midway through the first half and Maxwell Griffin got some room on the left flank to take a shot on goal from the edge of the box, but Miami FC keeper Caleb Patterson smothered the shot to keep the game scoreless in the 27th minute.
The Blues made an effort to break the stalemate late in the opening stanza as Martyn Lancaster made a dash down the right side in the 39th minute and delivered a cross in the box to Stefan Jerome, but his shot was deflected out of bounds by a diving Aztex defender.
Edward Johnson gave the Aztex a 1-0 lead just before the end of the first half after he managed to settle a ball in the box and then fired a shot past two Miami defenders and a diving Patterson into the right side of the net.
Trailing heading into the second half, the Blues came out with a sense of urgency and in the 51st minute, Bryan Arguez nearly scored the equalizer for the Blues but Aztex goalkeeper Miguel Gallardo was able to make a save to knock the ball away from the goal.
Paulo Jr. came in as a second half sub in the 64th minute and provided an immediate spark for the Blues, weaving in and out of traffic and challenging Gallardo and the Austin defense throughout the half, but the Aztex keeper made two fantastic saves on the Brazilian forward in the 70th and 78th minutes.
It was a Paulo Jr. shot unleashed from the edge of the box in the 86th minute that made its way past Gallardo after the Miami FC striker sped past Austin defenders to make his way deep into Aztex territory. The blast evened the score at 1-1 late in the half and created a clean slate late in the closing minutes of the match.
The Aztex struck right back though as Euzebio Neto was called for a foul inside the box in the 87th minute that set up a penalty kick for Edward Johnson, who calmly placed the shot past Patterson to give Austin the lead.
Despite a hard-pressed effort by the Blues in the final minutes, the Austin defense managed to hang on and deny the Blues another tying goal.
The next regular season home match for the Blues will be against the Puerto Rico Islanders on Saturday, July 17 at Lockhart Stadium. Game time is set for a 7:30 p.m. start.
U.S. Soccer Federation D-2 Stories from June 26, 2010
- Eddie Johnson's Offense Lifts Aztex Over Rival Miami FC - Austin Aztex
- Miami FC Suffers Home Loss to Aztex as Team Prepares to Face Dymano - Fort Lauderdale Strikers
- Impact earn a 2-2 tie with the Carolina RailHawks - Montreal Impact
- Two Second Half Goals Lead Stars to Victory - Crystal Palace Baltimore
- Impact Draw RailHawks 2-2 in Stoppage Time - North Carolina FC
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
