Austin grabs tie against Puerto Rico
austinaztex.comKeon Daniel saved the Puerto Rico Islanders from their early mistake when his equalizer proved to be enough to earn the Islanders a 1-1 tie against the league-leading Austin Aztex Saturday night at House Park.
Puerto Rico defender Richard Martinez put the Aztex ahead early when his header sailed over Islanders’ goalkeeper William Gaudette in the first minute.
Martinez looked to head the ball safely into the hands of Gaudette but when he put too much power on the pass, it sailed up and over the hands of Gaudette and into the back of the net for Aztex opening score.
The Islanders seemed likely to score another goal for Austin when Aztex forward Eddie Johnson pressured a high cross at the top of the Islanders’ box. Puerto Rico’s defender won the hard challenge but nearly put the ball over Gaudette again. Fortunately for Puerto Rico, Gaudette was able to recover and grab hold of the ball before it reached the goal line.
Austin would provide a chance of their own in the 34th minute when Aztex midfielder Yordany Alvarez played a ball that split the Islanders’ back line for forward Maxwell Griffin to run onto. Griffin got a hold of the ball but was unsuccessful in his ensuing breakaway attempt as Gaudette was able to get his body in front of the ball to deflect it away.
Griffin’s shot just after halftime was deflected by Gaudette and almost allowed a hustling Eddie Johnson to get a shot off himself.
Griffin got a gift in the 56th minute when Gaudette mishit a goal kick, which landed right at the foot of Griffin near midfield. Griffin started off toward the goal, but was caught from behind on a sliding tackle by an Islander defender.
Johnson nearly put a second tally on the board for the Aztex when his powering shot was pushed away by Gaudette. Aztex captain Kevin Sakuda struck a 60-yard ball behind the Islanders’ backline for Johnson to run onto. When Johnson got into the box he was able to spin around and split a couple defenders before getting his shot off.
Keon Daniel earned the equalizer in the 75th minute when he hit a laser from just outside of the Aztex goal box. The left-footed strike left Aztex goal keeper Miguel Gallardo with little chance to make a save.
A last ditch effort by the Aztex was thwarted by Gaudette after he came out and collected a cross from Aztex midfielder Lawrence Olum in the waning moments of the game.
The Aztex hit the road next week when they take on the Rochester Rhinos on July 9 at 6:30 p.m. A live broadcast of the game will be available on
www.austinaztex.com. The next Aztex home game takes place at 7:30 p.m. at House Park on July 17 when Austin takes on AC St. Louis.
Game Stats: AUS: Miguel Gallardo, Kevin Sakuda, Yohance Marshall, Jay Needham, Kieron Bernard (Joey Worthen 77’); Peri Marosevic (Michael Callahan 66’), Lawrence Olum, Yordany Alvarez, Jamie Watson; Maxwell Griffin, Eddie Johnson
Substitutes Not Used: Sean Kelley, Wes Allen, Sam Brill, Lance Watson, Ronald Caicedo
PUE: William Gaudette ; Scott Jones, Richard Martinez, Marco Velez (Logan Emory 75’), David Horst; Osei Telesford (Junior Sandoval 87’), Keon Daniel (Kendall Jagdeosingh 85’), Sandy Gbandi; Josh Hansen (Jonathan Fana 46’), Nick Addlery, David Foley (Kevon Villaroel 83')
Substitutes Not Used: Alexis Rivera, Cody Laurendi
Goals:AUS: Puerto Rico, 1st minute (Own Goal)
PUE: Daniel 75'
Shots:AUS: 14
PUE: 11
Fouls:AUS:12
PUE: 7
Corners:AUS: 2
PUE: 6
Misconduct:AUS:
PUE: Telesford (Yellow) 59’, Jones (Yellow 79’)
