Season Ends in Playoffs for Aztex

By Kacey Cherry

AUSTIN, TX - October 9, 2010 - The playoff run ended at home for the Austin Aztex Saturday night as they lost 3-2 to the Montreal Impact and 5-2 overall in aggregate. After losing 2-0 last weekend in Montreal, the Aztex had to beat the Impact by three to advance to the next playoff round but failed to gain momentum as early Impact goals in both halves detoured an Aztex comeback.

“We were looking to get a win and we threw everything we had at them, said Aztex defender Leonard Griffin. “Unfortunately we came out on the losing side.”

An action packed first half saw the first goal come in the first five minutes by Impact player Ali Gerba from a set piece, making it 4-1 on aggregate.

Three minutes later, Aztex had a chance to even the score when Lance Watson was taken down in far left corner of the penalty box.  A Jamie Watson kick to the right corner was read by goalkeeper Matt Jordan to continue the uphill battle for the Austin Aztex.

J. Watson’s repercussions for missing the penalty kick left the striker visibly upset:  “I’ve made 4 out of 4 this year,” said J. Watson. “I did the same thing I did all year and he saved it, it feels horrible letting the team down."
Despite the unsuccessful penalty kick, the Aztex’s tempo continued to increase as they had many near chances in the first half. 

In the 16th minute, a ball played from Eddie Johnson passed through the Impact defense to reach the penalty box but neither Maxwell Griffin nor J. Watson could provide the scoring touch. The Aztex attacked again when Kevin Sakuda’s cross reached Johnson’s head and caused goalkeeper Jordan to make a jumping save. Another cross from Sakuda, this time meeting J. Watson, was volleyed first time towards the back of the net before Jordan intercepted the goal-bound shot.

The Aztex were forced to play high pressure football to overcome their goal deficit and pushed many players forward, making them vulnerable to an Impact counter attack. This allowed Gerba to find space in behind the Aztex defense and have a one on one with Miguel Gallardo that eventually saw his shot deflect out of bounds.

“You are always playing a difficult game when you’re playing for the offsides, but we had to do something,” said Aztex Head Coach Adrian Heath. “We had to try to keep the game as condensed and compressed as we could and get the ball in their half and try to make it uncomfortable for them.”

On the opposite side of the field, Griffin stormed the box in the 42nd minute after J. Watson’s chip took a deflection that allowed the aggregate score line to be narrowed down to 3-1.

The defense had a difficult time containing Gerba, he once again capitalized on the defensive gap and shot a dagger into the Aztex’s net as he scored his second goal of the night.

The Impact’s star striker has a vendetta for the Aztex as he scored his fourth goal against them in two games. The goal also marked the Canadian’s 13th goal of the season, placing him third in the league even though only being with the Impact for the second half of the season.

Montreal Impact Head Coach Marc Dos Santos understands the power Gerba provides: “In my opinion, Ali [Gerba] is an MLS striker. In my opinion, Ali [Gerba] is probably the best forward Canada has.”

In minute 57, the Aztex would counter with Lawrence Olum’s pass assisting Johnson, tying the game at 2-2.
Yet as the clocked dwindled down, the chance for an Aztex victory was declining and it was hook, line and sinker in the 89th minute when Impact’s Eduardo Sebrango scored the game winner. Sebrango was left unmarked on the left side and Gallardo was helplessly left to pick the ball up out of his own net.

In only their second year ever as a soccer club, the Austin Aztex were the obvious underdogs in the Impact-Aztex clash. Impact are part of MLS expansion plan for 2012 and are also the champions of last year’s United Soccer League.

Heath adds to the David versus Goliath premise: “This is a huge club. They’re wage bill is 3 or 4 times bigger than ours. They’re averaging or 14 to 15,000 people at a game.”

The Aztex’s progress this year is shown by gaining ten more wins than their freshman season. They close their season with 55 goals, more than any other team in the USSF Division II Pro League. In addition, Eddie Johnson and Maxwell Griffin both place into the top five for the most goals scored in the league so far, with 15 and 10 goals respectively, and Jamie Watson fourth in the league for assists.

As Heath believes, the Aztex should look forward rather than looking down. “The players kept battling and I couldn’t ask anymore from them. We made huge strides his year and I hope we make the same next year. My players have done me proud this year.”