The Aztexan

Here's an indication of how last night's result felt: when I first entered the title for this post, I typed "Aztex Fall To Montreal Impact", and only when I got to the score, 2-2, did I remember that it was a draw, not a loss.

Sure, we got a point. Sure, that's better than a loss. But having taken the lead — by two, mind you — and badly needing all 3 of those points, it didn't feel like anything to celebrate after the final whistle.

The You-Had-To-Be-There Moment of the Match: the short span, just 8 minutes long according to the stats, when the Aztex held a 2-0 lead. I knew 20 minutes can be a long time at the end of a match, but for those few minutes none of us doubted it could be done. After Montreal pulled one back, I started to worry. After they scored 3 more times, even though those were all nullified by offside calls, I knew we were doomed.

From that standpoint, I guess, I should be happier that it wasn't the 5-2 loss it could have been. But, you know, I'm really not.

Here's a rundown of other post-match coverage:

• box score — USLSoccer.com
  

  Weather: Hot, partly cloudy

• Aztex again fumble away win in closing moments — Austin American-Statesman

  It might be growing more difficult to be an Aztex fan.
  
  For the second time in as many home games, Austin gave up a heartbreaking late goal, the latest allowing the Montreal Impact to steal a 2-2 draw in front of 2,786 stunned fans at Nelson Field.
  
  The draw came after the Aztex appeared to be cruising to a much-needed victory, holding a 2-0 lead. The loss stung in part because Austin is battling Montreal for the seventh and final playoff spot in the USL's First Division.

• Aztex surrender two-goal lead late, salvage 2-2 tie with Montreal — AustinAztex.com
  

  In the 89th minute a scramble in the box led to a crowd of players around Austin keeper Sam Reynolds before the ball made its way into the net to level the score. The goal was credited to Roberto Brown, capping off an offensive barrage from Montreal that yielded two official goals and three taken away by the referee.
  
  “We showed loads of inexperience after the two goals,” Heath said.
  
  In stoppage time, Ryan Caugherty almost erased the final minutes from memory when a Kyle Brown ball found him with space. Caugherty charged the goal and put the ball in the net, but the referee ruled he fouled [goalkeeper Srdjan] Djekanovic on his run. Caugherty wound up in the net himself and a scuffle broke out between both teams. In the end, the goal didn’t count, Caugherty earned a yellow card, and Austin, despite a second half that was entertaining on both sides, would walk away with only one point.

That leaves the Aztex keeping Minnesota and Cleveland company at the bottom of the standings. Austin is now 6 points down from the closest playoff spot, and the five teams above them all have at least one game in hand over them.

Next up for the Red & White is a trip to the Carolinas. First a Thursday night game against the 2nd-place Charleston Battery in Charleston, SC, followed by a Saturday night game against the 4th-place Carolina Railhawks in Cary, NC. They're going to have to figure out how to pick up some points soon, or the playoffs are going to quickly become an impossibility.

Labels: postgame, USL-1