The Aztexan: Aztex Draw With Minnesota Thunder, 2-2

Aug 17, 2009

Aztex Draw With Minnesota Thunder, 2-2

Good grief. Is this team stuck in the same game, over and over, like Bill Murray in Groundhog Day?

In fact, here. With just a couple changes I can copy & paste exactly from my post-game report for the 2-2 draw with Montreal on July 26:

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~~ Minnesota Thunder", 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~~ twice, mind you — and badly needing all 3 of those points, it didn't feel like anything to celebrate after the final whistle.

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

box score — USLSoccer.com
Weather: Hot, partly cloudy
Aztex lose lead, settle for tie with Minnesota — Austin American-Statesman
Kieron Bernard crouches on the synthetic turf, eyes fixed on the ground, unable to believe it's happened again. As the clock makes its last ticks towards the final minute, the Aztex have yet again come undone, conceding another late goal to turn a victory into a 2-2 draw against the Minnesota Thunder.

The 3,470 fans at Austin's Nelson Field on Sunday night go silent.

They've seen this before. For the third time this season, Austin has allowed a last-minute goal that caused them to either lose or draw.
Austin surrenders lead, salvages 2-2 tie against Minn. — AustinAztex.com
Aztex head coach Adrian Heath was disappointed by the result and a pair of non-calls that happened at the end of the game. “It’s very frustrating. I have to say, I thought those two fouls leading up to the goal — a terrible tackle on Jean Alexandre and the guy pushed Kevin Sakuda to get the free header on the goal. At times, I thought the officiating was comical so that didn’t really surprise me.”

...While Heath readily admitted his frustration with the officials, in the end, he acknowledged his team didn’t finish. “We make individual errors that cost us. I thought at times our football was good and we looked dangerous. I’m disappointed because I think we had enough chances to have won the game tonight.”
MN Thunder Tie Austin Aztex in Final Minute — Inside Minnesota Soccer
The brace by Tarley not only gave Minnesota the draw and a point, it also meant that the Thunder forward has now scored 3 goals in 2 games, which moves him into a tie with Ricardo Sanchez for most goals this season with 5.