Minnesota Thunder 1-1 Austin Aztex – Teams Draw in Texans Inaugural Game

Thunder Forward Saint-Preux Scores First; Aztex Defender Lyle Adams Evens Up Score With First Ever Goal for the Franchise

Thunder game report:

AUSTIN, Texas (Saturday, April 18, 2009) – This was the second game of the Minnesota Thunder 2009 season. The match was played in Austin, Texas and was the first game for the host team’s franchise in USL-First Division play. As the final whistle blew, the scoreboard read 1-1. The Thunder was the first to score in the 51st minute, when Leonel Saint-Preux put the ball in the back of the net. Defender Lyle Adams returned the favor with the first goal for the Aztex in the 69th minute. Minnesota played this game without the help of Brian Kallman due to a red card he received last game. The Thunder continues to play on the road heading off to Charleston, South Carolina to take on the Battery on April 24th.

Out of the gates, Austin’s goalkeeper, Miguel Gallardo, had to be patched up. In the 3rd minute, his ear was bleeding and medical personnel needed to come and stop the bleeding by putting a bandage over his head. Miguel crashed into fellow teammate A.J. Godbolt. This event in no way hindered Gallardo’s performance throughout the game.

In the 20th minute the Minnesota Thunder had their first chance to put a ball in the net but before they could get anything going, Gallardo came out to just short of the 18-yard box to put an end to the Thunder’s advance.

The following minute was the first realistic opportunity for the Thunder to score a goal. They rifled a shot but it was aimed right at Austin’s goalkeeper. Gallardo had no trouble with the save.

Late in the first half, in the 36th minute, Austin had their own opportunity to score. Yordany Alvarez was down near the left sideline and fed the ball into the middle of the field. Platter was there to catch the cross and keep the game tied at zero.

In the 44th minute, Thunder’s Andres Arango had another opportunity for a goal. The ball was fed to him with a well placed through pass but Gallardo intercepted the ball. This kept the game on an even keel.

Leonel Saint-Preux for Minnesota had the first goal of the game. This came in the 51st minute. He had a generous amount of room to work with in the penalty box when Gallardo came to address the play. Saint-Preux used some fancy footwork to get around Austin’s keeper to take advantage of the wide-open net.

Ricardo Sanchez found himself on a breakaway, in the 62nd minute, with only Gallardo in his way from adding to the Thunder’s lead. Ricardo sent a laser of a shot on net but Gallardo was there to make the save.

The 67th minute was the time when the Aztex had their closest chance for a goal so far. Austin’s forward, Brown, slipped a shot right by Platter but instead of the ball finding the back of the net, it found the side post.

The Aztex tied up the game in the 69th minute. Lyle Adams is the first player in franchise history to score a goal. The ball was sent to the middle on a cross by Silva. Adams, who was playing forward, took control of the ball at the top of the 18-yard box. He sent it low and slightly bouncing on the ground. The ball was in the back of the net before Platter could even react.

In minute 77, Ricardo Sanchez for Minnesota took a long curling shot well outside the penalty box and Gallardo was forced to make a diving punch just to deflect the shot over the net resulting in a corner.

Geoffrey Myers of Minnesota headed full steam into the goalie box in the 81st minute. He decided to pull up and not take the shot, as two Aztex were there to put a stop to Myers’ advance. When he regained composure, he attempted to slip one by Gallardo but the shot missed just wide left.

When all was said and done, the franchise opener for the Austin Aztex resulted in a 1-1 draw with the Minnesota Thunder.

“I believe the guys worked hard and played well overall tonight,” said Thunder head coach Don Gramenz. “They should be proud of themselves. Of course it’s disappointing to leave Austin with a point tonight especially after having the lead. Tomorrow we start preparing for Charleston. I also want to applaud Austin for their performance and creating a great soccer atmosphere.”

The Thunder’s home opener is on Saturday, May 2 against the defending champions, the Vancouver Whitecaps.

Starting Lineups:
Minnesota: Platter; Clements, Bass, Arango (Friedland, 89), Costanzo, Weiler (Peterson, 82), Olum, Dyachenko(Myers, 69), Sanchez, Tarley, Saint-Preux (Kante, 82)

Austin: Gallardo; Godbolt (Pope, 64), Adams, Evans, Sias, McMahen (Silva, 64), Caugherty, Alvarez, Johnson, Brown, Noel-Williams

Game Summary:

Scoring Summary
MIN: Saint-Preux, 51
AUS: Adams, 69

Game Statistics
Minnesota: Shots 12, Fouls 15, Offsides 3, Corners 4
Austin: Shots 11, Fouls 10, Offsides 1, Corners 4

Goalkeeper Statistics
Platter (Minnesota): Shots faces 4, Saves 3, Goals Allowed 1
Gallardo (Austin): Shots faces 6, Saves 5, Goals Allowed 1

Cautions:
AUS: Alvarez, 19
MIN: Costanzo, 30
AUS: Godbolt, 50
MIN: Tarley, 71
MIN: Olum, 90

Ejections:

Attendance:
4891