NSC Stars Fall to League Leader Austin Aztex

Austin Aztex scoring leader Eddie Johnson bagged two more goals on Saturday night to lead his team to a 2-0 win over the NSC Minnesota Stars. The two goals bring his season tally to 13, two behind league leader Ryan Pore of the Portland Timbers. It also brought his points total to 30, four behind Pore who has played in 2 more games than Johnson.

The Stars defense looked porous against the Aztex at House Park in Austin, Texas. The Aztex found gaping holes in the Minnesota back line numerous times in the first half but were not able to capitalize. In the 24th minute, Johnson ran onto a Jamie Watson throughball and went around Stars keeper Matt Van Oekel. The former Manchester United reserve player calmly slotted the ball home to open the scoring for the Aztex.

The Stars looked better in the second half but still posed no real threat to Aztex goalkeeper Miguel Gallardo. In the 80th minute Johnson, who was left alone in the box, nodded home a powerful header from a Watson cross to finish off the Stars.

While both teams ended the game with 11 shots, only two were on net for each team. Gallardo made 2 saves and Van Oekel made no saves but allowed two goals.

The win pushed the Aztex back to the top spot in the tightly contested USSF D2 Pro League with a team leading 49 points, one ahead of the Rochester Rhinos at 48 pts. Austin has played two less games than Rochester and both teams’ next match is next Saturday, Sept. 11. Rochester play at home against the Tampa Bay Rowdies who currently sit tied for 8th place with the NSC Stars, both with 28 points.  Austin must go on the road to Estadio Juan Ramon to play Puerto Rico. The Islanders are currently in 7th place with 32 points.

Stars regular keeper Joe Warren was absent for the match due to a 1-game red card suspension and should be in goal for the next game. The Stars traveled with only 15 players and made the Texas road trip without a backup keeper.

Devin Del Do made his first appearance for the Stars since April 16th, the second game of the season, when he injured his knee. Del Do entered the match in the 75th minute and had one opportunity which he shot into the side netting.

Neil Hlavaty was subbed into the game in the 82nd minute but didn’t even make it to the end of the game, being red carded off 3 minutes into extra time. He will be suspended for the next Stars game against AC St. Louis on Saturday, September 11. The match will be the last of four this season between the two teams. The Stars are 1-0-2 against AC St. Louis in league play this season. The Stars next home game is Wednesday, September 15 against the Carolina RailHawks.