Laredo Heat News Release - www.laredoheatsc.com
Saturday, June 14, 2014
AUSTIN, Texas – South Texas’ powers collided on Saturday night at House Park in Austin as the Austin Aztex defeated the Laredo Heat, 4-1, to take a commanding lead in the PDL's Mid-South Division. The Heat struck first but a new-look midfield and backline allowed four unanswered strikes.
With the loss, Laredo falls to 2-2-2 (8 points) behind the Midland-Odessa Sockers (4-3-1, 13 points) and Aztex ( 6-0-1, 19 points). Only the top two teams in the division qualify for the Southern Conference playoffs, and the Heat have never missed qualification for a postseason their were eligible for since 2004.
Against Austin, the Heat played two that haven’t started a match yet – one in his first action of the season. Sebastian Ramirez started his first game of the year at center back, filling for a knocked up Kaique Fernandes (hamstring) and Matthieu Braem ( 77th minute substitute). Placide Buduri started his first match in the midfield. A new captain – Yair Hernandez – patrolled the midfield as well, with the absence of Juan de Dios Ibarra and Greg Mulamba (ankle).
Despite the absences, Laredo buried the match’s first goal in the 19th minute when Laredo-native Felix Garcia drew a foul eight yards outside the 18-yard box. On the free kick, Brazilian midfielder Joao Monteiro flicked a through ball to the far post and onto Esteban Bayona’s boot. The slightest strike scored Bayona’s third PDL goal of the season.
Beyond that, the Heat created several chances wide of the mark. The first half saw the Heat assault Austin’s goal with eight shots while the Aztex mustered just three. The roles reversed in the second half as Austin launched nine to Laredo’s two.
The first half ended with Laredo in a 2-1 hole after Austin’s Sito Seoane slotted a strike from inside the 6-yard box. Chuy Cortes dealt the assisting cross. The go-ahead goal came off a corner kick from Seoane. Kalen Ryden nodded home the delivery.
The second half opened with more disappointment in the 47th minute as Ramirez played a backpass to goalkeeper Jorge Ortega, who took a heavy touch that Austin’s Eddie Campbell intercepted and sliced into the net unassisted. As Laredo began pushing back offensively, their backline was left vulnerable. It allowed a 90th minute corner kick that Jeff Harwell volleyed into the net off an Adam Black delivery.
The Heat will next travel to Albuquerque, N.M., to face the Sol in a cross-divisional match on June 19.
The match will be live streamed at www.YouTube.com/LaredoHeatSC