WRAL Sports Fan

Soccer

RailHawks fall short against Austin 3-2

Aug 22, 2010

AUSTIN, TX (August 22, 2010) - The Carolina RailHawks (8-7-7, 31 pts) fell to the Austin Aztex (13-3-5, 44 pts) 3-2 on Sunday night. Daniel Paladini and Allan Russell scored in the loss for the RailHawks.

The RailHawks took an early lead in the 18th minute on a Paladini shot. Josh Gardner maintained possesion on the left side of midfield and played a ball to Paladini who curled in a shot from the top of the box. The Aztex equalized in the 32nd minute on a left footed shot from Eddie Johnson. RailHawks goalkeeper Nic Platter kept the game even in the 36th minute with a diving save on Lance Watson, sending the Railhawks to the locker room tied 1-1.

In the second half, the Aztex settled down and found their rhythm through midfield. Yohance Marshall put the Aztex on top 2-1 with a 66th minute strike, assisted by Yordany Alvarez. The RailHawks pushed forward in an effort to equalize, and the Aztex took full advantage. In the 81st minute Randi Patterson chested the ball down and beat Platter to take a 3-1 lead.

Despite going down by two goals with under 10 minutes to play, the RailHawks refused to quit. After a flurry in front of goal, Allan Russell picked up a loose ball and blasted it past Aztex goalkeeper Miguel Gallardo for his first goal as a RailHawk, to make it 3-2. The RailHawks nearly salvaged a tie in stoppage time when Gallardo misplayed the ball, but the RailHawks were unable to take advantage of the scramble.