Cleveland City Stars are the Professional United Soccer Leagues

CITY STARS SCORE DRAMATIC 90TH MINUTE GOAL TO DRAW AUSTIN 2-2

Saturday June 27, 2009

CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Cleveland City Stars scored a dramatic goal in extra time to earn a point with a 2-2 draw with the Austin Aztex. Cleveland trailed for the entire second half before Ricardo Pierre-Louis headed home a cross from Israel Sesay in the 90th minute to earn the point.

"Tonight was a big point for us," said City Stars Head Coach Rod Underwood. "We gained a point on Minnesota and didn't get any separation with Austin. We're still fighting for the playoffs and every point counts. Friday's match with Austin will be huge because they have three points on us in our head-to-head series and we have a chance to come back out and gain some ground."

The match started off strong for the City Stars. After battling closer and closer to the Aztex goal, Cleveland found the back of the net in the 11th minute. City Stars newcomer Israel Sesay crossed a beautiful ball to Joshua Boateng who brought it down 30 yards out from the Aztex goal. Goalkeeper Sam Reynolds came out to meet Boateng, who slid the ball under the keeper with precision to give the Stars a 1-0 lead.

Austin responded with the equalizer in the 30th minute when Josh Alcaca pushed up from his defensive position and received a crisp pass from Eddie Johnson and deposited the ball into the top left corner of the net for the 1-1 tie.

In the 33rd minute Sesay created on his own down the left side of the box and was tackled by Erik Ustruck, resulting in a penalty kick.

Controversy ensued before Pato Aguilera could take the penalty kick for the City Stars as head referee Sorin Stoica placed the ball on the wrong line. The Cleveland pitch features football lines and the penalty kick was set up on the line used for extra points in football which resulted in the PK being taken from 13 yards out instead of the normal 12. Although Aguilera put up an argument, Stoica refused to move the ball. Aguilera eventually took the kick and the shot missed wide right to hold the tie at 1-1.

The City Stars missed another great opportunity in the 35th minute as Warren Kanu sent a beautiful cross to the far post. With Reynolds off his line, Boateng made a diving attempt at a heading the ball into the open net but Boateng was a split-second too late and the ball bounced out of bounds.

In the 38th minute Kyle Brown crossed to Jeff Harwell from midfield and Harwell raced into the defensive third of the City Stars with little hesitation and placed a rocket of a shot between Hunter Gilstrap and the left post to give Austin the 2-1 lead.

The second half was played almost entirely in the City Stars defensive third as Austin did a good job of controlling the pace of the match.

The City Stars had an opportunity in the 62nd off a free kick. Boateng touched the ball to Ibrahim Kante who fired from 20 yards out. The laser shot deflected off the wall of defenders and nearly past Reynolds but the Austin keeper was able to get just enough of the ball on the dive to punch it out.

As the match moved into extra time the City Stars pushed multiple players into the front line. In third minute of extra time, Alioune Gueye played a long ball towards the right sideline that was controlled by the pushed up Kante. The powerful defender worked his way through traffic before attempting a cross into the box. Kante's cross was deflected back out to the waiting Sesay. The 18-year old forward made a great move towards the goal line and played a cross through the defense and to the far post. Ricardo Pierre-Louis made a diving run and sent the ball into the left side of the net with a header to give the City Stars the equalizer in the 2-2 draw.

The City Stars rematch Austin on Friday at Middlefield Cheese Stadium in a nationally televised Fox Soccer Channel broadcast. The match has a special start time of 8 p.m. and is an Independence Day Celebration with the City Stars with all fans with military ID's receiving free admission. Radio host Munch Bishop of WKNR 850-ESPN Radio will serve as the special guest public address announcer during the match.

Tickets are available through clevelandcitystars.com or by calling 330-425-2003

Lineups:

Cleveland: GK Hunter Gilstrap, D Anthony Stovall, D Ibrahim Kante, D Troy Roberts, D Stephane Guillaume (Gordon Kljestan 45'), M Warren Kanu (Ricardo Pierre-Louis 83'), D Alioune Gueye, D Joshua Boateng, D Pato Aguilera (Ryan Stewart 45'), F Leo Gibson (Arsene Oka 76'), F Israel Sesay

Austin: GK Sam Reynolds, D Josh Alcaca, D Erik Ustruck, D Yomance Marshall, D Garreth Evans, Ryan McMahan, M Mike Callahan, Jeff Harwell, M A.J. Godbolt (Zach Pope 42'), F Kyle Brown, F Eddie Johnson

Summary:

Cle: Joshua Boateng (Israel Sesay) 11', Ricardo Pierre-Louis (Israel Sesay) 90'

Aus: Josh Alcala (Eddie Johnson) 30', Jeff Harwell (Kyle Brown) 38'

Cautions:

Cle: Gordon Kljestan 79'

Aus: Kyle Brown 32', Erik Ustruck 60', Michael Callahan 90'

Attendance: 1,517