Aztex Win; Go to Conference Final
Austin Aztex beat host Ocala; Orlando up next
By Nick Barbaro, 11:58AM, Sat. Jul. 21, 2012
The Austin Aztex kept their season alive Friday night in Florida, beating the top-seeded hosts, the Ocala Stampede, 3-2, in the PDL Southern Conference semifinals. They now go on to meet the Orlando U23s in the conference championship game on Sunday.
The Aztex got an early goal from Khiry Shelton, on a header off a Zack Pope free kick, and stretched the lead to 2-0 when Kekuta Manneh earned, and then converted a penalty. Ocala scored their own PK just before halftime, then evened the scored 10 minutes into the second half, before Manneh scored the winner off an assist from Kris Tyrpak in the 70th minute.
That set up a dream final against Orlando U23, who beat the Mid South champion Laredo Heat, 2-1, in Friday's opening game. Orlando, as all Aztex fans are well aware, are the farm team for the USL-PRO Orlando City Lions, the team that used to be the original Austin Aztex FC from 2008-2010. That game is scheduled for Sunday evening at 5pm (4pm Central). The winner goes on to the national semifinals next weekend, at a site to be determined (yes, it could possibly be Austin).
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Nick Barbaro, Oct. 2, 2015
June 28, 2024
