Columbus Crew SC defeated the Austin Aztex by a 1-0 final in the Third Place Match of the inaugural ATX Pro Challenge. The contest took place at the University of Texas at Austin's Mike A. Myers Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Throughout the opening 45 minutes, Crew SC created several quality chances, including an Ethan Finlay drive that caught the crossbar as well as a Federico Higuain shot that was blocked off the line by the Aztex. At the break, however, the score remained 0-0.
In the 81st minute, Justin Meram's back-post cross found rightback Chad Barson, who tapped the ball home with his outstretched right leg. The tally held up for Crew SC as the match winner.
Crew SC next travels to Bradenton, Florida for the IMG Suncoast Pro Classic.
MATCH STREAM: WATCH
POSTMATCH AUDIO – GREGG BERHALTER: LISTEN
MATCH SUMMARY
Columbus Crew SC 1 – Austin Aztex 0
Sunday, February 15, 2015
Venue: Mike A. Myers Stadium, Austin, Texas
Referee: Hilario Grajeda
Assistants: Claudio Badea, Ian Chapman
Fourth Official: Younes Marrakchi
Weather: 66 degrees and cloudy
SCORING SUMMARY
CLB – Chad Barson (Justin Meram) 81'
DISCIPLINARY SUMMARY
AUS – Guaraci (caution) 34'
CLB – Wil Trapp (caution) 38'
AUS – Greg Mulamba (caution) 55'
LINEUPS
Columbus Crew SC: Matt Lampson (Steve Clark 46'); Hernan Grana (Chad Barson 46'), Michael Parkhurst © (Sergio Campbell 62'), Kalen Ryden (Tyson Wahl 46'), Waylon Francis (Chris Klute 46'); Tony Tchani (Ben Swanson 46'), Wil Trapp (Mohammed Saeid 46'); Ethan Finlay (Hector Jimenez 46'), Federico Higuain (Ben Speas 46'), Kristinn Steindorsson (Justin Meram 46'); Adam Bedell (Kei Kamara 46')
Substitutes not used: Tomas Gomez, Brad Stuver; Emanuel Pogatetz, Kevan George, Aaron Schoenfeld, Romain Gall, Sagi Lev-Ari
Austin Aztex: Devin Perales (Cody Laurendi 46'); Ryan Rousandel (Kyle Hoffer 46'), Leone Cruz (Travis Golden 46'), Max Gunderson (Bubacarr Jobe 46'), Mikey Ambrose (Brian Fekete 46'); Guaraci (Lance Rozeboom 46'), Tony Rocha (Greg Mulamba 46'), Andres Cuero (Brendan King 46'); Mozzi Gyorio (Drew Yates 46'), Bryce Taylor (Jesus Cortes 46'), Fernando Timbo (Marc Dinkel 46')
Substitutes not used: None
TEAM NOTES
Crew SC's next preseason matches come at the inaugural IMG Suncoast Pro Classic, to be played in Bradenton, Florida from February 18 – February 28.
Columbus totaled 25 shots for the game, exceeding Austin's match total of seven. Crew SC outshot the Aztex 18-0 in the first half. Austin goalkeeper Devin Perales made six saves in the first 45 minutes.
Federico Higuain led the Black & Gold in shots, with six. He was one of eight different members of Crew SC to record more than one shot.
Ben Swanson and unsigned MLS SuperDraft choice Sergio Campbell each made their preseason debuts for Crew SC in the contest.
