AC ST. LOUIS FALLS IN HOME OPENER 2-1
Anthony O’Garro Scores First Goal For St. Louis

ST. LOUIS, MO (April 17, 2010) – AC St. Louis, playing in their first ever USSF Division 2 Pro League game, made their home debut Saturday night, dropping a 2-1 decision to the Austin Aztex in front of 5,695 at the sold out Anheuser-Busch Soccer Park. The game marked the return of men’s outdoor professional soccer for the first time in 33 years.

Austin opened the scoring in the 37th minute when Jamie Watson played in a long ball from the right wing through the penalty area. Aztex forward Eddie Johnson was able to redirect Watson’s effort, slipping it past Alec Dufty for a 1-0 lead.

Six minutes later AC St. Louis answered back courtesy of an Anthony O’Garro strike from just outside the penalty area that found the upper right-hand corner of the net. O’Garro was able to strike a second ball that fell to him, firing home a right-footed shot from beyond the penalty arc.

Austin grabbed the lead in the 56th minute when Leonard Griffin struck a 30-yard screamer that eluded St. Louis keeper Alec Dufty. Griffin’s shot was powered home from the left side, beating Dufty who just managed to get his fingers on it as he was going down.

AC St. Louis falls to 0-2-0 on the young season. AC St. Louis will embark on a two-game road trip beginning Thursday night in Portland, before traveling on to Vancouver for a Saturday night match against the Whitecaps. AC St. Louis returns home for a May 1 match against Crystal Palace Baltimore. Tickets are still available and can be obtained by calling 1-888-STL-GOAL.

AC St. Louis v. Austin Aztex – USSF Division 2 Pro League
April 17, 2010 – The Anheuser-Busch Soccer Park, St. Louis, MO

SCORING SUMMARY:
AUS 37th minute Johnson (Watson)
STL 43rd minute O’Garro
AUS 56th minute Griffin

LINEUPS:
AC-STL: Dufty; O’Garro, Nzinga, Veltern, Bauer; Traynor, Kante, Bloom, Kreamalmeyer; Cosgriff, Stisser

Austin: Gallardo; Bernard, Lance Watson, Needham, Sakuda; Olum, Griffin, Alvarez, Silva,; Johnson, Jamie Watson

SUBSTITUTES:
AUS 24th minute Marshall for Bernard
STL 70th minute Titton for Kreamalmeyer
AUS 76th minute Callahan for Silva
STL 81tst minute Kafedzic for O’Garro
AUS 87th minute Griffin for Watson

MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:
AUS 20th Yellowcard – Alvarez
STL 73rd Yellowcard – Velten
STL 76th Yellowcard – Kante
STL 77th Yellowcard – O’Garro
AUS 82nd Yellowcard – Callahan
STL 86th Yellowcard – Kafedzic

STATS SUMMARY:
STL AUS
Total Shots: 5 8
Shots on Goal: – –
Saves: 3 2
Fouls: 19 12
Corners: 0 6
Offsides: 4 1

Referee: Landis Wiley
Referee’s Assistants: Kevin Mesman, Hidajet Tica
4th official: Doug Wolff
time of game: 1:56
attendance: 5,600
weather: 60 fair, clear, sunny, cool.

ABOUT AC ST. LOUIS
AC St. Louis will play its first year of professional soccer in the USSF Division 2 Pro League in 2010. The team was formally launched in November of 2009. AC St. Louis, along with its sister franchise Saint Louis Athletica of the WPS, will play their home games at The Anheuser-Busch Soccer Park in suburban St. Louis. Season tickets and group tickets for AC St. Louis are currently on sale. For information call 1-888-STL-GOAL.