Box Score LAREDO, Texas – A pair of goals just after the hour mark of Monday’s South Texas showdown between Texas A&M International and the visiting University of Texas at Brownsville decided the home-opening affair.
The Ocelots (5-1-0) equalized the match at one in the 38th minute and again at two in the 66th minute and seized the lead from the Dustdevils in the 69th minute of the 3-2 non-conference match. TAMIU’s single goal per half was not enough to clinch its first win of the young season, falling to 0-2-0 before facing a stretch of four consecutive away matches before returning home on Sept. 27.
Spanish senior striker Diego Manzano-Cano opened the scoring with a burial of Tayeb Ahmadi’s cross ball in the 17th minute. Ahmadi, a French junior, scorched down right touchline before dishing a delivery to Manzano-Cano, who chested the ball to his right foot, which flicked the finish into the back of the Ocelots’ net. That strike was the first of two goals that Brownsville goalkeeper Ben Perez allowed in his 90 minutes in goal.
The Ocelots’ Orrin Farrell notched the first of his brace in the 39th minute off a backline breakdown by the Dustdevils. UTB’s Mario Perez threaded a leader into Farrell’s striding feet with nothing but net in front of him. He scored again in the 66th minute by firing a finessed floater over TAMIU keeper Jesus Cisneros.
The ball kissed the bottom of the crossbar before softly sliding into the Dustdevils net.
Fifteen minutes before Farrell’s second, TAMIU fullback Oscar Pompa nodded a corner kick from Jovany Macias toward the Ocelots’ goal. After several deflections, TAMIU was in back in front – until the 66th minute.
Center official Jason Ano’s whistle stopped play in a threatening position in the 69th minute after a TAMIU foul. The Ocelots’ Victor Parreiras towered over the free kick from 30 yards out, launching a missile into Cisneros’ net with precision.
Ano was kept busy by both sides, showing six yellow cards for rough play and late tackles. TAMIU’s Pompa, Arturo Gutierrez, Funcia Kenneh and Juan Ramirez were carded for sliding into contact while aiming to alter UTB attacks. Archie Massen and the Ocelots’ bench were warned for dissent.
TAMIU registered 11 shots in the match, but was overpowered by Brownsville’s 16 shots and two corner kicks. Cisneros made four saves, but TAMIU committed 17 fouls that granted UTB looks at his net.
The Dustdevils now travel to Durango, Colo., for a game against the University of Mary on Sept. 14 and against Fort Lewis College on Sept. 16. They play at Eastern New Mexico and West Texas A&M before returning to the TAMIU Soccer Complex on Sept. 27 for a Heartland Conference matchup with St. Mary’s.
