By ROY HESS, Staff Writer
ELSA — The Porter Cowboys aren’t expecting anything to be easy for them against a new set of conference soccer opponents this season in District 32-5A, especially when they play on the road.
It certainly wasn’t easy for them Friday against the Edcouch-Elsa Yellowjackets at Benny Layton Sr. Memorial Stadium.
It took a rocket of a shot by Porter’s Marco Don Juan from approximately 25 yards out with 5 1/2 minutes remaining to provide the goal that lifted the Cowboys to a 2-1 victory over the determined Yellowjackets in the second 32-5A game of the season for each team.
“I felt it was the perfect time to take that shot (because there wasn’t a defender too close to me),” said Don Juan, a sophomore midfielder. “So, yeah, I took the chance to shoot it.
“It felt good (to score), and I want to keep on doing that for my team in the hard games,” he added. “It just felt very good.”
Porter (2-0 district) took an early 1-0 lead when a shot by Alexis Anzures bounced into the left corner of the goal 6 1/2 minutes into the match. The Cowboys dominated play throughout the first half but only led 1-0 at intermission.
“We told our guys at halftime that we needed at least one more goal because something (bad) might happen in the second half,” Porter coach Jose Espitia said. “Sure enough, it happened. Edcouch-Elsa was playing for a tie so they could take the match to penalties. You have to respect their strategy.”
The Yellowjackets (1-1) were awarded a penalty kick with 27 minutes to go in regulation after one of their players was taken down in the penalty area. Abraham Castilla converted it for E-E into the right corner of the net to tie the score at 1.
With time in regulation slipping away, the Cowboys stepped up their attack. After several corner kicks didn’t produce a score and three shots had gone off the crossbar, Don Juan came up with his timely game-winner that rocketed past E-E goalkeeper Victor Romero, who had repeatedly frustrated Porter earlier by making some great saves.
“This is the type of game we were expecting,” E-E coach Mauro Tijerina said. “Everybody knows how Porter touches the ball, and it’s an art the way they play. We had a strategy, a game plan, but this is what can happen when you don’t play a perfect game (and allow a shot like Don Juan’s to be taken).
“We have a young team,” Tijerina added. “It was a bunch of freshmen and sophomores going against a Porter squad that qualifies for the playoffs year after year. I’m proud of my guys. They played a heck of a game. It sends a message to everybody that the Yellowjackets are coming back to establish their (successful) reputation they were known for in the previous years.”
Both teams won their 32-5A openers Tuesday. Porter defeated Donna North 3-0, and E-E prevailed over PSJA High 3-2.