By EDWARD SEVERN, Staff Writer
BROWNSVILLE — A brace from the penalty spot by Brownsville Porter captain Julian Gallegos gave the Cowboys a 2-1 win over the Brownsville Veterans Memorial Chargers on Tuesday night to kick off District 32-5A.
“I kind of get nervous, especially the second one because I had taken one before,” Gallegos said. “I usually go with power and the top corners because it is harder to save. I am happy we won. Everyone gave 100 percent.”
Both teams moved the ball and defended well in the early going. A couple of half-chances and set-piece opportunities littered the first half, but no team visibly dominated.
Porter looked to be the better side to end the first half and should have gone ahead when Jose Mateos found space in the box. Chargers defender Jesus Chapa blocked the first shot with his body, and the rebound from 6 yards out by Mateos was saved by keeper Brian Lara.
Porter scored its goal after Mateos was played in with a beautiful pass. Lara closed down Mateos in the box, but Mateos held him off well and Lara went through him to get the ball, resulting in a penalty.
Gallegos smashed the penalty past Lara to give the Cowboys a 1-0 lead into the halftime break.
Brownsville Veterans got back in the game quickly during the second half. Luis Villanueva finished smoothly past the Porter keeper after finding space to level the match.
Porter found success through the middle of the Chargers’ defense. Another well-timed run got in behind the Chargers and Alesandro Lara was brought down in the box, resulting in another penalty kick.
Gallegos placed the kick well again to give the Cowboys the lead.
“It was a very important win, a big game for us to start district on the right foot,” Porter coach Jose Espitia said. “(Brownsville) Veterans are a really good team and have been really successful the last four seasons. Every time we play, it is a really close game.”
Brownsville Veterans pushed hard for the equalizer and had some opportunities but did not find the back of the net.
“I think we started a little slow,” Chargers coach Alberto Vasquez said. “They are a good team. We gave them opportunities. We were out of position, and any time you give up a penalty you were out of position. We will go back and look at the film, and I (will) find out what exactly happened.”