The Dallas Fort Worth Tornados didn't look like a team that came into Thursday night's contest struggling, while the Laredo Heat (4-1-4, 16 points) didn't offer its sharpest performance at home as
it salvaged a point with a 2-2 tie against the Tornados (1-5-3, 6) at the Texas A&M International University Soccer Complex.
The Tornados were seven minutes away, six compensation, from earning their second victory of the season.
Rescuing the Heat were the duo if Dionisio "Nicho" Infante and Greg Mulamba.
In the 89th minute, Infante, who had worked his way untouched down the midfield, placed a perfect pass to Mulamba just outside the box.
Mulamba then turned around and sent the ball past the Tornados goalie Maros Valko for the equalizer.
"This game was a must win for us, but we are appreciative of getting at least one point," Heat goalkeeper Ryan Cooper said.
The Heat stayed undefeated at home despite being out shot nine to seven and for the most part outplayed after a strong start to the contest in which the Heat dominated the first five minutes in which several shots on goals came and went.
The missed opportunities came back to haunt the club, no opportunity better then the one Esteban Bayona had in the opening minute.
After a miscue in the defense, Bayona intercepted the pass and raced towards the goalie for a one-on-one situation. His shot went just wide of the far left post.
The Tornados then shored up their defense and played the Heat evenly before Bayona finally managed to knock in the opening score in the 41 minute.
It was Bayona's fourth goal with the Heat.
Bayona left the after injuring his ankle late in the game, leaving the team thin at the forward's position.
His services for tonight's contest against the Rio Grande Bravos at TAMIU might not be available.
The Tornados controlled the contest in the second half, and Paulo Da Silva knocked in the equalizer in the 58th minute with a laser shot from a 25-yard free kick.
They added the go-ahead goal via another set play, this time on a corner kick in the 79th minute when Stephen McCarthy slid to knock in a goal from about three yards out.
"There was some miscommunication with the defenders, and nobody could clear it," Cooper explained.
The Tornado's corner came about after they nearly knocked in their second goal a couple of second earlier.
A Tornado player broke away in the seventh minute, but his shot bounced off the crossbar and just outside the goal line.
Note: The Heat will host the Bravos tonight at 8:15 p.m. at the TAMIU Soccer Complex.
Anyone who purchased a ticket for Thursday night's game gets in tonight for free.
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