The Aztexan

We were blessed with yet another beautiful evening at Nelson Field Tuesday night. Before we know it, the summer nights will be stifling; we shouldn't take these early season gems for granted.

The crowd was about what I'd guessed: way less than the opener, but at 1,549, not bad for a weeknight, especially before school's out.

I thought the Aztex showed improved play, even since the draw with Minnesota on Saturday. Still not quite firing on all cylinders, but getting there. They weren't helped by the refereeing in the last 20 or 30 minutes, that's for sure. And maybe it was just me, but the Whitecaps seemed to have trouble staying on their feet there at the end of the game, too.

So we'll have to settle for another draw, and one point is always better than none. It will just have to be Cleveland that will be the first sacrifice on Chantico's altar, this weekend.

The You-Had-To-Be-There Moment of the Match: the Aztex's tying goal in the 67th minute. Maybe it's trite and too obvious to call a goal the moment of the match. But on the other hand, isn't that what we're all there for? That thrill, that excitement, that feeling that your team is unstoppable. . . that's the stuff. It wasn't a goal-of-the-year contender, but Gifton had a perfect, clinical header off Silva's corner kick, his first (of many!) of the regular season, and we were instantly back in it. Fantastic.

The Be-Glad-You-Weren't-There Moment of the Match (a hopefully rare feature): when Whitecaps head coach Teitur Thordarson was too upset and too busy carrying on after the match — not really sure what about — to shake Adrian Heath's hand. You stay classy, Vancouver.

Here's a rundown of other post-match coverage:

• Aztex settle for draw vs. defending champion — Austin American-Statesman
  

  Despite falling behind early against the defending USL-1 champion, the Austin Aztex were left ruing a 1-1 draw against Vancouver on Tuesday night at Nelson Field. For the second time in three days, Austin fought back from a goal deficit to pull level in the second half, but couldn't find a game winner.
  
  A bright start from the Aztex was quickly wiped out by a Vancouver goal straight from the training ground. After a right wing cross was deflected out of bounds, Vancouver winger Wes Knight launched a throw-in into the Austin box for defender Marco Reda to head home at the far post in the 19th minute.

• Aztex FC earn 1-1 draw against Vancouver Whitecaps (& box score) — AustinAztex.com
  

  On the ensuing corner kick, Silva drove a curling ball just outside of the 6-yard box. Noel-Williams managed to elude a wall of blue defenders and then headed the ball past Nolly to tie up the score at one apiece.
  
  ...The Aztex head coach said he was disappointed with the team’s first half, but saw progress in the second. "The shape looked better and we were more of a threat in the second. We had a couple great chances. I thought we would win. But we just played the defending champs and this should give us a good feel of the league."

• Weekly honors announced — USLSoccer.com
  
  This is really more to do with last Saturday's game against the Thunder, but I'll slip it in here, anyway: Aztex defender Lyle Adams was selected as a USL Player of the Week for his goal Saturday night.

Last — and certainly least — here's a quick & corny video I whipped up to commemorate the Whitecaps' frequent gravity checks throughout the game. Disclaimers: it's just a joke; yes, it shows multiple shots of each incident for comedic effect; no warranty either expressed or implied; void where prohibited; certain restrictions may apply and please, no wagering.

Labels: postgame, USL-1