The Aztexan

This is the result you get when the other team just plays better than you do. That's what the Charleston Battery did at Nelson Field on Friday, they simply outplayed the Aztex for the better part of the game.

It was a face-off of vertical stripes: red-and-white vs. black-and-yellow. When the black-and-yellow jerseys had speed and pace, the red-and-white had less. Where the black-and-yellow placed crisp, precise passes to other black-and-yellows, the red-and-whites also placed crisp, precise passes to black-and-yellows. And of course, where the black-and-yellow slipped two solid goals into the back of the net, the red-and-white had none to answer.

If that's the team Charleston puts out every game, it's not hard to see why they're undefeated on the season.

The You-Had-To-Be-There Moment of the Match: When the blazing sun was finally eclipsed by a low bank of clouds. The relief to both the temperature and the brightness was dramatic. If nothing else, it will make us appreciate the shady side of the pitch all the more.

And I have to ask, what was the deal with that halftime? It featured a game of girls' frisbee football. The young women were in team uniforms, so I guess this activity is an organized league of some kind. It seemed to be somewhat like American football or rugby, but played with a frisbee instead. Hey ladies: you know what sport is fun, popular, perfectly good for females to play and appreciated by fans at a pro soccer game? SOCCER.

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

• box score — USLSoccer.com
  

  Weather: Hot, sunny

• Aztex shut out by first-place Battery — Austin American-Statesman
  

  A lackadaisical start from both sides under oppressive heat that drove most fans under the stands until after kickoff gave way to a quick Charleston lead. The Battery's Tyler Hemming slid a perfect through ball to the sprinting Darren Spicer across the Austin box in the 12th minute, leaving the forward with the task of beating goalkeeper Miguel Gallardo from 10 yards out.
  
  Behind the tireless legs of the recently returned Eddie Johnson, who missed three games with work permit issues, Austin's comeback attempt had effort but little ingenuity. Aside from an audacious chip attempt from 25 yards out with the first half winding down, the English forward was little more than a spectator, hopelessly chasing lost causes as teammates gave the ball away with abandon.

• Aztex suffer tough loss to Charleston Battery — AustinAztex.com
  

  "The nature of the defeat was more disappointing. We looked like a young team playing against a group of men."
  
  ..."At no stage in the evening did I think we would win tonight," Heath said. "That's probably the first time I can say that. Even in the other games, I thought we could get a goal. . . I thought they were good, but I thought we were poor."

Next up for the Aztex: an immediate rematch and chance for revenge. The Battery are still in town, and will be at Nelson Field again today, Sunday, June 7. Their win Friday night puts them at the top of the standings, while Austin continues to slip down, holding just 9 points after 8 games.

Kickoff tonight is at 6:00. I hope you'll be there, but even more than that, I hope the Aztex will be there.

Labels: gameday, postgame, USL-1