The Aztexan

Following a luxurious 5 day rest, the Aztex take the home field again Saturday night, July 11, at 7:30. Even this late in the season, we're still seeing firsts for our Aztex: Saturday's game will be the first-ever matchup with the Portland Timbers.

The Timbers have had a strong season so far. Their 7-1-6 record puts them in the 3rd spot on the table. They're only a few points back from the top, and they have several games in hand over both teams ahead of them, Charleston & Puerto Rico.

Portland will be looking for a strong showing in this road game, after letting a win over the Thunder slip into a 1-1 draw at the last minute last Saturday in Minnesota (match report / box score).

As this preview on The Offside's Portland blog points out, the last time the Timbers came to Texas was to play the El Paso Patriots in 2003. The following year the A-League became USL-1, and El Paso dropped to the PDL.

Turning from history to the future, the Timbers are still trying to work out the stadium deal that's required before their planned move to MLS in 2011. A new $31 million deal was proposed to the Portland City Council just today.

This Saturday, the Aztex are also looking for a strong showing, of course. After taking another hit to their goal differential in the 4-1 loss to the Rochester Rhinos in New York last Sunday, they'll be looking to redeem themselves:

While the Aztex have played considerably better at home, so much shifting in the back line has made it a challenge... MLS players have come in and out of the back line all season in order to battle injuries – and costly mistakes. Three of Sunday’s goals came off botched clearances, a recurring issue for Austin.

“Individual errors are costing us very dearly,” Heath said. “I look at our goals [allowed] and if I thought the opposition was cutting us open because the system was so poor, then I’d be very concerned. But at times it’s isolated incidents where defenders are making stupid errors really.”

We may see some new (and returning) players in red & white this week:

After missing 11 games and doing more sitting than training, Gifton Noel-Williams finally practiced for a full session Wednesday.

Ever since his hamstring injury in April, Austin’s team captain has been limited to the sideline. Noel-Williams made a brief 18-minute appearance against Rochester on June 21, but quickly reinjured himself and found himself back on the bench... Noel-Williams said he should be fit enough to play Saturday against Portland, even if it comes as a sub.

... Antonio Barrera of the PDL’s El Paso Patriots trained with the Aztex Wednesday. Originally brought in to train with the Aztex U23s, the midfielder has been given an amateur agreement in order to give the coaches a chance to see him in action.

“He did really well against us when we played in the [U.S.] Open Cup,” Heath said.”He’ll train with us and we’ll see how he fits in.”

Both Austin and Portland were eliminated from the U.S. Open Cup in the 3rd round (Portland knocked out by arch rivals Seattle Sounders, Austin beat by the Houston Dynamo), so they will turn their full focus to league play. You can bet that both teams will give their all to bag these 3 points.

A special Family Four Pack deal is available for this game: $40 gets you 4 tickets, 4 sodas and 4 tacos. Kickoff will be at 7:30 PM, so the pre-match supporters' gathering at Nomad Bar will start around 5:00. This should be a great game; see you there!

Labels: gameday, USL-1