The Aztexan

The Aztex head back to Canada on Sunday, to face the Montreal Impact for the third and final time of the season. The game will be televised nationally on Fox Soccer Channel; kickoff is at 2:45 CT.

The Impact, sitting right in the middle of the table in 6th, would qualify for the playoffs if the season were to end today. Unfortunately for them, the season doesn't end today; there are, in fact, 7 games remaining in the season. Coming down this home stretch, Montreal has had uneven results of late. Of the last 6 games, they've won 2, lost 2 and tied 2, including a 2-2 draw with the Aztex here in Austin on July 25.

The Impact's most recent game was a 2-1 win over Cleveland City Stars, at Cleveland (match report / box score).

The Aztex, meanwhile, are still looking for their first win since July 5th. They haven't had much luck against Montreal, either. Aside from that 2-2 draw at Nelson, the result of their first matchup was a 4-0 loss in Montreal, the worst defeat the Red & White have suffered yet this year.

Though Austin's playoff chances are now so slim that you couldn't see them if they turned sideways, Coach Heath had this to say about the team's outlook on the game:

“These players got everything to play for. Are they going to be here next year? Are they going to be in the league next year with somebody else? Are they impressing me? Are they impressing the opposition? We have our own self-pride to play for, which is always important. We have to respect the fact that the club pays peoples’ salary. These players have got everything to play for.”

In addition, Heath said, despite the team’s experience the first time around, if there ever was a road game for the players to be excited about, this is the one.

“They are probably the quintessential USL-1 club,” Heath said of Montreal. “They have a great stadium. They have good crowds, well over 10,000 every time we play. It’s a real football market. We should look forward to the fact that we’re going to play in a nice stadium in front of a big crowd. That’s what we’re all here for.”

Unfortunately, some key Aztex players will miss this chance to play in Montreal. Eddie Johnson is out due to yellow-card accumulation (at least somebody on the team is paying attention to those stats now), former Impact player Kevin Sakuda is questionable due to a light foot injury, and Cuban defector Yordany Alvarez can't leave the U.S.

On the plus side, they'll still have Real Salt Lake loaner Jean Alexandre, who was just named to USL's Team of the Week. According to his tweets, Dynamo defender Erik Ustruck is also returning to the Aztex for this game. And in the biggest player news of the week, 26-year-old former FC Dallas defender Michael Dello-Russo has been signed by Austin.

"I wanted to finish out the season strong and help them make a push at the end, and I want to try and help this club grow. I want to bring experience that could help out this team because I have been in the MLS for 3.5 years. I've learned the way of being a professional so I'd like to help the younger guys on this team especially adapt well to the professional game."

Next Saturday, August 29, the Aztex will be back in town to face Miami FC. But first they have to get past the Impact and their 10,000 fans in Montreal. That kickoff time again: 2:45 PM CT. We'd love to have you join us at Chantico's Army's supporters' watch event at Cuatro's on 24th. Goarn you Aztex!

Labels: gameday, USL-1