The Aztexan

We escaped the threat of rainy weather once again last night, as the gloomy clouds lingering over Austin never did anything more than the slightest drizzle. The Aztex offense, on the other hand, not only rained; it poured. After coming close in the first two matches, the Aztex were finally able to decisively put their opponent away.

The Cleveland City Stars weren't terrible, but they were back on their heels from the start. They might have been able to hold on better if Cleveland's Ryan Stewart hadn't decided to plant a vicious elbow in Ryan Caugherty's face, approximately 3 yards directly in front of the ref. Stewart was sent off with a straight red for that in the 49th minute, and there wasn't much for the the City Stars to hang their hat on after that.

The prevailing choice for Man of the Match at the post-game supporters gathering at Cuatros was Eddie Johnson. In addition to 2 of the 3 goals and an assist on the 3rd, his tireless hustle was an inspiration.

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

• Aztex pick up first victory in team history — Austin American-Statesman
  

  Playing with a strong tailwind in the first half, the Aztex opened aggressively as they pressured the Stars at every opportunity. The strategy quickly paid off as Yordany Alvarez picked up the ball in the middle of the field and played in Johnson with a well-weighted chip. The English forward did the rest with one touch, as he outran the Cleveland defense and lifted the bouncing ball over [Hunter] Gilstrip and into the open net.

• Austin Aztex FC defeat Cleveland City Stars 3-0 for first franchise win — AustinAztex.com

  Aztex head coach Adrian Heath was understandably pleased with the team’s performance in getting the first win in franchise history.
  
  "I was a little bit critical at halftime. I felt like we should've been up by more than one. We were always confident that we'd win," Heath said. "I'm really pleased Eddie got a reward for his efforts and Sully got a reward for all he does, engaging the crowd."
  
  Johnson, following his two-goal performance, admitted it was important to get off to a fast start. "We needed to get off good since we had been starting down in the previous games. I think the guys are getting used to what it's going to be like."

• Aztex win first game of season — News 8 Austin
  
  I'm glad News 8 sends a camera to the games, and includes the result in their coverage, but boy I wish they'd show more than 17 seconds (17 seconds!) of the match. Someday.

Next week is a bye week for the Red & White. Their next match is May 8 (that's a Friday), when they'll host the Puerto Rico Islanders' return to Nelson Field. Last time it was an exhibition, to help the Islanders warm up for their CONCACAF Champions League semifinal. This time, it will count.

Site note: with this post, I'm introducing the 2009 Schedule & Index. It combines a schedule of all this year's USL-1 team games, including exhibition matches, with an index of all my pre- and post-game posts. A link to it can also be found under "Featured" in the sidebar on the right side of each page.

Labels: postgame, USL-1

Here we are again, ready for the third Aztex home game in a week. With 2 draws from 2 games, Austin is still looking for their first regular season victory. But so are tonight's opponents, the Cleveland City Stars. This will be their second match of the season, as they come off a 1-3 loss to Miami FC last Saturday (match report / box score).

As I wrote earlier in the year, Cleveland is an expansion team in USL-1 this year. Though they won the USL-2 championship last year, the team has undergone extensive changes in their jump to the top league. You can read more about that in the 2009 USL-1 Preview.

Here's what the Aztex match preview has to say about tonight's match:

The trip to Austin is the second straight road match for the City Stars to open the 2009 season. Cleveland looks to bounce back after a season-opening 3-1 loss at Miami FC and hopes to benefit from the return of veteran keeper Hunter Gilstrap

Match Forecast

Temp:	upper 70s
Rain:	20%
Wind:	15mph
Sunset:	8:05

as of 8:00 AM, 4/25/09

, who missed last week’s opener because he hadn’t been cleared to play by his previous team, Martizburg United of the South African Premier League. Gilstrap has been a member of the City Stars since the team’s inaugural season in 2007 and spent a year in the USL-1 with Miami FC in 2006.

The City Stars will also have defender Austin Washington on loan from the MLS Chicago Fire for the match.

It should be a great night for soccer at Nelson Field tonight, with a very real chance that this will be the club's first win of the season. Also, there's a nearly two week break after tonight, until the Puerto Rico Islanders return on Friday, May 8, so you won't want to miss this one.

As usual, tonight's game kicks off is 7:30, but the supporters groups start earlier (5:00 at Nomad Bar, 7:00 entering stadium). See you there!

Labels: gameday, USL-1

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

Hot on the heals of Saturday's 1-1 draw with Minnesota, the action at Nelson Field continues Tuesday night. The Aztex, still looking for their first league win, host reigning USL-1 champions Vancouver Whitecaps in a rare mid-week game.

The Whitecaps, themselves 2 games into the season, are also looking for their first win. They played to a 0-0 draw in their home opener with the Charleston Battery on April 11, and lost 2-1 to the Puerto Rico Islanders last Saturday.

Here's what the 2009 USL-1 Preview had to say about Vancouver:

The Vancouver Whitecaps not only finished 2nd place in 2008 league play with 53 points, only one behind table leading Puerto Rico, but went on to defeat all opponents in the playoffs, including the Islanders in an exciting 2-1 win at a packed Swangard Stadium — their second trophy in two years. However, in typical USL fashion, the 2009 roster will look very different.

Match Forecast

Temp:	upper 70s
Rain:	0%
Wind:	6mph
Sunset:	8:02

as of 6:00 AM, 4/21/09

Teitur Thordarson will again be at the helm for the Caps. However, the team has lost veterans Jeff Clarke, Steve Kindell, and Alfredo Valente. Also gone are team leading scorers Nicholas Addlery and Eduardo Sebrango. Charles Gbeke will be looked upon to pick up the slack. Veteran USL winger and forward Ansu Torre, a new signing for the team, could also be a solution to find goals if the player were to find his scoring touch. He had 6 for both Minnesota and Atlanta. Journeyman midfielder Martin Nash’s leadership will be called upon to sync the team on and off the field. With the recent acquisition of 27-year-old veteran MLS centerback Jeff Parke and the return of goalkeeper Jay Nolly, the backline should be solid.

The key to success will be making up for the loss of the Caps’ proven goal scorers.

Supporters will start, as usual, at the Nomad at 5:00, then head over to the stadium at 6:30. We'll march into Nelson in unison at 7:00, and invite anyone and everyone to join us. This being a midweek game, attendance is sure to be lighter than the Lonestar Soccer Club-packed crowd from Saturday. All the more reason for you to come, and bring 1 or 2 or 15 friends, and make the noise that will help put our boys over the top!

Labels: gameday, USL-1

Another beautiful evening at Nelson Field last night, even if the final scoreline wasn't quite what we were hoping for. Fears and forecasts of bad weather proved groundless, as the temperature was perfect and there was hardly a cloud in the sky.

It was an evenly matched game. Both teams had their share of the run of play, though as the score shows, neither were able to take much advantage of it. The Aztex had more of the upper hand, but time and time again, were unable to hook it up. The potential is clearly there, from both individual players and the team as a whole, but they didn't quite have the chemistry last night. The sole Aztex goal benefitted from some good luck, as the Thunder defense, including keeper Nic Platter, all sort of pulled up short, apparently believing the Aztex were in an offside position.

The You-Had-To-Be-There Moment(s) of the Match: every time the Reagan High School "Soul Raiders" drum corps got going. This energetic and entertaining group — which included a drum line, an assortment of horns & woodwinds and a handful of dancers — performed on the field before the game and at halftime. But they also came up into the stands, right below the supporters' section, and got the beat going in a major way several times. This 2-minute video will give you a taste, though it only shows the drummers. I, for one, hope these kids become a regular fixture at Aztex home matches.

The evening also saw the introduction of the new Aztex mascot. Inspired by a fan design and selected by online voting, the winner was unveiled: meet Sgt. Pepper (picture coming soon). A red chili pepper in red-and-white kit, he represents Austin Aztex FC's unique combination of Texan and English influences. (The club should see if they can draft one of the Soul Raiders to bop around in that mascot outfit...)

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

• Aztex play to a draw in first game (& photo gallery) — Austin American-Statesman
  

  After a low-key first half in which Austin dominated possession without creating many chances, the Thunder took the lead in the 52nd minute. A quick counter-attack on the left flank saw Minnesota forward Leonel Saint-Preux break into the Austin box, and after initially seeing his shot blocked, he picked up the rebound, calmly rounded goalkeeper Miguel Gallardo and fired high into the empty net.
  
  "The fact that we were pressing, we left ourselves vulnerable on the counter-attack," Aztex coach Adrian Heath said. "But we got better as the game's gone on."

• Aztex Tie Thunder, 1-1 (video) — News 8 Austin
  Not sure I should even link to a video clip that's literally twice as much commercial as it is news...


• Aztex FC tie Thunder 1-1 in USL-First Division debut — AustinAztex.com
  

  Two minutes later the offensive persistence of Austin paid dividends. That’s when Silva’s cross into the middle missed its target including all Thunder defenders, and managed to find the left foot of defender Lyle Adams, who was playing forward. Adams settled the ball then fired a rocket from 30 yards out.
  
  ...While the action remained at a fever pitch the remaining few minutes of the contest, neither team was unable to break the deadlock.
  
  Heath said he was reasonably satisfied with his team’s USL-First Division debut performance.
  
  "I thought we were better in the second half. We were nervous when we started. The game was food for thought. If we had started better, we could have relaxed sooner. I thought we would nick it in the end."

Austin's front-loaded home schedule continues on Tuesday (yes, Tuesday) night at 7:30, when we host the 2008 USL-1 champion Vancouver Whitecaps. The Whitecaps are winless this season after 2 games, coming off a 2-1 loss to Puerto Rico last night. That will be followed by another home game next Saturday, April 25, when we take on fellow expansion side Cleveland City Stars, who went down 3-1 to Miami FC in their first USL-1 game.

Labels: postgame, USL-1

At long last, it's finally here: the 2009 Aztex season begins Saturday night!

For this first game, the Aztex will be taking on the Minnesota Thunder, who started their season last weekend with a 2-1 loss at the Carolina Railhawks. The Chantico's Army site has more pre-game scouting info on the matchup.

The Aztex have gotten some good press leading up to the opener. News8 Austin has a nice 5-minute story & interview with Coach Heath, and there are rumors of a big story coming in Saturday's Austin American-Statesman.

We also have a great write-up from the Austin Chronicle's Nick Barbaro: Chapter One: A Team Is Born.

A few months ago these 20 young men were spread out around the country and overseas – many of them more or less unemployed – and now they are the Austin Aztex. Here they are, sitting in a hotel bar watching the Champions League together after Media Day. There they are, having a meet-and-greet with fans at Cuatro's as we go to press. Not 20 guys fighting for jobs anymore, but a team – our team. Part of our community but also their own community.

It's a young team – younger, perhaps, than last year's PDL squad. Well-traveled English striker Gifton Noel-Williams is the old man at 27. On the other hand, there's a good bit of top-level experience in the clubhouse, from manager Adrian Heath on down. And there seems to be a level of maturity as well. There are no teens, no prima donnas, just about every player has had some life experiences to speak of – all in all, they seem like a really good group of guys.

That story also includes the current Aztex roster, which includes each player's position, height, weight and "life in 20 words or less".

In other team news, there are new, discounted ticket prices for kids, and the Nelson Field parking lot will be open earlier for tailgating, starting at 4:30 PM (but remember, alcohol is never allowed anywhere on the grounds).

The Chantico's Army supporters group will start even earlier than that, congregating at Nelson Field at 3:00 to practice chants, songs, etc. They'll adjourn to the Nomad at about 5:00 (where, as it happens, alcohol is allowed), then be back at the stadium at about 6:30. The group will march into Nelson in unison at 7:00, and invites anyone and everyone to join them at that time, and (of course!) throughout the game.

To paraphrase the Longhorns' slogan: come early, be loud, stay late, wear red!

Labels: gameday, USL-1

You may have seen ads for Nothing But Nets, the charity supported by MLS (and NBA, VH-1 and WNBA, among others). The purpose of the group is pretty simple: buy insecticide-treated bed netting to distribute to malaria-stricken areas of the world. That netting, draped around their beds, protects people in those areas from mosquito bites and, more importantly, from the malaria they transmit.

I'd heard of this before, myself. But it wasn't until I read this amazing National Geographic article: Malaria - Stopping A Global Killer, that I really realized what a monster malaria is. Virtually nonexistent in the U.S., in some parts of the world it's a terrifying part of daily life.

A nationwide health survey in 2005 [in Zambia] concluded that for every thousand children under age five living in the North-Western Province, there were 1,353 cases of malaria. An annual rate of more than 100 percent seems impossible, a typo. It is not. What it means is that many children are infected with malaria more than once a year.

...Few infectious agents can overwhelm the body as swiftly as [malaria parasites Plasmodium] falciparum. An African youth can be happily playing soccer in the morning and dead of falciparum malaria that night.

There are a lot of problems in the world, and a lot of worthy organizations working to help. But when I read that story, I knew the cause I wanted to help fight for. I challenge you to read it and not be moved to help, too.

But don't just take it from me, take it from former Houston Dynamo, current Toronto FC star Dwayne De Rosario, in this short video:



It's easy to help, and it's not expensive. A bed net costs $10, which includes delivery to Africa. Ten bucks! That's the cost of two pints of Guinness at the Nomad (not including tip). Meanwhile, that $10 could literally save a kid's life somewhere in Zimbabwe, or Mali, or Chad.

And if you donate now, you'll have a chance to win 2 tickets — including airfare & hotel — to this year's MLS All-Star Game in Salt Lake City in July. Leading up to World Malaria Day on April 25th, 4 MLS teams are participating in the "Nothing But Nets Challenge", a contest to see whose fans can raise the most money for this cause. The teams, and links to their Nothing But Nets Challenge pages, are: LA Galaxy, Chicago Fire, DC United and Seattle Sounders. Donate through one of those pages, and if that team wins the contest, they could draw your name to win the All-Star Game trip. (Hint: Seattle's the team to go with. As of this writing they've raised over $10,000, far ahead of the next highest team, DC United with $1,600.)

Go ahead, don't wait, do it right now. Send a net. Save a life.

Labels: community, MLS

Fellow USL-1 blogger Brian Quarstad of Inside Minnesota Soccer continues his work to fill the void in USL media coverage.

In addition to writing the weekly USL review that I've mentioned previously, Brian also came up with the idea to put together a league-wide, team-by-team season preview. Brian asked bloggers from around the league, including yours truly, to submit write-ups on their teams. Now he has put it all together, along with help from Major League Soccer Talk's Kartik Krishnaiyer to fill in some gaps.

Enjoy now and bookmark for reference later in the season: 2009 United Soccer League-1 Preview.

Labels: rivals, USL-1

It was a beautiful evening at Nelson Field last night for the final exhibition match of the Aztex's 2009 preseason. The Puerto Rico Islanders were in town to warm up for their CONCACAF Champions League semifinal game in Mexico City next week. Heading into the 2nd leg with a 2-0 advantage, the Islanders last night were practicing the defensive tactics they'll employ against Cruz Azul on Tuesday.

One unique feature of the match, which would be fun to include in future exhibitions, was a scheduled penalty shootout. The score happened to be tied at the end, but the shootout was planned in advance and announced throughout the game. Why not give the players a chance to practice penalty shots with all the pressure of the crowd looking on? In this instance, neither team put their starting keeper in the net: Chris McClellan was in for Puerto Rico, and trialist Sam Reynolds was in for Austin (saving 2 out of 3 Islander PK shots — the 3rd went wide — one would think that was a pretty successful trial outing!).

The You-Had-To-Be-There Moment of the Match: when the announcer's booth experienced technical difficulties trying to play the national anthem, and the crowd — led by a woman with a megaphone in the supporters' section — spontaneously got it going themselves.

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

• Aztex tie Islanders in scoreless preseason game — Austin American-Statesman
  

  With the Islanders content to sit back in a defensive posture as a dress rehearsal for the expected Cruz Azul onslaught, the game lacked a cutting edge as waves of Austin possession broke on the defenders' orange wall.
  
  ...But even as the Aztex moved the ball in midfield with relative ease, they were unable to offer a genuine threat on the Islanders' goal.

• Austin Aztex vs islanders — Patrick Meredith, Official Aztex Photographer
  


• Aztex FC and Islanders play to scoreless draw — AustinAztex.com
  

  "I am very pleased with the way we played tonight with what is the benchmark of our division in Puerto Rico," Aztex head coach Adrian Heath said.
  
  While happy, Heath mentioned there were some mistakes made that will be addressed. "We kept patient during the game, which is hard. When we were impatient, they got the ball. The last thing we want to do is give them opportunities for openings with our mistakes."

• Aztex wins friendly in penalty shootout — The Offside's Puerto Rico Islanders Blog
  

  Wes Allen, Jarius Holmes and Alex Tapp scored the winning penalty goals for the Aztex; while Cristian Arrieta, Noah Delgado and Josh Hansen missed their shots for the Puerto Ricans. Arrieta missed his shot wide right; Delgado and Hansen had their shots saved by the Aztex goalkeeper. Sam Reynolds covered the posts for Austin, and newly acquired goalie Chris McClellan did the same for the Islanders.

The USL-1 season officially kicks off next weekend, with Minnesota Thunder at Carolina RailHawks and Charleston Battery at Vancouver Whitecaps (I hope USLLive is up and running by then!). The Aztex's season, however, won't start until the following Saturday, with a home opener against the Minnesota Thunder on April 18.

Until then, best of luck to the Islanders in their quest for CONCACAF Champions League glory next Tuesday night!

Labels: exhibition, postgame, USL-1

The Aztex will host USL-1 rivals Puerto Rico Islanders on Friday night at Nelson Field at 7:30 PM. The game will be Austin's last exhibition match before the start of the regular season.

Tickets for this match are $18 and $22, the just-announced regular season ticket price.

The Islanders most recently faced Mexico's Cruz Azul at home in the first leg of the CONCACAF Champions League semifinals, winning that match 2-0.

Also potentially significant late for the Islanders was the debut of the tall Kyle Veris as a defender. Veris has CONCACAF experience having played for the Galaxy in the 2006 CONCACAF Champions Cup, and also is a veteran of the Norwegian second division. (Veris played a role in getting his side promoted to the top flight of Norwegian football but was released after promotion.) It is possible Manager Colin Clarke will feature Veris and possibly sit Scott Jones in the second leg.

Another disappointment for Puerto Rico was the inability to spring Kendall Jagdeosingh free on counter attacking goal scoring opportunity. The Islanders seemed too tired and too committed to defending to take chances going forward.

Puerto Rico will be heading from here to Mexico City's Estadio Azul for the second leg of that Champions League semifinal next Tuesday. If they advance to the finals, they will face one of the two other Mexican powerhouses remaining in the championship: Santos Laguna or Atlante.

Though the first games of the USL-1 season begin next weekend on April 11, the first Aztex game will be the home opener on April 18 vs. the Minnesota Thunder. That will be the first of 3 home games in a single week: Austin will also host the Vancouver Whitecaps on Tuesday, April 21, and the Cleveland City Stars the following Saturday, April 25.

As for the last game, supporters will meet before & after at the Nomad Bar (map). See you there, and at the game!

Labels: CONCACAF, exhibition, gameday, USL-1

In a move sure to send shockwaves through the American soccer world, Don Garber announced today that the expansion slot for the 2013 MLS season has been awarded to Austin, Texas. The ownership group includes current Austin Aztex owner Phil Rawlins, local cycling celebrity Lance Armstrong, and a guy who beat them both at darts last weekend.

Critics of the plan, primarily a crowd of people dressed head to toe in burnt orange, point to the fact that the Aztex currently play on artificial turf in a high school football stadium. That's where the fourth, surprise member of the ownership group comes in. Exercising the franchise ownership clause in his contract, world superstar David Beckham will be the majority owner and director of the new club.

"I'm so excited to help advance the state of the sport here in the Colonies," Beckham told reporters this morning. "And Posh can't get enough Rudy's barbecue and Lone Star beer, so it's perfect for us. Plus I've known Phil for forever. We're both British, you know."

The new team's name, like that of Nolan Ryan's Round Rock Express baseball team, will come from the owner's nickname: Texas Golden Balls. "Lance pushed pretty hard for the name to be singular, for some reason," Beckham explained. "But this way we have sponsorship from the game show as well, so it really just works on so many levels."

With Beckham's riches and celebrity star-power to push it forward, construction of the new team's stadium is expected to commence later today. The original site under consideration was in Hippie Hollow Park, but negotiations broke down once it was realized what a poor market the area's nudists would be for Beckham jerseys. The stadium will instead be built on the site of the Texas Governor's Mansion, since it was half burned down last summer, anyway.

The new club will be coached by European legend Sven-Göran Eriksson, who will surely be fired from his current post with the Mexican national team by then. "We're anxious to have Sven here to start planning our roster strategy," Rawlins stated. "It's just a matter of him finding a way over the Texas border wall."

Another complaint some have for the new club is the schedule conflict already anticipated for the 2013 season. The entire club has been invited to participate in Italy's Serie A during the 2012-13 MLS off-season, and will be unable to join MLS league play until July of that year. Beckham sees no problem with this, explaining that the "loan" will give the team a chance to play at a higher level. "I'm sure we'll have criticism and I understand that but I want our fans to realize we're still committed to Austin."

When reached, United Soccer Leagues President Francisco Marcos' comments ranged from incomprehensible to unprintable.

Update: I removed all "Golden Balls"-related links and images, on the off chance that anybody thought the owners had anything to do with this silly joke.

Labels: April Fools