The Aztexan

Yay! We won! This post is late, and I barely have time to throw even this much together, let alone wax poetic about the win. So I'll have to leave it at: Yay! We won!

Here's a rundown of post-match coverage:

• box score — USLSoccer.com
  

  Weather: Hot, partly cloudy; Attendance: 2,611

• Key breaks finally fall Aztex' way in shutout — Austin American-Statesman
  

  Sullivan Silva combined well with [Kyle] Brown on the edge of the Miami box, releasing the forward with a well-weighted ball. Brown then cut the ball back across the Miami six-yard box, where under heavy pressure from the lurking Eddie Johnson, defender Gale Agbossoumonde missed his attempted clearance, allowing Johnson to smash the ball into the roof of the net.

• Austin earns tough 1-0 victory over Miami — AustinAztex.com
  

  Austin looked shaky the first 10 minutes of the match Saturday against Miami.
  
  But Austin forward Eddie Johnson, playing through a back injury, finally settled down the home side scoring an early goal that held up for a much-needed 1-0 victory.
  
  The win is Austin’s first in 10 games, a streak that stretches back to July 3.
  
  “They deserved three points on about three or four different occasions,” Aztex head coach Adrian Heath said. “We’ve played better at times and didn’t get the result. … I’m pleased that the players have gotten some reward for the effort they’ve put in.”

The Aztex have a flurry of games here in the final 2 weeks of the season: one more against Miami FC (at Miami) and two more against the Vancouver Whitecaps (both at Vancouver) and two more against the Portland Timbers (one at Portland and one here). That all starts midweek this week, with road game at Vancouver on Wednesday night.

Labels: postgame, USL-1

It's been long rumored, practically guaranteed in previous statements, but now it's officially official: the Austin Aztex will play at AISD's House Park in 2010. The downtown stadium is technically located at 1301 Shoal Creek Blvd, though most think of it as being on Lamar Blvd (Google Map).

Yes, it will still be artificial turf. Yes, it will still have gridiron lines painted on it. Yes, it will still be on public high school grounds, so there will be no beer sales.

But here's why House Park will be a better home to our Austin Aztex:

• No track — not having that wide gulf of a track between the pitch and the stands, brings the fans a good 10 yards closer to the action. Click on this picture to see how much closer the stands are to the field.
  
  Aztexan exclusive: Comparison of House Park to Nelson Field; click the picture to switch views. (Sadly, neither field looks quite like that anymore; they're both now artificial turf with American football lines.)
  Images: Google Maps


• Smaller capacity — owner Phil Rawlins explains this benefit well in the Statesman article:
  

  The 10,000-capacity [Nelson Field] stadium often swallowed the 3,000-4,000 fans usually in attendance at an Aztex game.
  
  House Park seats 6,500, which could create a better atmosphere at games.
  
  "If we're averaging 3,000-4,000, we can use both sides of the stands and have a great atmosphere," Rawlins said.

• Lower ticket prices — seating will be general admission, and tickets will be $15 for adults and $12 for children 12 and under (kids under 5 are free). Sure, they could have done this at Nelson, but it will be another good boost to next year's attendance. It also shows responsiveness to fan feedback that the prices this year were on the steep side ($22 or $18 for adults).


• It's downtown — House is more centrally located to the heart of Austin, with the city skyline visible right from the stands. Several watering holes, such as The Tavern, are within walking distance of the stadium. It's also more accessible to more transit options, not to mention tens of thousands of UT students.


• It pleases Chantico — the patron Aztec goddess of Austin supporters is known, after all, as "she who dwells in the house".

There have been well-founded concerns about the parking situation at House, which is summed up more or less as "there is none". However, the Austin Community College (ACC) just opened a brand new 7-story parking garage practically next door to House. According to the ACC website, the garage will be open to the public on Friday nights for high school football games at House. I've heard from the Aztex that they are talking to ACC about a similar arrangement for their games.

With the results we've been seeing from our Red & White this season, we've already started looking to next year. The announcement that House will be our new home makes the outlook for 2010 even more appealing.

Labels: stadium

Saturday, August 29, will see the Austin Aztex back home again at Nelson Field. The 7:30 game, against the Miami FC Blues, will be their next-to-last home game, and their last weekend game, of the season (the very last game will be on Monday, Sept. 7).

Miami stumbles into town this weekend in extraordinary shape. Though they recently signed "Brazilian hero" Junior Baiano, and they're just 6 points down the table from the last playoff slot, they've had a couple of serious setbacks recently.

First was a midweek loss to the Carolina Railhawks on Wednesday night. Not just any loss, but the worst beating in league history¹: a 9-0 drubbing (match report / box score / video highlights). [Update: not the worst in league history after all; see footnote below.] At one point the Railhawks let the U12 team from halftime take the field, and they scored twice! Okay, that's just a joke, but this was a collapse on a scale rarely seen in professional soccer anywhere in the world. The loss caps a 7-game winless streak for the Blues that's seen them shut out 4 times and dropped their goal differential by 20.

As if that weren't enough to put a cloud over a team, there are reports in the wake of yesterday's sale of USL that Miami owners Traffic Sports may pull the plug on the whole franchise:

Traffic had considered folding the club before this season but gave it a reprieve, with certain stipulations: Improve the performance on the field and with attendance.

At 7-13-4 and playing in front of just a few hundred fans a game, neither benchmarks have been met. Now, with the ownership bid collapsing, it is unclear what level of commitment the Brazilian soccer company will have in South Florida.

The Aztex, meanwhile, are looking for some redemption for the end of the season. They're already started rebuilding for next season's campaign, signing 2 new players this week: Jamie Watson and Salif Diao-Jimenez.

Defender Salif Diao-Jimenez joins the Aztex on a two-year contract fresh from Stoke City’s Youth Academy. The 19-year-old is a product of the Stoke City Academy where he spent the last three years playing for the Stoke U-19 and reserve teams. Diao-Jimenez is a versatile player who can play either at fullback or midfield and was highly rated by the Stoke coaching staff. He is originally from Senegal but has dual Dutch citizenship.

Watson returns to Austin after a very successful season with the Wilmington Hammerheads of USL-2, in which Watson was the league's top scorer (12 goals and 6 assists) and helped the Hammerheads win the USL-2 Championship. For his efforts, he was named to the USL-2 All-League Team.

I'm sure we'll see Jamie get some minutes this weekend, though Salif was just stepping off the plane on Thursday, so he may be less likely to play.

As usual, the place for pre-match refreshments is Nomad Bar, just off Cameron Rd. The regulars from Chantico's Army will be joined by the fine folks of the Free Beer Movement, hosting their second Aztex match day. If you're a soccer newbie, maybe a little curious to see what all the fuss is about, now is the time to check it out. You'll get an evening of fine football and a free beer or five, compliments of FBM. These pre-game festivities will get going around 4:00 (FBM) or 5:00 (Chantico's Army).

Kickoff will be at 7:30 on Saturday; we should be in for a good show. Come on out and cheer your Aztex on over this final leg of their inaugural season. Come on you Aztex!

---

¹ I determined this after examining historical results back to 2003. 2007 results are not available; if anyone has access to those, I'd love to see them.

Update: I stand corrected; Miami's 9-0 loss was not the worst in league history. Per the Railhawks Report, there was a worse defeat in 1998 (Seattle over California 10-0 on June 19).

Labels: gameday, rivals, USL-1

Well, what can you say. At least the Aztex have been, umm . . . consistent? Sure. Consistent; that's the ticket.

• box score — USLSoccer.com
  

  Weather: Sunny, Attendance: 13,034

  Note per the Montreal Gazette article below: that 13K attendance "was the Impact's first sellout of the season, although a sizable portion of those ticket buyers weren't on hand for the game."


• Impact good enough to dispatch lowly Austin — Montreal Gazette
  

  Ah, yes, chances. None greater than that enjoyed by Impact striker Roberto Brown in the 56th minute, early in the second half. Brown was presented with an opportunity to convert a penalty kick after Aztex defender Keiron Bernard bowled over Impact striker Eduardo Sebrango in the penalty area.
  
  Brown decided to take a leaf from the penalty-taking technique of former France great Zinedine Zidane, attempting a cheeky chip against Aztex goalkeeper Nick Noble. Brown had Noble beaten after the keeper dove to his left, but floated the ball on to the crossbar. The ball came straight out to Sebrango, but his header was straight at Noble, who had scrambled to his feet.
  
  Brown's attempt was a surprise, and no one was more startled than Dos Santos, who was nonetheless reluctant to criticize his veteran striker.
  
  "Well, I've never seen him practise that shot in training," Dos Santos said. "But he's a veteran, and if he's confident, well, I guess it's worth a try."

  File that coach comment under, "Oh snap". You've got to love an article by the opponent's own press that's almost as nasty to them as it is to your team.


• Austin falls 2-0 in Montreal — AustinAztex.com
  

  With time running out, the Aztex grew desperate looking for an equalizer and almost found it in the 85th minute. That’s when Alexandre received a pass just outside of the 18-yard box. With a Montreal defender draped all over his back, Alexandre spun around to his left, found some space, and fired. The blast cleared all defenders and the Impact keeper who could only watch as the ball crashed off the crossbar and caromed away from the goal.

Next up: back at Nelson again for the next-to-last home game on Saturday, August 29. Our boys host Miami FC at 7:30 CT. Pre-game binge drinking starts the same time the day prior.

Labels: postgame, USL-1

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

This hasn't been the best season for my MLS and USL-1 club teams: FC Dallas and the Austin Aztex have both struggled mightily, and short of a miracle or two, will both wind up at or near the bottom of their respective tables.

St. Louis Athletica, however, are a different story. Despite a slow start, my team in the brand-new Women's Professional Soccer league has had an excellent season. They recently clinched 2nd place, just behind the Marta-led Los Angeles Sol. That position puts them directly into the semifinals, hosted at Anheuser-Busch Soccer Park in St. Louis, without having to get past a quarterfinal playoff game. (Similarly, under WPS' unique system, regular-season champions Sol place directly into the final, also with home field advantage.)

Athletica have pulled off this record even after Daniela was sidelined by injury (an injury "so painful she lost consciousness", and for which Abby Wambach was ultimately suspended by the WPS Commissioner). Although it's not like their roster is weak without their star Brazilian player; it features such players as Lori Chalupny, England's Eniola Aluko, Australia's Sarah Walsh and of course, Hope Solo in goal.

A national team regular, Solo is widely considered to be among the top goalkeepers in the world today. She's also a great player for WPS off the field, garnering extra publicity in articles like this one in The Atlantic: The Bad Girl of Women's Soccer.

Solo, who plays goalie for the St. Louis Athletica, wasn’t impressed [by Puma's new WPS uniforms]. “They go and make this padded goalkeeper jersey and it’s hot pink—it just looks girly, it looks juvenile, it doesn’t look professional,” she told me one afternoon as we sat on a bench in an empty Harvard Stadium, where her team had just finished practicing for its game the next day against the Boston Breakers. “And so I said, ‘There’s no way in hell I’m wearing this.’”

The Athletica will face new Jersey's Sky Blue FC in the semifinal game tonight, Wednesday, August 19. Sky Blue backed into these playoffs, suffering more than their fair share of first-season drama.

The league in general has had a pretty rough first year, to nobody's surprise. Starting a professional sports league from scratch would be challenging in the best of times, let alone during the kind of economy WPS was dealt for its first year.

"We knew there was going to be some choppy water with respect to the launch," [Commissioner Tonya] Antonucci said. "Some are losing twice as much as projected, and that's not an easy thing to experience. … We're taking it seriously, though I don't think it will have serious effects. I think the owners are just as committed as when they started.

"What it means is it will take longer to get to break even. Should the economic conditions of this year continue and if these losses were to continue for three years, then we'd have a serious issue on our hands, just like many businesses. Let's talk in three years."

The league has had about one game per week on national television, broadcast on Fox Soccer Channel. The level of play has been outstanding, no surprise given the caliber of talent drawn from around the world. The playoff games, as well as an MLS-style all-star game against Umeå IK of Sweden, will also be televised.

Wed. 8/19 — Super Semifinal: St. Louis Athletica vs Sky Blue FC
Sat. 8/22 — Championship: semifinal winner vs Los Angeles Sol
Sun. 8/30 — All-Star Game: WPS All-Stars vs. Umeå IK

Also on the field for Athletica during their playoff run will be former University of Texas defender Stephanie Logterman. She's one of several Longhorn alumnae making their mark on the new league. Another is Boston Breakers defender Kasey Moore, who was featured in a recent CBS News segment on WPS.

Speaking of UT soccer, their season starts this Friday, August 21 at 7:00 PM, hosting TCU here at Mike A. Myers stadium:

The UT Longhorns will start the season ranked 15th in the country, one of four ranked Big 12 teams, along with Texas A&M (7), Oklahoma State (11), and Missouri (24). The Horns play an exhibition game at LSU this Friday [which they lost 2-1], and start the regular season next Friday, Aug. 21, 7pm, hosting TCU. A very young defense will be a concern, as the Horns graduated four four-year starters on the back line.

At just $7, tickets to see these matches on the beautiful grass at Myers are a steal. In fact, tickets to the opening game are even cheaper: $3 gets you into the game, plus free popcorn.

This has been called the "Summer of Soccer" for U.S. fans, from the Confederations and Gold Cups to friendlies featuring high-profile foreign clubs, many drawing record crowds and TV audiences across the country. Though not as headline-grabbing as Azteca, Beckham or Chelsea, our country's new pro women's league is off to an auspicious start. If you haven't checked it out yet, I recommend it. Go Athletica!

Labels: UT, WPS

Good grief. Is this team stuck in the same game, over and over, like Bill Murray in Groundhog Day?

In fact, here. With just a couple changes I can copy & paste exactly from my post-game report for the 2-2 draw with Montreal on July 26:

Here's an indication of how last night's result felt: when I first entered the title for this post, I typed "Aztex Fall To Montreal Impact Minnesota Thunder", and only when I got to the score, 2-2, did I remember that it was a draw, not a loss.

Sure, we got a point. Sure, that's better than a loss. But having taken the lead — by two twice, mind you — and badly needing all 3 of those points, it didn't feel like anything to celebrate after the final whistle.

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

• box score — USLSoccer.com
  

  Weather: Hot, partly cloudy

• Aztex lose lead, settle for tie with Minnesota — Austin American-Statesman
  

  Kieron Bernard crouches on the synthetic turf, eyes fixed on the ground, unable to believe it's happened again. As the clock makes its last ticks towards the final minute, the Aztex have yet again come undone, conceding another late goal to turn a victory into a 2-2 draw against the Minnesota Thunder.
  
  The 3,470 fans at Austin's Nelson Field on Sunday night go silent.
  
  They've seen this before. For the third time this season, Austin has allowed a last-minute goal that caused them to either lose or draw.

• Austin surrenders lead, salvages 2-2 tie against Minn. — AustinAztex.com
  

  Aztex head coach Adrian Heath was disappointed by the result and a pair of non-calls that happened at the end of the game. “It’s very frustrating. I have to say, I thought those two fouls leading up to the goal — a terrible tackle on Jean Alexandre and the guy pushed Kevin Sakuda to get the free header on the goal. At times, I thought the officiating was comical so that didn’t really surprise me.”
  
  ...While Heath readily admitted his frustration with the officials, in the end, he acknowledged his team didn’t finish. “We make individual errors that cost us. I thought at times our football was good and we looked dangerous. I’m disappointed because I think we had enough chances to have won the game tonight.”

• MN Thunder Tie Austin Aztex in Final Minute — Inside Minnesota Soccer
  

  The brace by Tarley not only gave Minnesota the draw and a point, it also meant that the Thunder forward has now scored 3 goals in 2 games, which moves him into a tie with Ricardo Sanchez for most goals this season with 5.

The next draw, er, game for the Aztex will be this Sunday, August 23, against the Montreal Impact in Montreal.

Labels: postgame, USL-1

This Sunday, August 16, will find the Aztex back at Nelson Field once again. They'll be facing the Minnesota Thunder in a game that is essentially a must-win for the Austin team if they're to reach the post-season. With just 8 games left in the season, 5 on the road and 3 at home, it's down to the wire for our struggling squad.

Minnesota has done their share of struggling this season as well; they sit just above the Aztex in the league standings. They have 18 points to Austin's 14, with 3 of those coming last night (Friday) from a 1-0 win over Miami FC (match report / box score).

The Aztex, on the other hand, have to look all the way back to the beginning of July for their last win (1-0 over the Cleveland City Stars, the only team lower in the standings than Austin). The Red & White's most recent game was a 1-0 loss to the Rochester Rhinos.

This will be the third and final meeting this year between the Thunder and the Aztex. The first was here in Austin, a 1-1 draw in the very first game of the season. The 2nd result was 1-0 loss in Minnesota on July 18.

Though the team will be without the services of striker Gifton Noel-Williams thanks to an ejection of the BS variety in Rochester last weekend, we may see the return of another player we've been sorely missing, Yordany Alvarez:

Alvarez and Gallardo were both back in action training hard this week with the squad. Head coach Adrian Heath said while Gallardo is still a few games away, Alvarez may see some action for the first time since he injured his foot on June 16 in pre-game warm-ups before the U.S. Open Cup second-round matchup against the Mississippi Brilla. “He will be a late decision but the good news is he is available for selection. We have to discover has he done enough work to play.”

Prior to the injury, Alvarez had tallied eight points including three goals and a pair of assists in just 10 games. He was the second-leading scorer on the squad. His breakout game came against the Puerto Rico Islanders in which he scored a pair of goals and added an assist in a 3-1 victory over one of the USL-1’s top teams and top goalkeepers in Bill Gaudette.

It's not quite time yet for the return of our own top goalkeeper. Hopefully soon, but until then it looks like we'll have Nick Noble taking over in goal.

Kickoff for Sunday will be at 6:00. Come early and be one of the first 500 fans through the gate, and you'll get a free team photo. You can also bring a bulletin from your church, civic or nonprofit organization to get in for just $15.

Who knows, this match may be the beginning of a miraculous Cinderella-story ending to the season, and you could say you were there! Regardless, don't miss one of your last chances to see live pro soccer in Austin this year. Come on you Aztex!

Labels: gameday, USL-1

Another game, another not-great, not-terrible performance by the Aztex, another loss.

The lineup was about the same as it has been, with the exception of Nick Noble instead of Sam Reynolds in goal.

One difference, though not necessarily an improvement, was the number of cards they racked up. Yellows were earned by AJ Godbolt, Gifton Noel-Williams (who got 2, and was ejected in the 63rd minute), Ryan Mirsky and David Sias. Kyle Brown managed to bag a red from the bench at the same time Noel-Williams left the field, presumably for dissension.

But then, what do you expect when the referee's name is "Lee Suckle"? Seriously.

Those of us watching the webcast piped through a flatscreen TV at Cuatro's were happy to be joined by Aztex goalkeeper Miguel Gallardo. It's one thing for fans to yell "good save!" or "come on, shoot!", but when it's the team's first-ever pro signing, that's even better. He also said that recovery is going well, he's had some light workouts, and he may be able to get back on the pitch before the end of the season.

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

• box score — USLSoccer.com


• Rochester nips Austin Aztex — Austin American-Statesman
  

  The goal came when Danny Earls sent in a cross that found its way to the far side of the goal, then Ryan Heins sent a return volley back across the goal, where Menyongar sent it past Aztex goalkeeper Nick Noble for his ninth goal of the season.
  
  Rochester tried to add to its lead five minutes later when a deep throw-in caught the Aztex defense sleeping, but Warren Ukah sent the ball wide left of the goal.

• Controversial call costs Aztex; lose 1-0 in Rochester — AustinAztex.com
  

  In the 64th minute, the game took a dramatic turn. That’s when Austin’s Gifton Noel-Williams appeared to make a relatively harmless move on Rochester defender Kenney Bertz. After Bertz sent a long ball up from his right back position, Noel-Williams ran into Bertz’s leg on the follow through. Though it was not malicious and Bertz didn’t complain, the referee, who had already given Noel-Williams a yellow card earlier in the match, gave him a second and the Aztex went down a man.

The Aztex's next game will be back home at Nelson Field next Sunday, August 16, as they welcome the Minnesota Thunder. The Thunder are fellow cellar-dwellers, so come on out and see the beginning of a stunning end-of-season turnaround for the Red & White!

Labels: postgame, USL-1

The Aztex head back to New York for their third and final contest of the regular season with the Rochester Rhinos on Saturday, August 8. Coming down the home stretch of the 2009 campaign, with just 9 games remaining, the Aztex need to start picking up wins if they're going to be anywhere near the playoff race.

Their luck so far against the Rhinos hasn't been good, however. Their first meeting was here in Austin on June 21: a 2-0 loss. Two weeks later, on July 5, the Aztex went to Rochester and suffered a 4-1 defeat.

The Rhinos, however, are sitting comfortably mid-table. Currently in 5th place, their most recent result was a last minute 1-0 loss to the Carolina Railhawks on Wednesday night (match report / box score).

The Rhinos are well into an epic 11-game home stand. The only match they've played outside Marina Auto Stadium was their 2-1 loss to D.C. United in the semifinals of the U.S. Open Cup on July 21. Despite the loss, the Rhinos took home the $10,000 prize for being the team to advance furthest in the tournament from their league.

The Aztex are hoping to come together behind target striker Gifton Noel-Williams, who on Saturday will be playing his 5th game after returning from a prolonged time on the injured list. Coach Heath certainly hasn't given up on the season yet:

“There’s nothing in the USL manual that says we can’t win four or five games toward the end. I haven’t read that anywhere.”

Heath set another goal two weeks ago, saying the team needed to win three of its last four home games in order to keep pace. After settling for a draw in its previous home game against Montreal, the team is going to have to find some points on the road.

“We know it’s a tall order” Heath admitted. “But we need the players to keep believing. The second they don’t, we have nothing.

“Is it difficult? Yes. Is it impossible? No.”

Kickoff will be at 6:35 CT. You can watch the free video stream at USLLive.com at home, or in the company of Chantico's Army and other supporters at Cuatro's. Come on, Austin! ¡Sí se puede!

Labels: gameday, USL-1

We knew it would be tough for the Aztex to get any points on this road trip. Their form this season has been especially poor on the road (their away record drops to 1-7-1 after this weekend), and these Carolina teams are a couple of the toughest in the league right now. Combined with back-to-back Thursday/Saturday matches, it shouldn't come as too big of a shock that Austin is coming home without gaining any points.

That doesn't make it easy to take, however.

I will say, despite this game's 3-0 scoreline being worse than Thursday's 1-0 loss to Charleston, that I thought the Red & White's performance was a little sharper, a little more threatening, and a little less lead-footed against the Railhawks. If they could just keep a starting lineup together and healthy for a few games in a row, maybe they could actually be dangerous. Though time is fast running out for that kind of turnaround to make a difference this season.

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

• box score — USLSoccer.com
  


• Aztex fall to Carolina — Austin American-Statesman
  

  Just before halftime, Gregory Richardson sent a cross to Joseph Kabwe, who headed it in for Carolina's first goal.
  
  In the 69th minute, Richardson set up the second goal with a counterattack that led to a free kick from 25 yards out. The ball bounced around in the box and caromed off Austin's Gareth Evans for a goal. Andriy Budnyy scored the final goal in the 85th minute.

• Aztex shut out 3-0 on road against Carolina — AustinAztex.com
  

  The Aztex (3-11-7, 14 points), who concluded a two-game road swing through the Carolinas including a 1-0 loss on Thursday at Charleston, struggled to solve a tough Carolina midfield and couldn’t contain the lightning-quick Richardson. It didn't help the Aztex that regulars Eddie Johnson and recently signed defender Kevin Sakuda were out of the starting lineup with a sore back and bruised foot, respectively.
  
  Austin’s best stretch of play came halfway through the second half, when the Aztex offense showed some aggression.

• Match Report :: Aztex 0, Carolina Railhawks 3 — Chantico's Army
  

  So at the end of the night, we found ourselves leaving the Carolinas without any points, any goals, and seemingly, still trying to find our personality. The lineups for each match continue to be changed based on player availability from injury, loans and the search for a combination that will work. It also saw Austin 11 points out of the 7th and final playoff position currently held by Miami FC. These are points that will be difficult to regain, as we have only 9 games (a possible 27 points) remaining in the season. The question the Aztex faithful are asking themselves is, "Can we turn the ship around in time?".

The Aztex will be on the road again next weekend, back to New York for their 3rd and final match against the Rochester Rhinos next Saturday, August 8. Austin has lost to the Rhinos in both previous meetings, a 2-0 shutout at home on June 21, and a 4-1 loss in Rochester on July 5.

Labels: postgame, USL-1