Austin Aztex vs Haiti National Team
photo: Austin American-Statesman

What a night, what a crowd and what a pile of money raised for Haiti!

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

  • Aztex-Haiti match raises $11,500 — Austin American-Statesman

    The team raised more than $7,000 in its exhibition with Trinity University in San Antonio last week and around $3,400 was tallied after the team scrimmaged FC Dallas over the weekend. The Aztex topped both numbers Wednesday, helping to raise $11,500 in cash donations and several bins full of used soccer gear that will be given to children in Haiti.

    “To be honest, I didn’t really know what we could raise or, on a week’s notice, how big a turnout we’d have,” Aztex owner Phil Rawlins said. “I’m just delighted.”

  • Aztex Play Haitian Nationals to Scoreless Draw — AustinAztex.com

    After a slow start to the match, the game sprung to life 10 minutes in, when Haiti’s Goalkeeper, Occenat Peterson quickly came off his line to deny Aztex midfielder Stephan Campbell on his first attempt. Immediately after, Haiti countered and Jean Baptiste Fritzson’s shot went just over the crossbar.

    The second half was a similar story with both sides having chances, but most of the play coming in the midfield. The best chance for the Aztex came in the 85th minute after Wes Allen’s shot was blocked and fell right to Max Griffin, whose header bashed against the crossbar.

  • Soccer and Help for Haiti — Michael Tuuk Photography

    The whistle blew and I prepared to make a beeline to the exit. What stopped me was the fact that as soon as the match ended, the players who had been adversaries for the past 90+ minutes suddenly became friends and began to hug each other. That isn’t unusual after a sporting event but I had a sudden sense of what the Haitian team members must be going through emotionally. I flipped the camera back up and captured a few images of this scene.

  • Free Beer Movement in Action — Free Beer Movement

    I think one of my newbies fell in love with Austin’s keeper Miguel Gallardo so that will be a good incentive for her to return. In the end I got commitments from all involved to come back for another Aztex match soon.

  • Video: Aztex host Haiti — KXAN