The Aztexan

With a quick turnaround on Aztex home matches this week, it’s time already for the next one! Austin will host FC Tampa Bay at House Park on Wednesday evening at 7:30PM. This will already be the season’s second contest between these USL conference rivals. The first was the Rowdies’ home opener on May 8, which ended in a 2-2 draw.

The most recent game for Tampa Bay, however, was last Friday’s 2-1 win over the Carolina Railhawks (match report/box score). FC Tampa Bay comes to town with a slightly different lineup this week:

The Rowdies will have one change to the starting line-up forced on them from Friday night’s 2-1 win against Carolina with Jeremy Christie’s departure for the World Cup [to play for New Zealand]. Center back Rob Valentino could get a recall into the side after serving a one-match suspension for his handball against the Aztex in the first meeting of the teams, while goalkeeper Daryl Sattler will be available again after recovering from a triceps injury.

The Aztex, meanwhile, will be eager to keep hold of their spot at the top of the league. It should be a good, even match, as the team’s pregame report points out:

Tampa comes into the match unbeaten in its past three contests, with a win over Carolina and ties at home against the Aztex and on the road the road at rival Miami. Its leading goal scorer, Aaron King, put one in net last time out against the Aztex that gave the Rowdies an advantage just 10 minutes into the match.

Austin has also gone unbeaten in its past three matches with wins on the road at Minnesota and at home against Crystal Palace Baltimore, to go along with the draw at Tampa.

The crowd for this game, despite being played in the middle of the week before schools are on summer break, is expected to be very large. Rumor has it that Stoke Chairman Tony Scholes and sports solicitor (and Aztex Director of Overseas Devlopment) Gary Mellor will be in attendance. In combination with an abundance of tickets given to area schools that hosted the Aztex’s fitness program, it could be quite the turnout. There was actually an email sent by the front office advising people to arrive early to ensure parking and good seating.

Which is all the more reason to join Chantico’s Army and all your fellow fans for the pre-game happenings at The Tavern. The gathering will start there at about 5:30 (kickoff is at 7:30), which is plenty early to get a good parking space and walk over.

Will the Aztex continue their hot start to the season? Will the Watson Brothers^* get another brace? Or will the Griffin Brothers^** rally and get their own pair of goals? Is the Rowdies’ away kit as ugly^*** as their home kit? Come find out for yourself!

^* Jamie and Lance Watson are not, in fact, brothers.
^** Leonard and Maxwell Griffin are, in fact, brothers.
^*** That’s right, I said it: “ugly”. All the NASL nostalgia in the world couldn’t make me happy with bright yellow and green stripes.