Jun 30, 2010
Aztex Fall to Chivas USA, 0-1
The Aztex’s 2010 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup run is over, halted once again by an MLS opponent. The team with the best record in USSF-D2 (9-2-3) went up against a team with one of the worst in MLS (3-9-1), but Chivas USA managed to get — and hold — a 1-goal lead.
There was no video broadcast of this match, so those of us that stayed up to follow the west-coast game did so via Twitter or the Scorecrow gamecast.
Here’s a rundown of post-match coverage:
- Chivas USA scores early, holds on for win in U.S. Open Cup — LA Daily News
The Aztex created another solid scoring opportunity in the 67th minute when Eddie Johnson, who shares the same name as the former U.S. national player, had his point-blank header pushed out of play by Thornton.
Johnson took advantage of a solid curving corner kick from defender Kevin Sakuda. Thornton’s save bounced back to Olum, but the former Missouri Baptist standout had a second attempt ricochet off a defender and out of play.
Austin outshot Chivas 9-7, but the home team posted five shots on goal to four for the Aztex.
- Aztex Bow Out of U.S. Open Cup to MLS Competition — AustinAztex.com
Chivas USA Head Coach Martín Vásquez, on tonight’s match: “I thought we did well against a good team. I like the way we approached the game. We were serious, we were disciplined, and we created some good chances. That’s all positive at this time where we need to reinforce and have something to build on.”
- Photos: Chivas USA vs. Austin Aztex photo gallery — Dentro del Rebaño (official Chivas USA blog)
The Aztex are now back in Texas, preparing to host the Puerto Rico Islanders this Saturday evening at House Park.
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Jun 29, 2010
Away Game 6/29: Chivas USA
AustinAztex.com: Aztex Move Up to MLS Competition in Open Cup Round of 16
After defeating the PDL’s DFW Tornados and the amateur Arizona Sahuaros, the Austin Aztex get a change of both competition and scenery in the 2010 U.S. Open Cup on Tuesday.
With two straight home games to start the tournament in the books, the Aztex are finally forced to hit the road for the round of 16 matchup against the MLS’ Chivas USA.
The game will be the first of the U.S. Open Cup for Chivas USA, as MLS teams are introduced to the tournament in the round of 16. Austin reached this game by defeating the DFW Tornados, 3-0, and the Arizona Sahuaros, 3-1.
There’s no word yet that any video will be available for this match, which kicks off at 9:30 PM CT. I’ll update this post if I hear anything about video availability. In any case, if we can find anyone to send texts or tweets from the game, then you can follow the Scorecrow gamecast.
Jun 27, 2010
Austin's Pizza Aztex Special
Austin’s Pizza email: Our new specialty pizza: The Aztex Special
We are also launching a new specialty pizza this weekend in honor of World Cup and our partnership with the Austin Aztex. Pepperoni, jalapeño, & crushed red pepper. Just ask for the Aztex Special. It’s a hot one!
Jun 26, 2010
Away Game 6/26: Miami FC
League play rolls on in the USSF-D2, in spite of epic, landscape-altering World Cup matches left and right. Such as today’s big second-round game, U.S.A.-Ghana (as if you need me to remind you). But no matter the result from that, Austin and Miami FC will be fighting for their next three points tonight in Florida.
Miami (2-3-7) have no wins from their previous four games, with the most recent being their 1-3 loss here in Austin last weekend.
A new twist to the budding rivalry between Austin and Miami: the winners of the game will hold a Willie Nelson-autographed guitar as trophy.
The U.S. Hispanic Contractors Association (USHCA) will attend the soccer game between the Blues and Aztex on Saturday at Lockhart Stadium in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. Texas State Representative Diana Maldonado and City of Lockhart Mayor Pro Tem Frank Estrada are among the Austin area representatives who will attend the game to show support for the Aztex.
As a ceremonial end to the event, the losing team’s representatives will present the winner with a trophy that symbolizes the rivalry’s spirit – a guitar signed by Willie Nelson. The guitar will then be on the line from this point forth in every matchup between the two clubs as a trophy.
I recently read that more people are watching the World Cup in Miami than in any other U.S. market. I hope The Blues are able to somehow capitalize on that soon, and start drawing some bigger crowds.
Kickoff will be at 6:30 PM CT, free streaming video available at miamifc.com. Who’s turn is it for a hat-trick tonight? Tune in to find out!
Update: They didn’t take long to take my advice — I just saw Miami FC‘s head coach, Victor Pastora, being interviewed at some length on Univision’s República Deportiva prior to the U.S.A.-Ghana match. Nice work, Miami!
Jun 25, 2010
Aztex Defeat Arizona, 3-1
Better late than never for this match report, I hope. It was a good game, another U.S. Open Cup win for the Aztex, and they’re on to face Chivas USA in the third round next Tuesday.
Here’s a brief rundown of post-match coverage:
- Peri Marosevic’s Hat Trick Pricks Sahuaros — AustinAztex.com
Peri Marosevic found the back of the net three times en route to a 3-1 victory over the Arizona Sahuaros Tuesday at House Park. The three-goal performance is only the second hat trick in Aztex history.
The Austin Aztex witnessed the first ever hat trick when forward Max Griffin scored three goals in a league showdown against Miami FC on June 19.
- Video: Austin Aztex U.S. Open Cup Second Round (1:01) — AztexSoccer on YouTube
The Aztex will face Miami FC again in regular season play on Saturday night, before their trip out to California for their third-round Open Cup match against Chivas. They’ll be back in Austin the following Saturday, July 3, to host the Puerto Rico Islanders.
Jun 22, 2010
Home Game 6/22: Arizona Sahuaros
The Aztex return to Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup play on Tuesday, June 22, hosting the Arizona Sahuaros at House Park at 7:30 PM.
The Sahuaros, who from what I can tell aren’t exactly in a particular league this year, got to this second round in Austin by beating the PDL’s Ventura County Fusion after extra time and penalties last week.
As the Aztex pre-game report details, Austin will be looking to advance to face an MLS opponent in the third round, as they did last year.
Austin has a 3-1-0 record in four U.S. Open Cup bouts, with two wins coming last year before bowing out to the Houston Dynamo. This season, the Aztex won their opening round game against the PDL’s DFW Tornados. With a victory against the USASA’s Suaharos, Austin moves on to face the MLS’ Chivas USA.
As with last Tuesday’s first round game, season and flex tickets won’t be accepted at the gate. The crowd was on the smaller side last week, but it was a good game (always easy to say about a 3-0 win). So come out Tuesday evening and enjoy another great match at our House.
Pre-game gathering, open to one and all as always, will be at The Tavern starting about two hours prior to kickoff.
After this midweek game, the Red & White will head to Florida, where they’ll have a rematch with Miami FC on Saturday eveinng.
Jun 20, 2010
Aztex Defeat Miami, 3-1
That’s the kind of Aztex team we wanted to see! In the midst of a bounty of World Cup group-stage matches, the 2,143 fans came out to see their local boys — and potential future national team players — at House Park last night. The play was good, and the atmosphere was exciting: we were on hand to witness Maxwell Griffin‘s hat trick, the first in team history.
Here’s a rundown of other post-match coverage:
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box score — USSF
- Griffin gets hat trick as Aztex win — Austin American-Statesman
Austin’s Maxwell Griffin had seen the same situation play out only moments earlier. A one-on-one chance against the Miami goalkeeper had given Griffin the perfect opportunity to tally his third goal of the night and he missed the shot.
This time, he wasn’t missing.
Griffin bent in a goal in the 87th minute Saturday to clinch a 3-1 Austin (8-2-3) victory over Miami (2-3-7) and tally the first hat trick of his professional career. Griffin finished the game with eight shots, many of them in prime scoring position.
“I easily could have had six today,” Griffin joked. “I’ll take the three goals. I’m happy with that.”
- Max Griffin’s Hat Trick Carries Aztex Past Miami — AustinAztex.com
The game took an interesting turn when the referee handed out two red cards in the 60th minute following a confrontation between Aztex midfielder Sullivan Silva and Blues’ (2-3-7) midfielder Sean Cameron. Both players had to leave the game and each team played out the rest of the match with 10 a side.
- Video: Aztex vs Miami highlights (1:10) — AztexSoccer on YouTube
Austin and The Blues will have an immediate rematch in Miami next Saturday. But first, we’ll have one more game at House Park: the Red & White will play the Arizona Sahuaros in second round U.S. Open Cup action on Tuesday night. The winner of that match will face MLS’ Chivas USA, in Los Angeles, in the third round.
Jun 20, 2010
Fieldhouse Construction Cam, The End!
On Wednesday I scoffed at the idea that we might finally see the fieldhouse in use at Saturday’s game. But lo and behold, here it was!
(Click to see the whole Flickr set.)
So this “construction cam” is finally finished. (Maybe I should see if they’ll let me get inside for a few pictures…?)
Jun 19, 2010
Home Game 6/19: Miami FC
Time once again for an Aztex game! For the game tonight, Saturday Jun. 19, Austin returns to league play. They’ll host Miami FC at House Park, kickoff at 7:30.
With a 2-2-7 record, Miami have had more draws than any other team this season. But they’ve won both of their last two: a 1-0 win over Portland at home last weekend (match report/box score), and a 5-1 rout (in overtime!) of the PDL’s Central Florida Kraze in first-round Open Cup action on Tuesday.
Austin will be hoping to have a game more like their own Open Cup victory on Tuesday, and less like last weekend’s 2-1 loss to Vancouver.
The Aztex pre-match report gives some hint as to the players we may see tonight:
Peri Marosevic, the most recent pick up for the Aztex, is expected to make his debut for the team.
Marosevic should aid the Aztex in their attempt to extend their league lead, which currently sits at five points.
Aztex center back Kieron Bernard is also expected to make an appearance for the team after a long absence due to a lingering hamstring injury. Bernard’s return will help provide depth to the Aztex backline.
Marosevic is on loan from FC Dallas until July 4:
Marosevic has also been a regular on the U.S. U-20 and U-18 rosters, and joined the U.S. U-20 squad for the 2009 CONCACAF Under-20 Championship last March. He played in four of the five games in the championship, scoring a goal in the opening match versus Jamaica. Last fall, he joined the U.S. U-20 team for the Under-20 World Cup in Egypt.
As always, fans will start gathering at The Tavern on Lamar about 2 hours before the 7:30PM kickoff. What better place to discuss yesterday’s U.S. and England games than with your fellow Aztex fans?
And perhaps the most exciting news of all: word is that the new fieldhouse locker rooms are finally ready!
So come on out, and see the Red & White reignite their dominance of the 2010 season!
Jun 17, 2010
Aztex Defeat DFW Tornados, 3-0
A small crowd was on hand for the midweek opener of the 2010 U.S. Open Cup at House Park Tuesday evening. I can’t find an official attendance number, but I’d guess between 1,000 and 1,500. Those that made it out, however, were treated to a return to scoring form for the Red & White, Jamie Watson in particular.
Here’s a rundown of other post-match coverage:
With the Austin lineup filled with reserves who were getting their first significant playing time of the year, the most consistent Aztex starter led the way to a victory Tuesday.
Jamie Watson netted two goals and an assist as the Aztex cruised to a 3-0 win over the DFW Tornados, advancing to the second round of the U.S. Open Cup.
“He set the tempo with an energetic performance,” Aztex coach Adrian Heath said of Watson. “If he approaches the game in the right manner — and he has tonight — he can have an influence on the game.”
The next Aztex score came from starting outside back Joey Worthen. Silva was able to carry the ball through the middle of the field and lay another through ball to Watson running down the right sideline. This time Watson was able to play a ball square across the front of goal to a wide open Worthen, who proceeded to put the ball into the back of the net.
With the win, the Aztex advance to the next round of the Cup, hosted here in Austin next Tuesday. As you can see on TheCup.us’ bracket, their next opponent will be the Arizona Sahuaros. Arizona advanced by beating the Ventura County Fusion, the 2009 PDL champions, on penalties last night.
But before that next Open Cup match, the Aztex return to league play Saturday evening at 7:30, hosting Miami FC at House Park.
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