Humph. It’s been a while, but I remember now: losing isn’t nearly as much fun as winning. I summed up my opinion on Twitter last night late in the game: “Who are these people in red & white, and what have they done with my Aztex?” The team I saw on the video feed (in between bouts of camera-induced motion sickness) just seemed off. Off pace, off target and generally off their game.

There shouldn’t be too much shame in it: Puerto Rico ain’t a bad team. They did just knock the LA Galaxy out of the CONCACAF Champions League. That’s what makes their constant time-wasting tactics that much harder to take. Islanders! Cut it out! It’s embarrassing! Goalkeeper Bill “Not Yet” Gaudette, of course, is the worst. I heard they were going to give him a newly coined Time-Waster of the Match award . . . but were afraid of how long it would take him to accept it. I heard it takes him 10 minutes to make a 3-minute egg. I heard when he falls out of bed he doesn’t hit the floor till morning. I heard he doesn’t like molasses, because it pours too fast.

Ahem. You get the idea.

Meanwhile, Rochester‘s 2-1 win over Montreal lets them nose into first place (42 points to Austin’s 41). But the Aztex have 3 games in hand, which should make the Rhinos nervous in spite of last night’s showing in Bayamón.

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

  • box score — USSF

  • Puerto Rico Ends Short-handed Aztex Streaks — AustinAztex.com

    Prior to tonight’s contest at J.R. Loubriel Stadium in Puerto Rico, the Austin Aztex had two seven-game streaks in the works — they had yet to be defeated on the road all season long and had not lost since June 12. The Islanders ended both of those marks though with a 2-0 victory over the short-handed Aztex, who were playing without two of its top three scorers or its top midfielder.

  • Aztex 0, Puerto Rico 2 :: Match Report — Chantico’s Army

    In the first half, we knew right away that the Aztex were having difficulties. The passing and ball management, which had been so crisp and clean this year, really seemed to revert to the ball management of the 2009 Aztex. Passing was lethargic, there was propensity for long ball play, and the Islanders seemed to be on the other end of Aztex passes as much as we were. Although the Aztex may very well have had trouble with the pitch, which was very wet and pocked, the familiarity with the Bayamon field had to help the Islanders. This was evidenced by the number of opportunities Naranje had with multiple shots on goal in the first half, that test Aztex goalkeeper Miguel Gallardo.

  • USSF D2 Saturday Action: Islanders Upset Aztex; Rhinos Win Again and Slip into First Place — The NASL Fanatic

    Although the Aztex were without key players Maxwell Griffin, Jamie Watson and Yordany Alvarex [sic], they still outshot the home team , 16-8. Props to veteran Islanders’ goalkeeper Bill Gaudette on keeping the clean sheet. Colin Clarke’s Islander squad is peaking at the right time, leveling their league record at 7-7-7. The Islanders begin group play in the CONCACAF Champions League this Tuesday when the match up with Honduran team CD Olimpia.

The Aztex return home this weekend, hosting the Carolina Railhawks at House Park on Sunday, Aug. 22 at 6:00 PM.