The Aztexan

I wrote about this last week, but this is your reminder. The free (donation requested) match between the Austin Aztex and the Haitian National Team is this Wednesday, Apr. 28. The game will be held, as all Aztex home games, at House Park; kickoff is 7:30 PM.

The Haitians played FC Dallas last week, drawing 400 spectators and raising $3,000. With your help, and the help of everyone you tell and bring with you, we should be able to top that.

This game will be a great time, featuring great football, for a great cause. We get national teams coming through Austin to play our local boys approximately every NEVER. Don't miss it!

Labels: community, exhibition, gameday, internacional

Time for home game number 2! The Aztex will host the Rochester Rhinos tonight, Sun. Apr. 25, at 6:00 at House Park. The Aztex will be looking for their third win in three games, while the Rhinos will be looking for their first.

Rochester comes to Texas after a 1-0 loss to the Portland Timbers last Saturday (match report / box score). Despite that loss, and a 1-1 draw at Miami FC the week before, the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle's Jeff DiVeronica reports that they are "playing with confidence":

The young Rhinos lost on an 85th-minute penalty kick, but they feel they outplayed a team expected to challenge for the USSF D2 Pro League title. If they turn in the same effort and add better finishing to complement the fluid and efficient ball movement they've shown, they hope wins tonight at Austin and Wednesday in Minnesota will give them momentum for Saturday's home opener.

"At this stage you focus more on your own development," said coach Bob Lilley, who is adamant about his players dictating tempo instead of reacting to their opponent.

Match Forecast

Temp:	upper 70s
Rain:	0%
Wind:	9mph
Sunset:	8:05

as of 8:00 AM, 4/25/09

"If we had tried to figure out all the ways to stop Portland last week, we'd have been under a barrage. We forced them to adjust to us and it almost cost them a game on their field. That's our mentality. We're not going to wait for teams to hit us, we're going to win."

Meanwhile, our Aztex are eager to continue their strong start to the season, but Coach Heath isn't taking this game for granted:

We have changed the squad quite considerably from last season and after two games I am more convinced than ever we have made some shrewd signings that over the next few seasons will be a great asset to this football club. I’m sure those of you who attended the first game in our new home “House Park”, were as excited as the players, I honestly believe this move will help the club move forward both on and off the field. We entertain Rochester this Sunday, and having watched their first two games, I know if we fall below the standards we have set ourselves we will be in for a very difficult afternoon. Their performances have deserved more than one point, from two very difficult away games.

If you couldn't make it to the home opener two weeks ago, now's your chance to see what the 2010 Aztex experience is like. It has the same high-level pro soccer on the field as last year, but in a cooler, more intimate and better-located stadium.

Join us starting at about 4:00 PM at The Tavern. Hoist a pint or three of your favorite, march with us the block or so to House Park in time for the 6:00 kickoff, and cheer on our boys in red & white. (I, for one, can't wait to try the new Amy's Ice Cream flavor, "Red Hot Aztex", currently available only at Aztex home games.) After the match, Cuatro's on 24th is the place to go to discuss the game with not only fellow fans, but Aztex staff, coaches and players. See you there!

Update: Check out this nice pre-game piece in today's Austin American-Statesman: Leonard Griffin grateful for chance with Aztex.

Labels: gameday, USL-1

After a strong home opener last weekend, the Aztex are headed to St. Louis, MO for their first road game of the season. They'll be taking on the brand new AC St. Louis in that team's home opener at Anheuser-Busch Soccer Park (I bet they serve beer).

St. Louis will be hoping for a less embarrassing showing than last Saturday's 0-2 loss to the Carolina Railhawks. Not embarrassing because they lost — lots of teams lose; the Aztex may even do it once or twice this season — but because they started the game with only 10 men on the field. North Carolina's IndyWeek has the story:

As it was explained afterward, St. Louis midfielder Manuel Kante left his player ID card at the team’s hotel. When Kante could not produce the card for the referee, he was not allowed to start the match. As Kante (or a team gofer) scurried back to the hotel to retrieve the card, St. Louis manager Claude Anelka was left with a choice: Substitute immediately for the experienced Kante, which would have kept St. Louis at full strength but disallowed Kante—who had already been listed as part of the official starting lineup—from entering the match once he produced his ID card, or gamble and play a man down until Kante returned.

He gambled — and lost. The Railhawks didn't waste the opportunity, scoring the game's only two goals during that period when St. Louis was short-handed (short-footed?).

This was not an auspicious start for head coach Anelka. Though he has the name recognition you'd expect from the big brother of a starting striker for Chelsea and the French national team (Nicolas Anelka), he doesn't exactly have a strong management pedigree. Quite the opposite, in fact: he was actually listed as one of The Observer's 10 worst football managers in 2008:

In 2004, tired of engineering transfers for his restless brother Nicolas and fed up with 'the crazy things' he saw managers do, agent and DJ Claude Anelka decided he wanted to be a boss himself. With a 'mystery' backer, he offered £300,000 to any lower-league club who would let him be manager, and got a bite at Raith Rovers, in Scottish Division One. Citing Cruyff, Wenger and the boss of Chinawhite nightclub as influences, his philosophy and signings - some from the Paris seven-a-side leagues - brought Rovers just one point from 24 before he stepped aside.

So, will the first pro men's team to play in that "hotbed" of U.S. soccer since 1977 be able to keep from embarrassing themselves again on Saturday? Not unless their on-field performance is more competent than their marketing. ("X", people; it's really not that hard.)
Kickoff is scheduled for 7:10 CT Saturday night. You can watch free online video of the game on either AustinAztex.com or AC-StLouis.com. You're also invited to join the Chantico's Army supporters group watch party at Cuatro's on 24th.

Get 'em, Aztex!

Labels: gameday, USL-1

At long last, it's finally here: the 2010 Austin Aztex pro soccer season begins Sunday night at 6:00!

The Aztex start things off against a formidable opponent: defending USL-1 champions the Montreal Impact. Here's an excerpt from Inside Minnesota Soccer's 2010 season preview about the Impact:

All key players will be returning in 2010, with the exception of midfielder Joey Gjertsen who signed with San Jose of MLS. They have however made 2 very interesting additions in the form of Portuguese midfielder Filipe Soares and French midfielder/right back Philippe Billy. Both have played consistently in European 2nd divisions, with Soares having spent the last 10 years in the Portuguese D2 and Billy having played the last 2 seasons with Stade Brestois in France’s Ligue 2. They also added Canadian International and former Toronto FC midfielder Tyler Hemming, who at 24 years old is exactly the type of depth player the Impact will need to fill their domestic player quota once they begin play in MLS in 2012, as is expected to be announced in the coming weeks.

Here in Austin, the level of interest and excitement leading up to the opener is at the highest level we've seen to date. The team's promotional efforts, combined with this season's move to the House Park, are really raising awareness and building buzz.

It's clear that they're serious about making game days "more than just a game": stadium concessions will include hometown favorites Austin's Pizza and Amy's Ice Cream; pregame parties will be hosted at The Tavern by alternative rock station 101X, and last year's postgame parties at Cuatro's are now being fully publicized.

There's even the start of a viral video campaign, with the first installment starring fellow die-hard fan and prominent Austin Chronicler Nick Barbaro (plus Aztex players Eddie Johnson, Kieron Bernard & Miguel Gallardo):


Speaking of our friend Nick, he has an excellent Aztex primer in this week's Chronicle, Aztex Make House Park Home. It's a full treatment of everything Aztex, from players to coach, from league intrigue to how to get to home games. It's a great writeup, and worth checking out whether you're a new fan or an old hand.

To summarize: Austin Aztex season opener, hosting the Montreal Impact at House Park, 6:00 PM on Sunday the 11th.

Everyone is welcome and encouraged to join us at The Tavern before the game. Fans of all kinds, from first-timers to members of Chantico's Army, will be there. Join us for a beer or three and/or a snack before going to watch some quality pro soccer - we'd love to see you!

GOOOOARN* AZTEX!

* "GOOOOARN" is Stoke-speak, presumably originating as "go on", but yelled, and with quantities of alcohol and no little accent behind it. Or to quote Ron Burgundy, "I'm sorry, I was trying to impress you. I don't know what it means. I'll be honest, I don't think anyone knows what it means anymore. Scholars maintain that the translation was lost hundreds of years ago."

Labels: gameday, supporters, USL-1

// posted by Chris @ 6:24 AM 0 Comments

This is it . . . almost. It's not quite the real season, and it won't be at the real Aztex home stadium, but it will definitely be the best pro soccer to be found in Austin — no, in all of Texas — this weekend.

Come on out to Nelson Field this Sunday, March 14, at 5:00 PM for one final farewell match at last year's ground. The Houston Dynamo are coming to town for the second leg of the Roadkill Cup (as I'm hoping it comes to be called).

Last weekend was the first game, in Houston. It ended up a 1-1 draw, even though the orange team scored both goals (oops, better practice those back-passes, Tally). Although I attended the game, I shirked my post-game reporting duties. You can get some post-match info from Chantico's Army, the Aztex site or MyDynamo.net.

Why the shirking? I've been in crunch mode on an another soccer/web project. It's not quite ready for prime time, but you'll hear more than enough about it soon (I hope). In the meantime, I'll do my best to keep up with Aztex happenings here.

Much to my dismay, I'll be out of town and miss Sunday's game. But you shouldn't! The weather should be great (60s or 70s) and the game should be good (the Red & White have had twice as much practice time as they'd had before last week's game). I haven't heard whether many Dynamo fans are coming over, but one would think lots of them would jump at the chance to come to Austin (or, more to the point, escape Houston).

So get some tickets ($20 adults, $15 kids), meet up with Chantico's Army at The Nomad about an hour before the game (this game's at Nelson, remember!) and have a blast. Kickoff is at 5:00 PM.

And one last reminder: this weekend is the world premier at SXSW of the soccer documentary Pelada. The first showing is Sunday night at 7:15, with another on Monday at noon and a third next Friday at 3:30 PM (schedule).

Let the year of soccer begin!

Labels: exhibition, gameday, MLS, USL-1

The Aztex have returned from their tour of England, victorious in all 3 of their exhibitions there. They also trained at top-flight facilities, attended a couple of Premier League matches, and even left a player behind for a trial in the big league.

• Game 1, Oct. 14 — Austin Aztex 1-0 Stoke City FC Academy
  
  This game was a bit of disappointment to some fans, as we had assumed that Stoke would field their first team, or at least some level of it, rather than the U18 academy squad. But given that they played the day after their transatlantic flight, a 1-0 win isn't bad, even against teenagers.
  
  Stoke's match report gives lots of love to Eddie Johnson:
  

  The inexperienced Potters side had to defend for long periods of the match as former Manchester United apprentice Eddie Johnson caused them particular problems throughout an encounter watched by City boss Tony Pulis.
  
  And it was indeed livewire Johnson who set up the 85th minute winner for the Aztecs [sic] by flicking the ball across goal for central defender [Gareth] Evans to plant a close range header past City goalkeeper Dave Parton.
  
  After a fairly uneventful first half hour to the friendly match, the arrival of Pulis seemed to spark a lively end to the first half in which Johnson went close to scoring on three occasions for the USL-1 team.
  
  He had a goal disallowed in the 35th minute for a foul in the area, forced Alexander Hedley into a last-ditch clearance at the far post and brought the best out of Parton with a curling shot just before the break.



• Game 2, Oct. 15 — Austin Aztex 2-1 Accrington Stanley
  
  
  • Heath leads Aztex on their longest trip yet — The Independent
    

    Around 5,000 miles, not to mention a chasm in history, separates Accrington Stanley and Austin Aztex. To the relief of the American club's coach, Adrian Heath, tonight's journey up to Lancashire from their Staffordshire base is almost like nipping out to the shopping mall in Texas.

  • FULL-TIME: Accrington Stanley 1 Austin Aztex 2 — Lancashire Telegraph
    

    Stanley fielded a number of trialists, including former loan striker Craig Lindfield, but went behind when Nicky Patterson found the net just after the half-hour mark.
    
    Substitute Viniel Sirin volleyed home a second for the touring Aztex, who are managed by former Burnley boss Adrian Heath, on the hour before Gary King pulled a goal back by finding the empty net after Lindfield had beaten the visiting keeper to a loose ball.

  • Another day, another win — The Aztex Blog
    

    We put on a great show, looking more confident and clearly enjoying the playing surface. The fans showed some great British humour when our first goal went in, chanting "USA, USA" and then 'touchdown'!!!

  • Match Photo Gallery — Accrington Stanley
  
  


• Game 3, Oct. 20 — Austin Aztex 2-1 Sheffield Wednesday FC
  
  Other than text messages from the team back to stateside Aztex fans, and subsequent posts to BigSoccer, I could find no record of this game anywhere on the Intarwebs.
  

  Goals by Michael Callahan (1st half) and Jarius Holmes (2nd half) were enough to put the match away. Last I heard was that the guys are in the locker room, trying to warm up by having some pies.

In addition to playing, our American team also attended 2 Premier League matches. They saw Stoke City beat West Ham 2-1 at Stoke's Britannia Stadium on Saturday, the 17th, and Wigan draw 1-1 with Manchester City at Wigan's DW Stadium the next day.

And of course, this wasn't all just for the fun of the experience. These guys weren't just playing; they were auditioning.

In general Heath said the scouts from throughout England and those based in England representing clubs abroad were impressed with the quality of the Aztex. “They were quite surprised at how competitive we were,” he said about the scouts’ reactions. “We enjoyed the trip, and it gave the players a very good idea of the professional game at that level.”

And according to that article, this trip might even pay off for some of our boys:

• Keiron Bernard — "In addition to having an extended visit with the English Premier League side Stoke City, an affiliate club of the Aztex, the defender has sparked interest from unidentified La Liga, Serie A and top Dutch sides as well as Spanish second division club Real Murcia."


• Miguel Gallardo — "also garnered some attention from Real Murcia"


• Eddie Johnson — "may be seeing a move back home with interest coming from a pair of League One clubs and a third from League Two", and is "staying back in England at home there since our season is done and weighing the different opportunities."


• another, unidentified player — "has garnered significant interest from a team in Mexico, something that could see movement over the next few weeks"

So concludes the 2009 post-season; done & dusted. Stay tuned in the off-season for news of how Austin is ramping up for a stronger 2010 showing (and in what league).

Labels: exhibition, gameday, internacional, Stoke City, USL-1

Hot on the heels of their 2-1 upset of the Portland Timbers, the Aztex head north of the border for their final game of the 2009 season. They'll face the Vancouver Whitecaps on Sunday evening, Sept. 13, at 6:00 CT. Watch the game free on USLLive.com.

The Whitecaps are currently in the 7th and last playoff slot, though they haven't punched their ticket yet. They have 2 games remaining: the Aztex on Sunday and the Cleveland City Stars next Friday.

Vancouver is 1-1-1 in their last three, which includes their 3-2 win over Austin just a week and a half ago. Most recently, they're coming off a 1-0 loss to the Montreal Impact, in Montreal (match report / box score).

The Aztex have not yet won (or even tied) on Canadian soil. But Miguel Gallardo looked as good as ever in goal against Portland, and the Austin offense is starting to spark. Coming into this game fresh from their giant-killing win and with nothing to lose, they may well check that "first" off their list this weekend.

Get 'em Aztex!

Labels: gameday, USL-1

In their first trip to Portland of the year, the Aztex take on the Timbers again on Friday, Sept. 11. Kickoff will be at 9:00 PM CT; as always you can watch online for free on USLLive.com.

Austin fans will already know the result of both teams' last game: the Timbers squeaked out a 1-0 win with a late goal here at Nelson Field on Monday.

What you may not know is that the Red & White are in danger of posting one of the worst records in modern USL-1 history. Looking over the league standings back to 2003, when USL-1 was called the A-League, only a few of the teams in last place posted so few wins. Worse, seasons were shorter back then, with fewer total games. The following teams are listed worst-to-"best".

Team	Record (W-L-T)	Games Played	Points Per Game Played
2003 Indiana Blast	3-18-2	23	0.4783
2009 Cleveland City Stars	3-17-7	27 (of 30)	0.5926
2005 Toronto Lynx	3-17-8	28	0.6071
2004 Calgary Mustangs/ Edmonton FC (tie)	4-18-6	28	0.6429
2009 Austin Aztex	4-16-8	28 (of 30)	0.6429
2007 California Victory	4-17-7	28	0.6786

As you can see, Cleveland is currently worse off than Austin. And though they have a game in hand, their last 3 games are against Vancouver and Portland (twice). But if the Aztex don't pick up any more points, and Cleveland manages to get a win, Austin could wind up in 2nd place on this List of Infamy. Also note that Austin's point total reflects the 2-point deduction taken by the league.

We've heard from Coach Heath for several games now that there's plenty to play for, even after the playoffs became an impossibility: players showing why they should be asked back next season, etc. Let this be added to the list.

And come on you Red & White!

Labels: gameday, USL-1

I can't believe it's come so quickly, but this is it: the 14th and final home game of the 2009 Austin Aztex season. It will also be the last game they'll ever play at Nelson Field, since they're moving to House Park next year.

The Portland Timbers make their second trip to town Monday evening, Sept. 7. They were last here nearly two months ago, when they got a 2-1 win on July 11. That was one of the games in the Timbers' record-breaking 24-game unbeaten streak. A streak, I'm not sorry to say, that was broken in their last game, last weekend. They were beaten 2-1 at home by the Rochester Rhinos (match report / box score).

While we can hope the Aztex will extend that 1-game losing streak on Monday, it won't matter a hill of beans to the Timbers' playoff picture: they clinched their berth weeks ago. With 52 points (14-2-10), they're right at the top of the table. And with their last 4 games all being against the two last place teams (Austin and Cleveland), I'm sure they're confident that they'll finish the season in the same position.

The Aztex are rolling back into town after a rough, cross-continental road trip: a 2-1 loss in Vancouver on Wednesday and a 3-1 loss in Miami on Saturday. That's 5,800 miles in 6 days, plus the weight of 2 losses to carry home.

On the other hand, Saturday saw Miguel Gallardo make his return from a 3-month stint on the injured list. Though it didn't turn out to be the most triumphant return, he did make some great saves. Surely the Austin defense will only keep getting stronger now that he's back at its heart.

On the offensive side of the field, RSL loaner Jean Alexandre has continued to be a bright spot, getting both Aztex goals in Vancouver. And recent signing Jamie Watson has added instant spark to the Austin offense, getting the lone goal in Miami and constantly threatening opposition defenses.

This being the last home game, the club has designated it Fan Appreciation Night:

• discount tickets - $15 adults, $12 children
• free kid admission - for kids wearing a youth soccer an Aztex jersey
• halftime prize drawing - prizes include a signed jersey, official ball & $100 Soccer USA gift certificate
• Aztex apparel sale - $40 jerseys, $10 t-shirts & $15 scarves (prices also available at both Soccer USA locations)

Kickoff will be at 6:00; the pre-match supporter gathering at Nomad Bar will begin around 4:00. As this is the last game at Nelson, this will probably be our last time at Nomad. Yes, it's the end of an era, but it's not too late to be able to say you were there!

Come on you Aztex!

Labels: gameday, USL-1

The Aztex start their sprint to the end of the season tonight, Wednesday, September 2. First, a trip to Canada to face the Vancouver Whitecaps, then a quick hop down to Miami for another match Saturday.

Vancouver is currently 7th in the table, sitting comfortably in the final playoff spot, 7 points up from Miami, the next closest rival. The Whitecaps are coming off a 1-1 draw at home with the Rochester Rhinos on Saturday (match report / box score). If nothing else, I hope Vancouver can stay on their feet better at their home ground.

As this midweek game is at 9:30 CT, I've heard of no watch event. Grab a Lone Star and fire up USLLive.com at home.

That game is followed in short order by a trip down to Miami on Saturday, for the Aztex's last time to face them this season. The Blues, of course, are coming off a 1-0 loss to our boys here in Austin last Saturday. And don't forget that 9-0 smashing — the worst result since 1998 — that they got from the Carolina Railhawks just last week (I'm sure they haven't).

This match, at 7:00 CT Saturday night, unfortunately coincides with the U.S. mens' team World Cup qualifier against El Salvador. Worse still, it conflicts with a Longhorns football game. Aztex fans, in exile from anywhere near campus, will be gathering at Mister Tramps Sports Pub And Cafe, 8565 Research Blvd. The U.S. game will be on the TVs, and the Aztex game will be on the laptops. Go, Red & White (& Blue)!

Update: according to the team preview, goalkeeper Miguel Gallardo is making the trip:

Season-opening goalkeeper Miguel Gallardo is making the trip and could see his first game action since breaking his leg on June 12 against Puerto Rico.

“It’s exciting to be back. It’s exciting to be available for selection. Unfortunately, it might be a little too late for the playoffs. I’m just happy for Adrian to be able to count on me if he needs me. That’s the most important thing. I think I’m pretty comfortable right now to play a game.”

Labels: gameday, USL-1

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

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 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

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

The Aztex head into the 2nd half of their roadtrip to the Carolinas against the Carolina Railhawks in Cary, NC on Saturday, August 1.

The Railhawks are currently sitting in 4th place, their 10-5-3 record giving them 33 points, more than twice what the Aztex have earned. Most recently, Carolina is coming off a 4-0 pounding of Miami FC (match report / box score). New signing Gregory Richardson led the scoring, getting a hat trick in just his 2nd outing for the Railhawks.

The Aztex, of course, are fresh off a 1-0 loss to the Charleston Battery on Thursday night. This will be their first-ever appearance at Carolina's WakeMed Soccer Park. The Red & White have faced the Railhawks twice in Austin, getting a 0-1 loss on May 24th and a 1-1 draw on June 19th. Hey, a win Saturday night will give them a nice 1-1-1 set against this opponent!

Kickoff will be at 6:00 CT. Watch for free on USLLive.com, or join the Chantico's Army supporters at Cuatros, our usual away-game viewing spot. Go Aztex!

Labels: gameday, USL-1

The Aztex head to the Carolinas this week for 2 games in 3 days. They'll play the Carolina Railhawks on Saturday, but first up is the Charleston Battery on Thursday, July 30, at Blackbaud Stadium in Charleston, SC.

Charleston is making a strong run so far this season. Their 9-3-8 record puts them in a 3-way tie for 1st place, though they've played 20 games to Portland's 18 and Puerto Rico's 22. The Battery are coming off a 2-1 win over the Railhawks last Friday (match report / box score).

The Aztex most recently let a win slip through their fingers last Saturday against the Montreal Impact. The single point the Aztex got from that draw was cold consolation after being up 2-0 in the 70th minute.

But with news from the team tonight, we learn that the result from the Impact game is much worse than that:

Mike Callahan earned a yellow card in the previous week’s contest against Minnesota, pushing his season disciplinary record to five cautions. With that total, Callahan should have been suspended for Saturday’s game against Montreal. Instead, he played all 90 minutes.

As a result of the oversight, the Aztex will be docked the point earned in the 2-2 draw against Montreal and another point for the mistake. The club will be handed a $250 fine and Callahan will have to sit out Thursday’s match against Charleston.

Seems like somebody on the team might have noticed this ahead of time. Instead, Austin actually loses a point off the weekend.

I guess you could look at the Charleston match optimistically: there's no way they'll do worse than that.

Kickoff will be at 6:30 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 Cuatros on 24th. Come on, you Aztex!

Labels: gameday, USL-1

The Aztex are back in Austin on Saturday night, July 25, to host the Montreal Impact.

The Impact are sitting mid-table, with a 6-8-3 record. They won their last match 4-1, a midweek home game rout of the Cleveland City Stars (match report / box score).

Montreal has also been making news lately for less flattering reasons. First was the player-on-player violence, which eventually led to Sandro "The Strangler" Grande being released from the team. (Who's ever going to pick that guy up, I'd like to know.) Then Impact head coach Marc Dos Santos was ejected from their game in Rochester last Wednesday, for accosting Rhinos player Tiger Fitzpatrick.

The Aztex, meanwhile, continue to struggle. Having lost the last 3, most recently a 1-0 defeat at the Minnesota Thunder last weekend, their 3-9-6 record puts them near the bottom of the standings. But hopefully the players, recently returning from injury or being brought in for longer loans than we saw earlier in the season, will be fit, well-rested and ready to fire on all cylinders.

Saturday's game will be "Health and Wellness Night", with several area organizations participating. Bring a nonperishable food item to donate, and get in for just $15.

Kickoff will be at 7:30, so Chantico's Army's prematch supporters gathering will begin about 5:00 at Nomad Bar.

There will be just 3 more home games after this one, so you won't want to miss it. See you at the game, and GO AZTEX!

Labels: gameday, USL-1

The Aztex USL-1 squad is on the road this weekend, taking the game to Minneapolis to face the Minnesota Thunder.

The Aztex faced the Thunder here at home in the very first game of the season. That game resulted in a 1-1 draw, the first of many the Red & White have gotten this season. Minnesota's 11 points (a 2-8-5 record) makes them one of only 2 teams below the Aztex in the league standings, though they do have two games in hand over Austin.

The Thunder are coming off a 3-0 upset over the Montreal Impact (match report / box score). Though given some of Montreal's craziness lately, from Impact players choking each other during that game to the head coach getting ejected the following week in Rochester, perhaps beating them doesn't prove all that much.

Austin's roster will be bolstered by another new face this week: defender Kevin Sakuda. As opposed to some of the shorter-term loaners we've seen in Aztex kit, Sakuda's contract extends to the end of the season. Per the team website:

Austin scouted Sakuda in the preseason after he was released from Seattle when the team transitioned to the MLS. Sakuda slipped through and decided to sign with Montreal.

...“From my point of view, he’s a perfect fit for us,” Heath said. “He can play defense, he can play in midfield . . . and he’s experienced at this level.”

There is also a short Q&A with Sakuda on the team site.

It is a younger group here, obviously a first-year team. This’ll be my seventh year in the league so I think I can bring a bit of experience. I was part of some successful teams in Seattle. So, I think I’ve been through it. Hopefully I can add [to the team] in whatever way.

In other roster news, goalkeeper Nick Noble is coming in on a short-term contract (till Aug. 10), and MLS loaners Erik Ustruck (Houston Dynamo) and Yohance Marshall (LA Galaxy) have returned to their teams.

The pressure on the Aztex to get this expansion season turned around continues to build. Striker & captain Noel-Williams made his return last week, and Sakuda should help to shore up the young, mistake-prone Austin defense. Though they're on the road, Minnesota is arguably the weakest team in the league so far this season. Let's hope Austin comes out strong and starts to show that they can be contenders.

The game kicks off tonight at 7:05 CT, and will be broadcast for free on USLLive.com (the video production quality of Thunder home games is usually a cut above average). If you're at Copa Aztex watching Tigres vs Cruz Azul tonight, you can watch the archived video there, too.

After this game, the Aztex will be back in town next Saturday, July 25, to host the Montreal Impact.

Labels: gameday, players, USL-1

I didn't plan to ignore the Aztex U23s this season. It just worked out that way. With a few of their home games played outside of Austin (Waco, Bastrop, etc.), and with lots of USL-1 games to write about and attend, and the next thing you know, the season is almost over.

I only ever made it to one match at Dragon Stadium this year. I meant to write about that game, but never got around to that, either. Here's the short version: the crowd was smaller, the atmosphere was more subdued, but the soccer on the field was good. I thoroughly enjoyed myself.

It's not too late for you to check out the Aztex U23s for yourself. Their last regular-season game is here in Austin this Friday, July 17, against the El Paso Patriots. Kickoff is at 7:30.

But note: this game will be held at the Round Rock ISD Athletic Complex, not Dragon Stadium. The Athletic Complex, commonly referred to in RRISD as The Palace, is on Parmer Lane, just north of State Highway 45 (Google map).

The race for the top of the Mid South Division is a close one, and the Aztex U23s have a shot to win it. They are currently in 2nd place in the division. The field is so tight that none of the 3 playoff berths have been clinched, even though this is the last weekend of play.

The USL-1 team will be on the road playing the Minnesota Thunder this weekend. That game is on Saturday night at 7:05 CT, you can catch it free on USLLive.com if you're not in Minnesota.

Of course, you may be at the big Copa Aztex match between Cruz Azul and Tigres on Saturday night instead (more about that in a later post).

Labels: gameday, U-23

Following a luxurious 5 day rest, the Aztex take the home field again Saturday night, July 11, at 7:30. Even this late in the season, we're still seeing firsts for our Aztex: Saturday's game will be the first-ever matchup with the Portland Timbers.

The Timbers have had a strong season so far. Their 7-1-6 record puts them in the 3rd spot on the table. They're only a few points back from the top, and they have several games in hand over both teams ahead of them, Charleston & Puerto Rico.

Portland will be looking for a strong showing in this road game, after letting a win over the Thunder slip into a 1-1 draw at the last minute last Saturday in Minnesota (match report / box score).

As this preview on The Offside's Portland blog points out, the last time the Timbers came to Texas was to play the El Paso Patriots in 2003. The following year the A-League became USL-1, and El Paso dropped to the PDL.

Turning from history to the future, the Timbers are still trying to work out the stadium deal that's required before their planned move to MLS in 2011. A new $31 million deal was proposed to the Portland City Council just today.

This Saturday, the Aztex are also looking for a strong showing, of course. After taking another hit to their goal differential in the 4-1 loss to the Rochester Rhinos in New York last Sunday, they'll be looking to redeem themselves:

While the Aztex have played considerably better at home, so much shifting in the back line has made it a challenge... MLS players have come in and out of the back line all season in order to battle injuries – and costly mistakes. Three of Sunday’s goals came off botched clearances, a recurring issue for Austin.

“Individual errors are costing us very dearly,” Heath said. “I look at our goals [allowed] and if I thought the opposition was cutting us open because the system was so poor, then I’d be very concerned. But at times it’s isolated incidents where defenders are making stupid errors really.”

We may see some new (and returning) players in red & white this week:

After missing 11 games and doing more sitting than training, Gifton Noel-Williams finally practiced for a full session Wednesday.

Ever since his hamstring injury in April, Austin’s team captain has been limited to the sideline. Noel-Williams made a brief 18-minute appearance against Rochester on June 21, but quickly reinjured himself and found himself back on the bench... Noel-Williams said he should be fit enough to play Saturday against Portland, even if it comes as a sub.

... Antonio Barrera of the PDL’s El Paso Patriots trained with the Aztex Wednesday. Originally brought in to train with the Aztex U23s, the midfielder has been given an amateur agreement in order to give the coaches a chance to see him in action.

“He did really well against us when we played in the [U.S.] Open Cup,” Heath said.”He’ll train with us and we’ll see how he fits in.”

Both Austin and Portland were eliminated from the U.S. Open Cup in the 3rd round (Portland knocked out by arch rivals Seattle Sounders, Austin beat by the Houston Dynamo), so they will turn their full focus to league play. You can bet that both teams will give their all to bag these 3 points.

A special Family Four Pack deal is available for this game: $40 gets you 4 tickets, 4 sodas and 4 tacos. Kickoff will be at 7:30 PM, so the pre-match supporters' gathering at Nomad Bar will start around 5:00. This should be a great game; see you there!

Labels: gameday, USL-1

While most of us get three days off this Independence Day weekend, the Aztex only have the 4th itself off, with road games on Friday & Sunday.

On Friday, July 3 (that's tonight), they visit the Cleveland City Stars, in a rematch of last weekend's game there. Hopefully Austin will finish the City Stars off this time, and not let them steal a draw at the last minute. Both teams will be fighting for the points, trying to get into the playoff picture:

Despite occupying the ninth and 10th positions in the league table, Austin and Cleveland are within striking distance of the seventh place playoff position due the league’s parity. The expansion Aztex currently sit four points back with a record of 2-6-6 on the year and Cleveland is six back at 2-9-4.

This game, at Cleveland's Middlefield Cheese Stadium, will be broadcast live on Fox Soccer Channel. Everyone's invited to join fans and supporters at Cuatros on 24th, where the match will be shown on the giant Cuatron screen. Kickoff is 7:00 PM CT.

The second game of the weekend is on the afternoon of Sunday, July 5, facing the Rochester Rhinos at Marina Auto Stadium in New York.

The Rhinos are currently on a 4-game winning streak that includes the 2-0 defeat of the Aztex here in Austin two weeks ago. In their most recent league play, they got a 2-1 win over the Minnesota Thunder, at Minnesota (match report / box score). They also eliminated MLS' Columbus Crew from the U.S. Open Cup this week, squeaking by on penalty kicks.

Kickoff for the match in Rochester is 2:00 PM CT. Like all USL-1 matches (except those broadcast on Fox Soccer Channel), you can watch it live, for free, on USLLive.com.

As we approach the middle of the season, and with the majority of Austin's remaining games on the road, the Red & White are going to need to figure out how to win some games. Aside from PDL opponents in the Open Cup, the Aztex are on a winless run that goes back to the end of May (a 3-1 win over the Puerto Rico Islanders).

Though they're on the road more, their July schedule is much less grueling than June's was. With no more Open Cup matches, they have "only" 6 games in July, counting the Houston game on the 1st. Hopefully we'll see some players able to return to the pitch, some others get rested and raring to go, and some points racked up in the standings. Go Aztex!

Labels: gameday, USL-1

The Aztex take the field for the first of just three home games this month Wednesday evening, July 1, at 7:30. They host MLS' Houston Dynamo in the 3rd round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. The cup, the oldest team tournament in U.S. sports history, is just seeing the entrance of the top-level MLS teams in this round. The winner of this game will go to Charleston to play the Charleston Battery, who beat MLS' Chivas USA tonight, 3-1.

The Dynamo are a formidable opponent, coming into the game at the top of the MLS table, with a record of 8-3-4. They are returning to the Lone Star State from a 1-0 loss to the Los Angeles Galaxy, however. That defeat ended an 11-game unbeaten streak for Houston.

This won't be the first time the Red & White have hosted the Orange. Houston was here back in March for a preseason game, a contest that ended in a 2-2 draw.

Dynamo head coach Dominic Kinnear gave his view of the Open Cup in a short interview with AustinAztex.com:

AA: How important is the Open Cup to you guys? With the longer season, where is it in your priorities?

DK: It’s important to us. Obviously the bigger priority for us is the MLS and the MLS Cup. But this is a game for us to win. It’s the easiest trophy to win. You play four games in a row over a period of a time and you get the trophy.

Both teams will be missing some of their key players:

Houston’s Brian Ching and Stuart Holden are on the U.S. national team’s roster for the Gold Cup and are on their way to Seattle for the opening match against Grenada on Saturday. Defender Andrew Hainault will be on national team duty for Canada while Wade Barrett and Craig Waibel are out with injuries.

Match Forecast

Temp:	upper 80s
Rain:	10%
Wind:	3mph
Sunset:	8:37

as of 9:00 PM, 6/30/09

Add in Ricardo Clark who has been out with the national team after its spectacular run in the Confederations Cup and the Dynamo have had to do some shuffling.

...The Aztex are without starting goalkeeper Miguel Gallardo (leg) and midfielder and second-leading scorer Yordany Alvarez (foot). Also missing for nine games has been forward Gifton Noel-Williams, who has been out with a bad hamstring. Noel-Williams is slowly working his way back to form and said he should be fit enough for Wednesday.

Speaking of Noel-Williams, the game may see a reunion of sorts between him and former teammate Ade Akinbiyi:

Noel-Williams knows firsthand about Akinbiyi. The two became close friends during their time playing together for Stoke City and Burnley back in England where the duo’s physical presence proved to be effective both on and off the field.

The game should be a great one. Advancement to face Charleston in the 4th round is on the line, temperatures will stay down in the comfortable, 2-digit range all day, and lots of Dynamo fans are expected to make the trip. It may just be, as the Aztex email promotion claims, "THE BIGGEST COMPETITIVE SOCCER GAME IN AUSTIN HISTORY!"

Kickoff will be at 7:30, so that means the pre-match supporters' gathering at Nomad Bar (map) will start to come together about 5:00. Tickets for the match are $20 for adults, $15 for kids 12 and under.

After this game, the Aztex turn around and head back to Ohio on Friday for a rematch of last weekend's game against the Cleveland City Stars. That match will be broadcast live on Fox Soccer Channel.

Labels: gameday, MLS, U.S. Open Cup, USL-1

Believe it or not, this is only the fourth game for the Aztex to play on the road. They're heading to northern Ohio looking for some points from one of the only teams lower in the standings than they are, the Cleveland City Stars.

Cleveland was eliminated from the U.S. Open Cup in the 2nd round, losing 2-1 to the Rochester Rhinos after extra time. Since then, they've had a rough home stand, losing 2 games to Miami FC and most recently getting a 2-2 draw with the Vancouver Whitecaps on Tuesday (match report / box score).

The Aztex continue to bolster their squad with loaners from MLS:

Austin will bring back the Houston Dynamo’s Erik Ustruck on a free loan, this time on a more permanent basis. Ustruck’s loan will last until the end of August, but the Dynamo will reserve the right to call the defender back if he is needed with the MLS side. Ustruck will also be unavailable for Austin’s Open Cup match against the Dynamo Wednesday. Ustruck played for Austin in last weekend’s games against Carolina and Rochester, starting on the back line in both.

Los Angeles Galaxy defender Yohance Marshall will also the Aztex on a free loan that will last a week, meaning the Trinidad & Tobago national will be available for Saturday’s game against Cleveland and Wednesday’s U.S. Open Cup third round match against the Dynamo.

If nothing else, the Red & White will enjoy a break from the record-setting 100+ temperatures we've had in Austin this week. Temperatures in Cleveland will be in the mid 70s.

The game will be broadcast for free on USLLive.com (free registration required), kickoff is 6:00 PM CT. Folks from Chantico's Army are tentatively planning to meet at Cuatros to watch the game there (watch this BigSoccer thread for the latest).

After this weekend, the Aztex will return home to face the Houston Dynamo in the 3rd round of the U.S. Open Cup on Wednesday, July 1 at 7:30PM.

Labels: gameday, USL-1

The second game of this weekend's home stand will be against the Rochester Rhinos, Sunday night at 6:00. We saw a strong showing from our boys last night against Carolina; they should come out strong for this game, confident in their ability to mount a real challenge.

The Rhinos are currently in the middle of the table, 3 points above the Aztex but with a game in hand. Rochester is coming off a 3-0 regular season loss on the road to the Cleveland City Stars (match report / box score). That was followed 3 days later by a 2-1 win, after extra time, over the City Stars at home in U.S. Open Cup play (match report / box score).

The Aztex organization has a special deal for this Father's Day game: any dad accompanied by his kid(s) gets in free.

The question we'll be looking to answer from this game is, was Friday's solid performance against a league-leading Carolina Railhawks side the sign of a new leaf being turned over for Austin? Are they getting a leg up (pun intended, sorry) on some of the injury issues?

After Sunday's match, the Aztex have two weekends in a row on the road at Cleveland (Sat. June 27 & Fri. July 3). The next game here in town will be right between those, when they return to face MLS powerhouse Houston Dynamo in the 3rd round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on Wednesday, July 1.

We're approaching the part of the Aztex's 2009 schedule where the team will be on the road most of the time. Of 18 remaining games in the regular season, just 6 (including this one) will be played in Austin.

Remember the early, 6:00 kickoff time for Sunday, and bring the kids to get in free. It should be a great night, see you there!

Labels: gameday, USL-1