How could the Austin Aztex possibly top the events of the last two days? First, they travel to Laredo on Friday night and shut out the defending PDL Champion Heat, 0-1, to do their part to secure the expansion team’s first berth in the prestigious Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. But their place would not be secure if the Mississippi Brilla swept their two weekend games and outscored the Aztex cumulatively. They did not have to wait long to find out that the Houston Leones defeated the Brilla, 3-0, vaulting the Aztex into the Cup competition.
With that accomplishment under their belts, it was natural to think that today’s game against the New Orleans Shell Shockers would be anticlimactic. A letdown would be understandable, a little loss of focus predictable. As each week goes by, though, we seem to learn something new about this new team. There was neither letdown nor any loss of focus as the Aztex remain unbeaten and unscored upon as they defeated New Orleans 1-0 in front of a home crowd numbering nearly 900. Austin keeper Miguel Gallardo has not allowed a goal through the team’s first five games.
What was different today was that the Aztex waited – literally – until the last minute to score. After the dynamic defender from Duke University, Zack Pope, was brought down inside the penalty area in the 90th minute, Austinite A.J. Godbolt converted the penalty kick to secure the Aztex victory. Despite the late score, the Aztex asserted themselves offensively from the opening whistle. They had two terrific scoring chances in the first half, one shot hitting the post and the second glancing off the crossbar.
The Shell Shockers seemed content to hunker down and focus on holding their defensive form to limit the Aztex’s scoring chances and perhaps convert a quick counterattack. But the Shell Shockers were forced into continuing their defensive posture into the second half as the Aztex continued to press the attack and Coach Suhnholz’s substitutions emphasized his offensive orientation. As tough as the New Orleans defense was all game long, it almost seemed inevitable that a miscue would end up determining the final score. That occurred in the 90th minute when the penalty was called inside the box.
Today’s victory places the Aztex solidly in first place in the Mid South Division. They have accumulated thirteen points through five games matching the Yakima Reds of the Northwest Division for most points in the league. Interestingly, the Yakima Reds also secured a spot in the U.S. Open Cup this weekend, their first in their fourteen year history. The second place El Paso Patriots now trail the Aztex by five points.
The Aztex will be traveling to Clinton, MS to play the Mississippi Brilla (1-1-1) on Saturday, May 31 at 5:00 PM CDT. They will return home to face second place El Paso in two weeks, on Friday night, June 6 at 7:30 PM.
See also: USL match information
5/25/08
