Soccer Watch

This Monday evening, Jan. 30, could mark a milestone for the fledgling Austin Aztex, as the Austin ISD board of trustees is set to approve a contract for the Aztex to play home games at House Park, like the previous incarnation of the Aztex, and several other soccer teams before them. It had been clear all along that the Downtown stadium would be the Aztex's first choice; the previous team had just finished negotiating a three-year lease extension to play there shortly before they folded up their tents and fled to Orlando, Fla., and the new agreement is made on similar terms. An Austin American-Statesman story on Jan. 23 focused on noise concerns from neighbors north of the stadium on Judges Hill. One resident said that of the various stadium users, "Aztex fans, with their horns, cowbells and rhythmic bleacher stomping, were particularly loud." Fuckin' A! Rock on, dude! ... Umm, I mean, we're sorry, Mrs. Cleaver, we'll try to be quieter next time.

The U.S. women swept through the group stage of Olympic qualifying, winning three games by a combined score of 31-0, and now face Costa Rica on Friday for a trip to London later this summer. It's Mexico-Canada in the other semifinal; and Sunday's final will be carried live on NBCSP, 7pm.

The African Cup of Nations is under way in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon, with the Ivory Coast and Ghana heavy favorites to meet in the final Feb. 12.