With just two weeks now until their regular season opener, the Austin Aztex finalized three big signings this week: two familiar names that fans will be happy to see back, plus a young striker who may have more upside potential than anyone we’ve seen play in Austin.
• Tony Rocha has been an offensive spark on the left wing for the Aztex throughout their three years in the PDL, though he’s still only 21. A Houston native, he was drafted by Sporting KC after finishing his college eligibility last year.
• Kris Tyrpak was the Aztex’ top scorer in 2012 and 2013, and the PDL national player of the year in 2013. The Dripping Springs native spent last year in MLS with the now-defunct Chivas USA, and was picked up by San Jose in the dispersal draft.
• Alfred Koroma Shams, a 20-year-old forward, emigrated from war-torn Sierra Leone with his mother, landed in the Fort Worth area at the age of 8, and has been involved with the U.S. National Team program since he was 14. Four years ago at the U-17 World Cup (when he was known as Alfred Koroma), Yahoo Sports tabbed him as “the latest, greatest young American striker”; since then he’s played with the U-20s, and with the youth team at Fluminense, one of Brazil’s most prestigious clubs. I can’t wait to see him in action.
The Aztex finish their preseason this Saturday with the first-ever Hill Country Derby, against the defending NASL champion San Antonio Scorpions at San Antonio’s Toyota Field on Saturday, March 14, at 7:30pm. The USL season opens March 28 against Colorado Springs; season tickets and more info at www.austinaztex.com.
Men in Blazers, the popular NBC Sports talk show (“Kind of like Car Talk without the cars”) will be doing their show from Austin this week for SXSW. Meet up with them this Friday evening at 9:30pm at Fadó (214 W. Fourth).
Brilliant atmosphere at the MLS home opener for Orlando City (né Austin Aztex): 62,510 at the Citrus Bowl saw a stoppage-time equalizer from Brazilian star Kaká earn a 1-1 draw with fellow expansion club NYCFC. It was the MLS’ second-biggest inaugural crowd ever, behind only the LA Galaxy’s 69,255 at the Rose Bowl on MLS’s first day of play in 1996. MLS attendance and TV ratings were strong as well, with seven of ten games sold out, and the Orlando game drawing more viewers on ESPN2 than any regular season game last year.
The U.S. Women got goals from youngsters Julie Johnston and Christen Press to beat France, 2-0 in the Algarve Cup final Wednesday – avenging a loss to Les Bleues two weeks ago. U.S. goalie Hope Solo came up big, stopping several shots, including a late PK. Germany beat Pia Sundhage’s Sweden, 2-1 in the third-place game, in this tournament that included nine of the finalists for this summer’s Women’s World Cup… Another five were at the Cyprus Cup, where England upset WWC host Canada, 1-0, in Wednesday’s final.
In European Champions League action Wednesday, Paris St. Germain survived a first-half red card to star Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and ousted favored Chelsea, in London, on a goal in the 114th minute. The Round of 16 wraps up next Tue.-Wed., March 17-18, with games on Fox Sports 1 at 2:30pm both days.
U.S. teams were shut out of the CONCACAF Champions League semifinals, though the MLS’ Montreal Impact upset Mexico’s Pachuca to advance along with Mexico’s Club America, and two clubs from up-and-coming Costa Rica.
This article appears in March 13 • 2015.