I am so looking forward to Wednesday night and the Austin Aztex‘s matchup with downstate rival Houston Dynamo in the U.S. Open Cup round of 16. The Dynamo’s in top form right now, with the best record in Major League Soccer. They were here for a preseason exhibition – which the Aztex won on penalty kicks – it will be fun to see them again with something on the line. They’re wanting to do well in this year’s Open Cup; they were bounced in an early round last year by the USL’s Charleston Battery.
Should be a great game and also a great atmosphere: The Dynamo has an active traveling fan base, with two supporters groups who will likely be here in force. We need to be prepared to be loud enough to drown them out. And a reminder: The Open Cup is a knockout tournament, so the game will go to overtime and penalties, if needed, to decide a winner. Wednesday, July 1, 7:30pm at Nelson Field, 7400 Berkman, just north of Highway 290. $20; $15 for kids… Meanwhile, the Aztex are in Cleveland this weekend, trying to turn around a recent slide in the USL standings.
The Aztex U-23s beat West Texas United on Saturday, 1-0, to stay atop the PDL Mid-South division; they’re on the road down in the Valley for two games this weekend.
This article appears in June 19 • 2009.