 "Photo: Tamir Kalifa/The Daily Texan")
With the number of home games dwindling as the race for playoff standings heats up, three points are at a premium for the Aztex.
Currently in the lower reaches of the United Soccer League standings, clinging on to eighth place in the league, the expansion side has just five home fixtures left between the last two months of regular-season games. Only one win away from the comforts of Nelson Field, Austin needs every point it can get.
The race for the eighth and final playoff spot continues with a home tie against the third-place Portland Timbers at home Saturday night. Despite almost doubling Austin’s season total of 15 points with 27 of their own, the Timbers have been vulnerable on the road, winning just once in seven trips (1-1-5).
It’s an issue the Aztex can sympathize with. Austin finally put points on the board, registering their first draw and first win on consecutive trips to Cleveland during the last two weeks.
But they followed a 1-0 win over the Stars by crumbling to a 4-1 loss two days later against Rochester. After playing a first-half stalemate, the Aztex allowed four goals in a 20-minute span as their defensive frailties were again exposed.
“Losing 4-1 was a real kick in the teeth, to be honest,” Aztex head coach Adrian Heath said on the team Web site. “I was probably going in the more content of the two coaches at halftime. They were at home, they should be taking the game to us and yet we had the chances. … To fall apart like we did is very disappointing.”
While it was disheartening, it may not have been unexpected. Sunday’s defensive collapse was the third time this season.
The Aztex boast an even goal difference at home, scoring 11 and conceding 11 to two wins and five draws. But they have come unglued on the road, leading the league with 16 goals allowed despite playing only six games.
“At the moment, we seem to be taking two steps forward, one step back,” Heath said. “It’s something we need to sort out because we can’t keep conceding four goals on the road.”
Heath has often attributed the team’s inconsistent nature, especially on the road, to the youth that permeates the squad. The inexperienced side that took the field on opening day has, at times, been stretched even thinner by injuries, but Austin can look forward to the return of star winger Sullivan Silva as striker Gifton Noel-Williams getting healthy after a long battle with a hamstring injury.
They’ll get a few more chances to show their stuff in front of the home fans this weekend before spending much of this month and August on the road.
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