Aztex Look to Shut Down League's Leading Scorer

Published on June 8, 2010 under U.S. Soccer Federation D-2 (USSF D-2)
Austin Aztex News Release


Playing well at home is a goal every sporting team usually makes at the beginning of each season. The Austin Aztex are bringing that goal to fruition with a 3-1-1 record at home this season.

The Aztex (7-1-2) are looking to improve on that mark when they take on the Portland Timbers (3-3-3) at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday at House Park.

Portland comes into the match having won just one of its previous five matches. Austin, on the other hand, has won four of its last five games, with the only stain being a 3-3 tie against FC Tampa Bay on May 26.

The Timbers are propelled by forward Ryan Pore who leads the league with eight goals this season to go along with two assists. The rest of the team, however, doesn't seem to share the same knack for scoring goals as Pore does. Only two other players, forwards Mandjou Keita and O.J. Obatola, have scored a goal for the Timbers this season.

Portland's previous match ended in a tough 1-1 draw against the Carolina RailHawks last Sunday.

The Timber's meeting with the Aztex will be the second of three matches in a seven day stretch for the team.

The Aztex, fresh off their 2-1 win against the Puerto Rico Islanders, are looking to extend their three match winning streak to four and unbeaten streak to eight.

Austin's attack should be given a boost with the return of leading scorer Eddie Johnson, who was held out of last game.

Maxwell Griffin's emergence as of late gives the Aztex another weapon to add to the arsenal. Griffin has earned a point in each of the Aztex last three games, scoring a goal in each of the last two.

Austin finished the first third of the season at the top of the league and is going into the next third riding a wave of confidence and momentum, while seeking another mark in the win column to further establish a home field advantage at House Park.

The Aztex are also hoping to see more than just Aztex jerseys in the crowd Wednesday. Anyone who wears a soccer jersey from any country around the world earns $2 off admission.

Game Notes:

Series Matchup

Austin is 1-2 all time against the Timbers. The last meeting between the two teams resulted in a 2-1 victory for the Aztex, which ended up being their last win of the 2009 season.

Griffin's Emergence

Aztex forward Max Griffin has caught on fire lately, tallying at least a point in each of the Aztex past three matches and scoring a goal in each of the last two matches.

Putting Eggs in One Basket

The Austin Aztex have scored more than twice as many goals this season as the Portland Timbers. The Aztex have 21 goals and the Timbers have 10. Eight of the 10 goals have come off the foot of one player, forward Ryan Pore.

Bragging Rights

This match up pits the top two goal scorers and shot takers in the league in Portland's Ryan Pore and the Aztex Eddie Johnson. Pore has eight goals on 35 shots while Johnson has six goals on 28 shots.

Injury Update

Lance Watson (hamstring) and Kieron Bernard (hamstring) have both been ruled out of Wednesday's match with the Timbers. Sullivan Silva (knee) has been upgraded to probable.

What's Next?

The Aztex next match will be their first round match in the 2010 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. Austin takes on former Aztex star Gifton Noel-Williams and the Dallas Fort Worth Tornados at 7:30 p.m. at House Park. The next league game for the Aztex will be June 12 at house Park when they take on the Vancouver Whitecaps.

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U.S. Soccer Federation D-2 Stories from June 8, 2010


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