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Game Preview: Austin Aztex FC vs. Carolina RailHawks

June 19, 2009 - USL First Division (USL-1)
Austin Aztex News Release


AUSTIN, Texas - The Aztex came out of Tuesday's Open Cup match with a win, and more significantly, more than a few questions.

Both A.J. Godbolt and Yordany Alvarez were late scratches from the starting lineup when they went down with injuries during the team's warm-ups. Godbolt strained his hamstring and head coach Adrian Heath said Alvarez may have fractured his foot. No official word on the exact amount of time each will be out.

The two injuries are the latest in a growing list of roster issues the Aztex have faced this season, leaving the team with only 15 healthy players on the team.

"It's a trying and testing time for us at the moment," head coach Adrian Heath said. "Just when you get a settled lineup in your mind, A.J. and Yordany go out in warm-ups. ... It hasn't been an easy time for us."

To compensate for the losses, Austin (2-5-4, 10 points) made several moves just before its Friday matchup against Carolina (7-3-2, 23 points).

Houston Dynamo defenders Erik Ustruck and Mike Chabala will come to the Aztex on free loans and defender David Horst will be brought in from Real Salt Lake. All three will be on free loans that will last through the weekend.

"They come highly recommended from [Dynamo head coach] Dominic Kinnear," Heath said of the Houston loans. "That's enough for me."

At this point, Heath may not have much room to be picky, particularly with his backline's most consistent presence among the injured.

Kieron Bernard went down with a hamstring pull during last weekend's game against Puerto Rico. Bernard sat out of the team's last two games and is now listed as probable.

"He's been the most dominant," Heath said. "It's a big hole to fill."

The last time Heath needed to bring in players he opted for midfielders, but the incoming trio are all defenders to help an Aztex defense that has allowed 18 goals on the season, second worst in the league.

"They have strength and experience," Heath said. "[Those are] things we're lacking at the moment."

The transfers this time around do not come without complication, however. In order to comply with USL-1 rules, the Aztex can only have three MLS players on loan, meaning Austin had to release Ciaran O'Brien, who was originally on loan from the Colorado Rapids for the rest of season. Heath said his team just doesn't need more midfielders right now.

Ustruck, Chabala and Horst, all of which received little time to play on their MLS teams, will be available against Carolina to help prop up the Aztex.

The current injury report lists Alvarez, Miguel Gallardo (leg) and Gifton Noel-Williams (hamstring) all out; Jarius Holmes (knee) as questionable; and Godbolt, Kieron Bernard (hamstring) and Eddie Johnson (quad) as probable.

"I don't like to make excuses," Heath said, "but if you take any team, take any MLS team and take five or six players out of their starting lineup and it's going to be tough."



USL First Division Stories from June 19, 2009


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