It’s just what a team stretched to its physical limit and weary with travel doesn’t need: Another game, another superior opponent. But when Austin’s struggling USL-1 newcomer takes on Houston’s perennial Major League Soccer power tonight at Nelson Field, it isn’t going to be your usual David -and-Goliath matchup. For starters, it’s a cup match, a winner-take-all scrap that more often rewards grit and physicality than talent.
Then there’s the budding intrastate rivalry between the dominant power of Texas and the new boys on the block. This will be the second game the two have played against each other and while the first, a preseason friendly, didn’t carry as much weight, it’s indicative of the equalizing force of a home field. That game, just the second in the Aztex existence and part of a four-game MLS tour, ended 2-2, with the Austin minnows briefly holding a lead.
“It’s going to be a hard game,” said Dynamo head coach Dominic Kinnear. “The last one was a hard game. I know they have some injury troubles, but they have a good team down there.”
In recent weeks, the Aztex have been decimated by injuries, requiring several stopgap loans from MLS teams to fill in the roster. Along the way, they have seen youth-team players like winger Jeff Harwell step into the limelight with inspiring performances. The youngster, promoted from the Aztex development team mid-season after an injury to winger Sullivan Silva, has scored three goals while assisting
on several others.
The results have shown the Aztex slide in health, as the season’s bright start has given way to only three wins in the past 10 games. Austin finally recorded its first point on the road in USL play after three unsuccessful attempts, settling for a 2-2 draw at Cleveland after allowing a last-minute equalizer.
But Austin isn’t the only team to deal with a compact schedule and unforgiving absentee list. Despite a cleaner bill of health, with defender Eddie Robinson the only long-term absentee, the Dynamo have seen their own roster decimated as well.
With Confederations Cup and Gold Cup play merging into one protracted international tournament, Houston will be without the services of influential playmaker Stuart Holden and target-man Brian Ching for much of next month, while midfielder Ricardo Clark is not yet available after two weeks of international team duty.
“We feel we have a deep team,” Kinnear said. “We understand what needs to be done when players are away.”
Even with the challenges facing the team, the Dynamo has been the hottest team in America in the past few months, finally seeing an 11-game winning streak snapped by Los Angeles last weekend.
“The team is playing well,” Kinnear said. “We’ve scored the first goal and that gives you confidence. When that happens, your quality shines through.”
Kinnear said a different team will take the field for Houston than the one that fell to L.A. as he looks to preserve his squad for a charge at a third MLS trophy in four years.
The winner of Wednesday’s game will advance to the quarterfinals to play the winner of Chivas USA and the Charelston Battery.
Wednesday: Houston Dynamo (8-5-6) at Austin Aztex (5-8-8)
Where: Nelson Field
When: 7 p.m.
On air: AM 1300 The Zone
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