Aztex U-23s Schedule Is Out
2009 PDL schedule is out; Kljestan hat trick lifts U.S.; Dallas Texans honors; Stoke woes
By Nick Barbaro, 6:34PM, Wed. Jan. 28, 2009
The United Soccer Leagues released the Premier Development League schedule Wednesday; the Aztex U-23 squad will play in a newly aligned, all-Texas Mid South Division; Baton Rouge, New Orleans, and Mississippi have all moved to the Southeast Division, replaced by expansion clubs in Midland and McAllen. The Aztex plays Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, Laredo, and El Paso three times each, and the expansion clubs twice, in a season running May 7 to July 17. See the full schedule at the USL website ... The Aztex are looking for game-day volunteers; attend a meeting 6pm Thursday, Jan. 29 at Sherlock's Pub, 9012 Research, or email Alex Wolf at [email protected].
Below: National honors for the Dallas Texans, a hat trick for Sacha Kljestan; Stoke City in relegation mire in England…Sacha Kljestan scored all three goals Saturday night, as the U.S. Men beat Sweden, 3-2, in their first game of 2009. The 23-year-old Chivas USA midfielder was already on trial with Scottish giant Celtic Glasgow, said to be mulling a $2.7 million offer to the MLS for him.
The Dallas Texans have been named best girls' youth club of the year by Soccer America. Four other Texas teams were in the Top 30, including Austin's Lonestar FC at No. 26. The Texans ranked second on the boys side, heading three Texas clubs in the Top 8.
The English Premier League season has effectively split into two divisions, with six teams having a shot at a top-four finish, and as many as 14 involved in the relegation scramble to avoid the bottom three and "the drop." Aztex affiliate Stoke City, winless in nine games, is currently in a three-way tie at the bottom, and heading into a dicey stretch: eight of their next 10 games are against teams they're within a few points of: Manchester City (28) Saturday, then Sunderland (26), Portsmouth (24), Aston Villa (44), Bolton (23), Everton (36), Middlesbrough (21), West Brom (21), Newcastle (23), and Blackburn (22). By then – mid-April, just as the Austin Aztex season begins – the Potters' season may well be decided.
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June 28, 2024
