512 Soccer

Austin FC and the Austin Soccer Community

USWNT

The World Champion USWNT Open Q2 Stadium with a Win

by

The very first game played at Q2 Stadium, home of Austin FC, was the World Champion US Women’s National Team (USWNT) in a friendly against the Nigeria national women’s football team, nicknamed the Super Falcons.

American Outlaws Tifo at Q2 Stadium

Before the game, American Outlaws Austin unveiled a tifo tribute to Crystal Dunn.

USWNT vs Nigeria in Austin

The USWNT won 2-0 with a goal by Christen Press during extra time in the first half, and then Lynn Williams scored the insurance goal during the second half extra time.

It was really cool to see the Williams goal develop right in front of our seats.

I got goosebumps seeing those first goals and the victory to open Q2 Stadium to a sold-out crowd of 20,500. I can’t imagine the experience when we all get to see Austin FC take the field.

US Women’s National Team to Play First Match at Q2 Stadium on June 16

by

The World Cup Champion U.S. Women’s National Team (USWNT) will be playing in an exhibition match against Nigeria on Wednesday, June 16, at 8 PM CDT at Q2 Stadium.

USWNT at Q2 Stadium

The USWNT match versus Nigeria will be the first-ever match to be played at Q2 Stadium.

The match, which will be nationally televised on ESPN2, marks the debut of U.S. Soccer’s senior team in Austin, as neither the USWNT nor U.S. Men’s National Team (USMNT) has played a match here.

Three nights later on Saturday, June 19, Austin FC will play their MLS home opener against the San Jose Earthquakes at 8 PM CDT.

The June 16 match against Nigeria at Q2 Stadium will be the final USWNT international game before USWNT Head Coach Andonovski names the 18-player Olympic Team roster.

Ticket information for the June 16 match at Q2 Stadium will be released soon.

GoFundMe for Coaches Shot While Fundraising for Soccer Team in El Paso

by

The EP Fusion, a soccer team for girls 11 and younger, were fundraising for their team by selling chicharrones and aguas frescas outside the Cielo Vista Walmart in El Paso last Saturday when gunshots erupted.

EP Fusion SC fundraiser

There were 22 people killed in the horrific attack.

Two of the coaches, a coach’s wife, and a player’s mom were shot as they tried to raise funds for the team for uniforms and equipment. In the aftermath of the shooting a GoFundMe was created for the team.

Hundreds of people have donated for a total exceeding $20,000 currently, and many others have stepped up. A company called House of Graffix in New Mexico is donating new training shirts and jerseys for the players, and equipment needs have been met by uniform companies and the generosity of the USWNT.

So now the money raised is going towards medical expenses for the shooting victims. The two coaches remain in critical condition.

Follow the GoFundMe for updates.

Dave Brett Wasser “Nerd Nite” Presentation on the FIFA Women’s World Cup

by

Soccer archaeologist Dave Brett Wasser recently gave a presentation on “Nerd Nite” at The North Door in Austin on the origins of the sport of soccer, previews the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup, highlights of past Women’s World Cups, and the USWNT (US Women’s National Team).

2019 FIFA Womens World Cup soccer ballI didn’t realize the Women’s World Cup only started in 1991 (the Men’s World Cup started in 1930), but then again I wasn’t aware there was a Women’s World Cup taking place at that time, and I was a big fan of the game.

Since the US team won the first Women’s World Cup (2-1 over Norway), they imagined they would be greeted at the airport by fans when they returned to the US from China, but only the bus driver was there for them. Apparently, I wasn’t the only one who missed it back then.

The first Women’s World Cup I remember was in 1999 when Brandi Chastain scored the iconic penalty shot to win it for the US over China. The US won the Women’s World Cup again in 2015 over Japan.

An interesting and embarrassing thing I learned from Dave’s presentation was that the women’s matches were originally 80 minutes because FIFA didn’t believe women could run for 90 minutes. So it’s not so surprising that the first woman to attain any sort of power or authority in FIFA was in 2013.

Towards the end, Dave mentions Austin FC and the hope there will be an NWSL (National Women’s Soccer League) team in Austin in the near future, too. That would be great to see.

Watch Dave’s presentation in between the FIFA Women’s World Cup matches this year – the trivia and old clips he shares are a lot of fun.

Follow Dave on Twitter: @DaveBrett88