Mustangs look to sweep Aviators
By CAMERON MAXWELL -- Calgary Sun
Some may say the Calgary Mustangs are over the hump following their last match, a decisive 3-0 win over the Vancouver Whitecaps.
However, the captain of the A-League club, Geert Brusselers, begs to differ.
With the winless Edmonton Aviators (0-4-5) in town tonight to take on the 'Stangs (McMahon Stadium, 7 p.m., Fox Sportsworld) in the first of a home-and-home series, Brusselers said his team still has something to prove.
"It's simple. We have two games against Edmonton and if we want to have any business in this league, we have to win twice," said the Dutch midfielder.
"I'm not saying it's going to be easy against Edmonton, these are derbies, and there's a lot of emotion involved and it's going to be a very tough game, maybe even tougher than against Vancouver.
"If we want to mean something in the A-League, we should be able to win from Edmonton twice and that's going to be extra pressure now, and if we win those games, then we can (say) we've taken off."
The last time the two teams tangled, they played to a 1-1 draw at McMahon but Brusselers said the Mustangs should be able to handle their provincial rivals and do it live on international TV.
"I think we have a better team but, at the moment I say that, I know I'm going to put some extra pressure on our shoulders, but we have to face it -- we're supposed to be the better team and we have to prove it and if we don't, it's our mistake," he said.
The Mustangs currently sit with a 2-7-2 record but are 2-2-2 on McMahon's artificial turf, where they've played well all season and certainly enjoy a home-field advantage.
"I think we have an advantage simply because of the fact that we practice on in more than the other teams and it needs some adjustment," said Brusselers.
NIENDORF OUT: Calgary head coach Thomas Niendorf won't be on the sideline tonight. He's in Vancouver, where his daughter is set to graduate from university.
Team officials knew Niendorf would be gone for the game before the season started.
In his absence, captain Geert Brusselers and backup goalie Jamey Glasnovic will handle the coaching duties.
Meanwhile, anyone wearing blue, yellow or a soccer jersey gets in free for tonight's game.
