Aztex MLS Madness Continues

The Austin Aztex were much improved Saturday night, holding the Houston Dynamo to a 2-2 draw in the second of their three-game series hosting MLS clubs. The game was lively and fairly physical, with good chances at both ends, and you could start to see the outlines of a regular lineup for the home side. The gorgeous first goal, for instance, paired two forwards we'll likely see a lot together: Big, experienced English striker Gifton Noel-Williams put speedy Sullivan Silva through with a perfectly weighted pass – and it seemed right that the first goal in team history should come from a Brazilian we found at Okla­homa Baptist. (What would have been even better: if the first winner in team history had been scored by Cuban defector Yordany Alvarez, whose 30-yard rocket in the 87th minute instead clanked off the far post. So that will have to wait.) The finale of MLS Madness is this Saturday, March 14, 7:30pm, at Nelson Field, hosting the MLS champion Colum­bus Crew. There may be more appearances announced, but as of now, this is your last chance to see this young team in action before the April 18 regular season opener hosting the Minnesota Thunder.

The USL's Puerto Rico Islanders advanced to the CONCACAF Champions League final four last week, beating Honduran champions Marathon in Honduras. The USL's Montreal Impact lost a shocker, giving up two goals in final injury time, to fall 5-2 against Santos Laguna. Atlante and Cruz Azul make it three Mexican clubs in the final four.

All four English teams, and three Spaniards, advanced to the Champions League final eight, with Italy shut out for the first time in memory. It didn't all come easy, though. Arsenal had to go to 7-6 in a penalty-kick shootout before eliminating Roma, in Rome's sold-out Olimpico.

Chelsea def. Juventus
Manchester United def. Inter Milan
Arsenal def. Roma
Liverpool def. Real Madrid
Villarreal def. Panathinaikos
Bayern Munich def. Sporting Lisbon
Atletico Madrid def. FC Porto
Barcelona def. Lyon