Soccer Watch

The European season started last week in most places, though Spain and Italy don't kick off for another couple of weeks. And already, some of the biggest clubs on the Continent are facing do-or-die games, as the UEFA Champions League third qualifying round got under way this week. Rome giants Lazio, for one, may see their international season ended early -- not so much for a disappointing 1-1 home draw with Dinamo Bucharest as for the three Romanian fans who were stabbed in clashes with Lazio's notorious right-wing "Ultras." Full-game results are online at austinchronicle.com/soccer.

Euro 2008 qualifying is revving up again as well, with a smattering of games Aug. 22, before major dates Sept. 8 and 12. Again, details online.

The UT Lady Longhorns, ranked ninth in the nation, opened their training schedule Wednesday, Aug. 15, and will practice mornings and evenings until the first scrimmage at New Mexico on Friday, Aug. 24.

David Beckham finally made his Major League Soccer debut, playing 21 minutes in the L.A. Galaxy's 1-0 loss vs. D.C. United. But his damaged ankle "responded poorly," said the club, and he wasn't on the roster for their next game.

The U.S. women trounced New Zealand, 6-1, in their next-to-last tune-up before the 2007 Women's World Cup kicks off Sept. 10 in China.