The Austin Lightning open their 2005 home schedule this Saturday, May 14, 7:30pm, against the first-place Laredo Heat. The Lightning, part of the 54-team Premier Development League in the United Soccer Leagues, have opened the season 1-2 on the road, earning their first win last Saturday against the Memphis Express. All home games will be at Ellie Noack Field, 5300 Crainway, just east of 183 and Springdale. www.austinlightningsoccer.com or www.uslsoccer.com for more info.
It’s been a great run for Portuguese soccer recently, and it could get better. This Wednesday, May 18, 1:30pm, Sporting Lisbon gets to play the UEFA Championship game in their hometown, taking on CSKA Moscow, and trying to make it three years in a row for Portuguese clubs winning major trophies, after Porto took the UEFA Cup two years ago and the Champions League trophy last year.
Might be time to be scouting your favorite sports bar for their closed-circuit schedule, because that’s just one of the huge games coming up in the next couple of weeks as the European season comes to a close and teams jockey for this year’s hardware, and also for spots in next year’s international competitions. Notably, the FA Cup Final is Sat., May 21, 9am, and the Champions League final is Wed., May 25, but several domestic races are down to the wire as well. See “Soccer Watch Online” for a roundup.
South America’s club championship, the Copa Libertadores, is down to its knockout stage, too. Starting with the round of 16 next Wed., May 18, play continues each Wednesday through the final, July 13. The schedule’s not set yet, but a number of these games should be on Fox Soccer Channel and ESPN Deportes.
The first-ever FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup is going on this week, May 8-15, on Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro. The U.S. squad was knocked out in the first round; Brazil and Portugal are probably the favorites.
This article appears in May 13 • 2005.