The Austin Lightning got a controversial, last-minute, “Hand of God” goal to beat the Nashville Metros 2-1 on Saturday night as a sliding, scrambling Sonny Guadarrama somehow guided the ball into the Metros net on virtually the last play of the game. With that, the Lightning moved into second place in the PDL Mid-South – and thus into playoff position – with just three games to go in the regular season. They’re in New Orleans this weekend, and Laredo the next, before coming home for the final game of the year on July 22. www.austinlightningsoccer.com, www.uslsoccer.com.

Argentina won the FIFA World Youth Championship Saturday, beating Nigeria 2-1 in the final. … The final of the Copa Libertadores, the club championship of Latin America, is an all-Brazilian affair: São Paulo vs. Paranaense this Wednesday and next. … The CONCACAF Gold Cup opens today, July 7; Houston hosts two doubleheaders: first-round games Wednesday, July 13; and a pair of quarterfinals Sunday, July 17. www.us.terra.com/goldcup2005.

This article appears in July 8 • 2005.

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