The new USL Pro league started play last weekend, with Orlando City (ex-Austin Aztex) losing 2-0 at home to the Richmond Kickers, in front of what has to be a disappointing crowd of 1,650; they averaged more than 3,500 here last year. About half of the lineup consisted of former Aztex: Yordany Alvarez, Maxwell Griffin, Jamie Watson, Miguel Gallardo, Mechack Jerome, and Lawrence Olum. There’s a team of dancing girls now, and the post-match parties are held at Baby Grand’s Dueling Piano Bar, but I wish them well.

Meanwhile, the rival second division North American Soccer League kicks off its first season this weekend, with the San Antonio Scorpions slated as an expansion team next year. Who will survive? Stay tuned.

The high school State Cham­pion­ships are coming up next week in Georgetown, and three local teams are still in the running to compete, led by the Cedar Park Vista Ridge girls, who’ve blown through their first four tournament games with a combined score of 26-0. Round Rock has two home teams as it hosts the 5A regional finals this weekend: the McNeil boys and Westwood girls, who will each take on McKinney Boyd in the next round (Friday-Saturday, April 8-9, Reeves Athletic Complex, 10211 W. Parmer, Round Rock)… The State Championships themselves are next Thursday-Saturday, April 14-16; 11am, 1, 4, & 6pm each day. Thursday: 4A semifinals; Friday: 5A semifinals; Saturday: finals. Birkel­bach Field behind Georgetown High School, 2275 N. Austin Ave. Daily: $10, adult; $5, student; $20-25, all-tourney. Visit
www.uiltexas.org/soccer for more info.

With Costa Rican fans literally shaking the stadium known as the “Monster’s Cave” Tuesday night, Real Salt Lake got a goal from Colombian defender Jamison Olave to advance past Saprissa into the CONCACAF Champions League final – the first MLS team to do so since 2000. They’ll face either Cruz Azul or Monterrey in a two-legged final, April 19 & 26.

In Europe, Manchester United and AC Milan opened up some space in their respective leagues, and in the Champions League quarterfinals, Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Schalke all but advanced with huge first-leg wins; Man U’s 1-0 win at Chelsea was the only close game. Return legs are next Tuesday-Wednesday, April 12-13, 1:30pm (live on FSC each day).

The U.S. U-20s are playing Guatemala for a spot at the U-20 World Cup as we go to press.

This article appears in April 8 • 2011.

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