Soccer Watch

The Austin Lightning kicks off their season this weekend with two games at House Park Stadium, 15th and Lamar*. The Lightning play in the Mid South Division of the Premier Development League, the country's top-level amateur league, and should be packed with talented youngsters looking to move up the United Soccer Leagues food chain. The Lightning play the Lafayette Swamp Cats Friday night, and the New Orleans Shell Shockers Saturday night. Both games are at 7:30pm. Check www.austinlightningsoccer.com or call 260-8375 for more info*.

Just a couple of months ago, you could have gotten pretty long odds that Spain, Italy, England, and Germany would all be shut out of the European Champions League final. But lo, that's what's happened, as lesser-regarded Porto of Portugal and Monaco of the French Ligue 1 outlasted the last of the entries from the big-time leagues this week. In a contrasting pair of semifinals, it was Porto shutting down Spaniards Deportivo La Coruna 1-0 after a scoreless first leg, and Monaco making their remarkable 3-1 home win over Chelsea's superstars stand up by storming back from a 2-0 deficit to salvage a draw in London, and a spot in the May 26 final in Gelsenkirchen, Germany.

South Africa emerged this week as the front-runner in its bid to host the 2010 World Cup, with Egypt and Morocco still in the running to host the first WC to be played in Africa. FIFA will make its final site decision on May 15.

* This story has been modified from the original print version.