Soccer Watch

The Lady Longhorns had a great weekend, getting their first road win in more than a year, 2-1 at Iowa State, plus a 1-0 overtime thriller over previously league-leading Nebraska. It couldn't have come at a better time; at 8-6-1, the Horns are probably an NCAA bubble team, as they go on the road this weekend for their last Big 12 games of the season, at Kansas and Missouri.

On the international scene, it was a big week for English clubs, as Arsenal, Chelsea, and Liverpool all won in the European Champions League, while Manchester United's draw kept them first in their group as well. The next games are Nov. 1-2.

The New York Times reports the issuance in Saudi Arabia of a fatwah on soccer – believers are entreated, among other things, to not use lined fields, referees, or teams of 11 players, so as not to "follow the heretics, the Jews, the Christians and especially evil America." It would also be better to play each game in three halves, to differentiate yourself from the polytheists.

MLS playoffs begin this week; the ESPN2 game of the week is perhaps the league's best rivalry: San Jose Earthquakes at L.A. Galaxy, 3pm Sunday, Oct. 23.