Soccer Watch
Hard-luck weekend for the Lightning, Beckham reinjures his ankle, and more
By Nick Barbaro, Fri., June 22, 2007
The U.S. men beat Panama, 2-1, to advance to the semifinals in the CONCACAF Gold Cup; they play Canada Thursday, June 21 (6pm on FSC, TeleFutura). Mexico meets Guadeloupe in the other semi. The final: Sunday, June 24, 2pm.
The U.S. women continue in fine form as they prepare for the World Cup later this summer. They beat China 2-0 Saturday on a pair of Abby Wambach goals. Next up: Brazil this Saturday, June 23, in New York (4pm on ESPN2).
Grêmio of Brazil had a terrible night Wednesday in Buenos Aires, losing to Boca Juniors, 3-0, in the first leg of the Copa Libertadores final; the return leg, to decide the Continental championship, is going on as we go to press.
David Beckham helped Real Madrid to the Spanish title on Sunday but limped off early in Real's decisive win after reinjuring his ankle. Said Beckham, who's due to join the L.A. Galaxy in July on a five-year contract worth up to $250 million: "I heard it snap again. There was a lot of pain." For more on this, see austinchronicle.com/sports.