Soccer Watch
By Nick Barbaro, Fri., Feb. 27, 2015
The Austin Aztex preseason continues with two more Saturdays of free exhibition games against college teams at Kelly Reeves Athletic Complex, 10211 W. Parmer: Incarnate Word this Saturday, Feb. 28, 4pm; and a double-header March 7: Southwestern at 3pm, St. Edward's at 5pm. Then comes the preseason finale: the first-ever Hill Country Derby, against the San Antonio Scorpions at San Antonio's Toyota Field on Saturday, March 14, at 7:30pm. The USL regular season opens March 28; season tickets and more info at www.austinaztex.com.
The Aztex announced Wednesday that they've added Gambian striker Sainey Touray to their roster. The 25-year-old was playing first-division soccer by the age of 15, trained in England with Arsenal, and last year helped the San Antonio Scorpions to the NASL title.
Speaking of Arsenal, their 3-1 home loss to Monaco in the European Champions League Wednesday was the big surprise of the first leg of the Round of 16. No games this week; the return legs are March 10-11 and 17-18.
World Cup 2022, the latest twist: I keep thinking FIFA will come to their senses and yank this thing out of the Qatari desert altogether; but no. The latest plan being circulated would move the tournament to November-December – which would result in fewer players dying in the 120-degree summer heat, but would royally screw over just about every pro team and league in the world (including Qatar's own Stars League, which runs from August through April, like most leagues worldwide). In the U.S., a Nov.-Dec. WC would fall right on top of the MLS playoff season, and would compete with the NFL and college football. Smooth.
She's back! Hope Solo has been reinstated as the U.S. No. 1 goalkeeper after serving a 30-day suspension for the latest in a series of alcohol- and violence-related incidents. She went on Good Morning America Tuesday to report that she'd been "a victim of domestic violence at the hands of my 17-year-old nephew who is 6-foot-9, 280 pounds."
