In addition to the next round of English Premier League games, several high profile European teams began their chase toward the UEFA Champions League, including a couple of British giants.
The top club tournament in Europe reached the third round of qualifying, where the clubs from the top leagues come in. Among the highlights was Arsenal holding down Sparta Prague 2-0 on goals by Cesc Fabregas and Alexander Hleb. The Gunners finished out of the top two in England, meaning they are battling in the third round instead of getting the bye into the group stage.
Similarly placed, fellow EPL side Liverpool eased by Toulouse of France, 1-0. In other prominent games, Dinamo Kiev shut out FK Sarajevo 1-0 and Spartak Moscow drew with Celtic 1-1.
The return legs will be played Aug. 28. The 16 winners of the third round qualifying series will join the 16 direct qualifiers in the group stage.
English Premier League
One of the early surprises of the EPL season saw Everton win for the second time in as many games with a 3-1 punchout of a reeling Spurs team, once expected to challenge for top four status.
Already missing the injured Wayne Rooney, Manchester United saw fiery midfielder Cristiano Ronaldo sent off for a headbutt on Portsmouth's Richard Hughes in the 1-1 draw between the clubs. The game also saw the debut of much anticipated Carlos Tevez, who helped create Paul Scholes' goal, United's only tally of the game.
The defending league champs are now winless after two games, and sit four points behind Chelsea to start the season.
Recently promoted Sunderland managed another good result, a draw with Birmingham, while Sven-Goran Eriksson and his Manchester City crew also moved to 2-0 with a win against Derby.
The American-heavy club Fulham just eked past Bolton as U.S. regulars Clint Demsey, Brian McBride and Carlos Bocanegra all saw action for Fulham.
Mexico's Apertura 2007
Defending league champs Pachuca took time away to defeat MLS's Houston Dynamo in the SuperLiga tournament on Tuesday. They will face David Beckham and his Los Angeles Galaxy in the $1 million final on Aug. 29. Back home, they are 2-0 on the young season, both resounding victories after defeating Monarcas Morelia 3-1 last weekend.
Only Santos, with Mexico national team goalkeeper Oswaldo Sanchez, is similarly 2-0 in the early going.
Spanish La Liga
Barcalona tuned up for the La Liga season with a friendly against legendary German side Bayern Munich on Wednesday. Argentinian star Lionel Messi put home a spectacular volley just before full time to hand Barcelona a 1-0 victory at the Allianz Arena.
La Liga play begins August 26.
German Bundesliga
While there were no midweek games, this weekend sees some strong matchups, as Bayern Munich locks up with Werder Bremen and Hamburg SV meet Bayer Leverkusen. Opening weekend upsets shuffled the deck in the early going, meaning several clubs face tougher road games in order to get back on track.
FIFA U-17 World Cup
FIFA's U-17 World Cup begins this Saturday in Korea. The 12th edition runs from Aug. 18-Sept. 9, and features some of the best young talent on the globe. Just a few of the names to keep an eye on include Brazil's heralded Lulinha, Germany's Toni Kroos, a Michael Ballack clone, and the USA's Ellis McLoughlin, a goal fiend with a love of the penalty area.
USA vs. Sweden
Familiar faces Landon Donovan and DaMarcus Beasley, as well as some European footballers in Clint Dempsey and backup goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann, headline the roster selected and announced by United States men's national team head coach Bob Bradley for the upcoming exhibition game at Sweden on Aug. 22. The game will be the first in Europe for Bradley since taking the job from Bruce Arena.
Among the other names in a surprisingly strong cast headed to Goteborg include defender Steve Cherundolo, forward Josh Wolff and midfielder Bobby Convey, the latter three returning from injury woes.
Elsewhere in football ...
France's Ligue 1 has seen a surprising flip-flop to the norm, as Olympique Marseille's season-opening freefall continued with a 2-1 loss to little regarded Valenciennes. At 0-1-2, the perennial challengers to powerhouse Lyon are behind league-leading Le Mans already by seven points.
Euro 2008 qualifiers resume next week (Aug. 22), with Portugal, Belgium and Northern Ireland seeing action. In September, powers England, Spain, Germany and France face their first matches of the fall; on the international date, England will take on Germany in a friendly, with England manager Steve McClaren having called in the LA Galaxy's David Beckham.
