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Crystal Palace Baltimore Add Three More Quality Players

February 11, 2010 - North American Soccer League (NASL)
Crystal Palace Baltimore News Release


Baltimore, MD - Crystal Palace Baltimore have further strengthened their 2010 squad with the addition of three more quality players. Takuro Nishimura comes to Palace from last season's USL First Division regular season champion Portland Timbers, Santiago Fusilier was a standout with the Carolina Railhawks while Lucio brings extensive experience from Brazil's top flight.

Palace Baltimore President and Co-Head Coach, Pete Medd, commented on the new signings: "We've known Lucio for a couple of years now. With his background, he brings a lots of skill and flair to the team. He's a calming influence on the field and he brings leadership to the squad. You get him around the goal and he knows how to put it away, as evidenced by his scoring in the indoor leagues and in the Brazilian first division. Nishimura again brings a wealth of experience to the squad. He played a big part in Portland's great run last season. He's very versatile, he can play at the left or the right at the back or in midfield, he has extremely good feet and is just a consummate professional. Santiago is a very flashy, skillful Argentinian who really brings a lot of excitement to the fans - he was a fan favorite down in Carolina. He's tricky with the ball and a good dribbler - he brings that creative, offensive flair that we were missing last year. He can play anywhere across midfield or up top. We expect big things from him, lots of production."

Veteran Japanese defender Takuro Nishimura, 32, spent his first season in the U.S. with the Portland Timbers last year, helping them win the 2009 USL First Division regular season title, a remarkable turnaround from the previous season's last place finish. Prior to joining the Timbers, the 5' 9" Tokyo native played in Japan's J-League from 2001 to 2008. Nishimura began his professional career in 2001 with the Urawa Red Diamonds of J-League 1, but failed to break into the first team starting lineup during three seasons with the club. He subsequently joined local rivals Omiya Ardija in 2004, helping his side win promotion from J-League 2 into J-League 1 that year. He remained with the club through 2008, departing Japan with a total of 90 league matches to his name. Nishimura attended Kokushikan University in Setagaya, Tokyo from 1997 to 2000, winning the All-Japan Prime Minister Cup. Earlier, he was a part of Japan's youth national team system, competing at the U-14 level.

Santiago Fusilier, 26, is an Argentine midfielder who spent the 2007 and 2008 seasons in the former USL First Division with the Carolina RailHawks, making a total of 40 appearances. The 5' 9" Buenos Aires native tore his ACL in the final game of the 2007 regular season against Portland, but he came back strong in 2008, tallying four goals and three assists in the league, along with one goal in the US Open Cup, earning the club's Offensive Player of the Year award. He spent much of the 2009 season in Argentina training with Chacarita Juniors and playing with their reserve team, but he and the club were unable to agree terms on a contract. Fusilier played as a defensive midfielder for North Carolina State University from 2003 to 2006, playing in 64 games and notching four goals and seven assists, helping the Wolfpack reach the 2003 and 2005 NCAA tournaments. While at NC State, he also played for PDL club Raleigh Elite.

29 year old Lucio (full name Lucio Luiz de Oliveira Gonzaga) is an attacking midfielder from Sao Paulo, Brazil. He enjoyed a brief stint with USL Second Division club Real Maryland last season, notching two goals and an assist in seven games. For the past three seasons, Lucio has enjoyed a highly successful indoor career with the Baltimore Blast - where he won the 2007 championship - and with the New Jersey Ironmen. Prior to his move to the United States, Lucio spent eight years playing in Brazil:

- 2006-2007: A.D. Sao Caetano (First Division) - 2003-2006: Rio Branco Andradas (First Division) - 2002-2003: A.A. Araxa (Second Division) - 2000-2002: Racing Club Montevideo (First Division)

Lucio's youth career began in the 1994 with A.D. Sao Caetano, continuing with C.A. Juventus from 1995-1999 before turning pro in 2000.

About Crystal Palace Baltimore One of only 31 professional soccer clubs in the United States, Crystal Palace Baltimore was founded in 2006 and is a member of the North American Soccer League (NASL). The pro team currently competes in the new United States Soccer Federation (USSF) 2nd Division and in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. The club also runs a Professional Development Academy for young players at age levels U10 through U18. Crystal Palace Baltimore is the sister organization of 105-year old Crystal Palace Football Club in the United Kingdom. The London-based club was a founding member of the English Premier League and currently competes in the Coca Cola Football League Championship. More information can be found at http://www.crystalpalaceusa.com

About the NASL The North American Soccer League (NASL) was established in November 2009 and is comprised of the following active teams: Carolina RailHawks, Crystal Palace Baltimore, Miami FC, NSC Minnesota Stars, Montreal Impact, Rochester Rhinos, AC St. Louis, FC Tampa Bay Rowdies and Vancouver Whitecaps FC. For the 2010 season, the NASL's nine teams, together with three teams (Austin Aztex, Portland Timbers and Puerto Rico Islanders) from the United Soccer Leagues, will play in a second division league established and administered by the United States Soccer Federation. In 2011, the NASL will be joined by teams in Atlanta and Edmonton. The NASL and its member teams are committed to building on their long tradition of providing a high level of soccer to fans across theUnited States and Canada in 2010 and beyond.

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