Impact Faces AC Milan
June 1, 2010 - U.S. Soccer Federation D-2 (USSF D-2)
Montreal Impact News Release
MONTREAL - The Montreal Impact is playing against prestigious first division Italian club AC Milan (Serie A) this Wednesday at Olympic Stadium, at 8 pm (radio-canada.ca/sports, CKAC Sports, THE TEAM 990; on a tape- delayed basis at midnight on Radio-Canada television). More than 36,000 tickets have up to now been sold for this historic match.
Founded in 1899, AC Milan is the most decorated team with 18 international trophies: 7 Champions League titles, 5 UEFA Super Cups, 3 Intercontinental Cups, 2 UEFA Cup Winners' Cups and 1 Club World Cup. AC Milan has also been national champion 17 times.
Star players currently in Montreal include Brazilian goalkeeper Dida, Italian defenders Luca Antonini and Alessandro Nesta, Dutch midfielder Clarence Seedorf, Brazilian forwards Ronaldinho and Pato, as well as Italian forward Filippo Inzaghi.
"I'm really excited to play this historic game," said defender Adam Braz. "It's a special occasion for all of us. I never thought I would play one day against AC Milan. We will enjoy it and savour this experience."
"It will be a great experience for the whole team," said defender Stefano Pesoli, who played various years in Italy. "I had the chance to play against AC Milan's reserve team, but tomorrow is different because it's the A team. We will face a club that has made history in Europe with players like Nesta and Inzaghi, who have won the World Cup. We will be motivated to do well."
Ronaldinho was elected the best player in the world in 2005. He scored 30 goals with Brazil's national team. Before joining AC Milan, the 30-year-old player evolved with FC Barcelona from 2003 to 2008, winning the Champions League in 2006. Ronaldinho scored more than 70 goals in Liga A, in Spain. This year, he registered 12 goals in 36 Serie A matches.
Seedorf, who scored more than 50 goals in Serie A and who played more than 80 matches with the Dutch national team, is the only player to have won the UEFA Champions League with three different clubs. Pato took part in the U20 FIFA World Cup held in Montreal in 2007, while Inzaghi, a former international Italian player, is a 36-year-old veteran who scored more than 100 goals with AC Milan since 2001.
"Even though it is a friendly match, it will be a great game tomorrow in Montreal," said Ronaldinho. "It is nice to see that there will be a lot of people that will attend the match. It is a sign that soccer is continuing to grow in North America."
About 12,000 spectators had attended games against first division Argentinean club River Plate and French Ligue 1 club Bordeaux at Saputo Stadium in 2009. The Impact had lost 2-1 to the Girondins on July 28 before playing to a 1-1 draw versus River Plate on August 4.
On May 23 at Saputo Stadium, the Impact played to a 1-1 draw against Italian club Fiorentina. Rookie forward Redam Agourram scored for the Impact.
"It will be a great experience for the club," added Impact head coach Marc Dos Santos. "We play each game in order to win. It's a game in the same category as Bordeaux, River Plate or Fiorentina. AC Milan has even greater individual qualities so we will have to be even more careful."
"You get the chance to face a team like that once in a lifetime," said midfielder Leonardo Di Lorenzo. "We've been performing well in international matches so I think we'll do well tomorrow. It will be amazing to play in front of all those fans at Olympic Stadium. We will have to be smart, stay compact and give nothing away. River Plate was special for me, but AC Milan is even more special because I never played against them and this might be a unique chance."
Excellent tickets are still available in every category, for as low as $22. Tickets are on sale through the Admission Network or via the Olympic Stadium and Saputo Stadium box offices.
OTHER FACTS - During this North American tour, AC Milan lost 3-2 versus DC United (MLS), on May 26 in front of 30,367 spectators at RFK Stadium, in Washington. Luciano Emilio (20th minute), Chris Potius (30th) and Danny Allsopp (61st) scored for DC United, while midfielder Massimo Oddo scored two goals (70th and 74th). - AC Milan then shut out the Chicago Fire 1-0, on Sunday, in front of 20,356 spectators at Toyota Park. Clarence Seedorf scored the only goal of the match at the 47th minute. - A natural grass surface has been installed for this match. The grass will then be reused as the new training field surface for the Impact, located on the Saputo Stadium site.
U.S. Soccer Federation D-2 Stories from June 1, 2010
- Beavers Face Salt Lake in Homestand - Portland Timbers
- Impact Faces AC Milan - Montreal Impact
- Miami FC Looks To Remain Undefeated On The Road - Fort Lauderdale Strikers
- Celebrate Whitecaps FC Week Of Soccer - Vancouver Whitecaps
- Whitecaps Visit Reds In Toronto - Vancouver Whitecaps
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
