PORTLAND
, Ore.
– Portland Timbers midfielder
Andrew Gregor
will join the U.S. National Futsal team in Spain from June 10-16 to train for the upcoming 2007 Pan-American Games, it was announced today. Gregor was invited to join the U.S. Futsal player pool for the Pan-American Games on May 3.
Gregor, the Timbers’ team captain, will leave for Spain immediately following the Portland’s match in Rochester on June 9 and will return in time for the team’s exhibition match against AC Milan Primavera (U-21) on June 19 at PGE Park.
The U.S. National Futsal team, led by head coach
Keith Tozer
, will train in Cordoba and Jaen, Spain with two practice matches scheduled against the Spanish Futsal team on June 13 in Cordoba, and June 15 in Jaen.
Gregor is one of two players from the USL First Division traveling to Spain with the U.S. team for this round of training; the other is Rochester Raging Rhino midfielder
John Ball
.
Through the Timbers’ first six USL First Division matches, Gregor has scored four goals, tallied an assist and leads the team in points (9) and is tied for the team lead in games (6) and minutes (540) played. Gregor was selected as the USL First Division Player of the Week in Week 4.
Gregor and the Timbers leave Thursday for their trip east as they face the Montreal Impact and Rochester Raging Rhinos in back-to-back matches on June 8 and June 9. The match in Montreal will be televised live on Fox Soccer Channel; kickoff is at 5 p.m. (Pacific). Both matches can be heard live on
www.portlandtimbers.com
.
Futsal is a slightly smaller, indoor-version of outdoor soccer and is constrained by lines like the outdoor game. In Futsal, only five players per team are allowed on the field at any given time, one of whom is the goalkeeper.
The 2007 Pan-American Games will take place in Brazil in July, for more information, visit www.rio2007.org.br.
