Esurance AC Milan U-21 vs. Timbers Exhibition presented by Peroni Italy and KINK.fm
June 19, 2007 at PGE Park, 7 p.m.
PORTLAND
, Ore.
– The Portland Timbers face their second international opponent of the season Tuesday when they play host to AC Milan Primavera, the U-21 squad of Italian club AC Milan, at PGE Park at 7 p.m. AC Milan Primavera kicks off its three-match preseason tour in Portland.
With the match against AC Milan Primavera, the Timbers begin a two-game week as they face USL First Division opponent the Montreal Impact on Thursday at PGE Park.
Tickets, starting at $17, for the Esurance AC Milan U-21 vs. Timbers Exhibition presented by Peroni Italy and KINK.fm are available at the PGE Park box office, area Ticketmaster locations, online at www.ticketmaster.com and by phone at (503) 244-4400.
The Timbers have three international exhibition matches scheduled for the 2007 season. Earlier in the season the Timbers defeated Mexico’s Club Necaxa Elite 1-0 at PGE Park, and in July the Timbers play host to England’s Preston North End.
The Timbers (4-2-2, 14pts) are currently tied for sixth place in the USL First Division and are coming off of a 2-0 win over the Bakersfield Brigade in the first round of the U.S. Open Cup on June 12. Leading scorer and team captain,
Andrew Gregor
, returned from a six-day training camp with the U.S. Futsal Team in Spain over the weekend and is available to play against AC Milan’s U-21 squad.
Led by goalkeeper
Josh Wicks
, the Timbers defense has allowed the fewest goals in the league (6) and is among league leaders in shutouts. Defenders
Cameron Knowles
,
Scot Thompson
and
Leonard Griffin
have all been selected to USL First Division Teams of the Week this season.
ABOUT AC MILAN PRIMAVERA
AC Milan Primavera kicks off their 2007-08 U.S. preseason tour against the Timbers on Tuesday at PGE park. The U-21 squad of 2007 Champions League winner AC Milan, the Primavera roster includes two international youth players and several of AC Milan’s top youth prospects.
The U.S. tour for AC Milan Primavera is the beginning of preseason trainings for the 2007-08 season which begins in September.
Highlighting AC Milan’s U-21 squad are Italian U-19 National Team defender
Matteo Darmian
, U-19 Nigerian National Team forward
Kingsley Umunegbu
, and team captain and midfielder
Ferdinando Vitofrancesco
, one of AC Milan’s top youth prospects.
Several Primavera players were called up to AC Milan’s senior team during the 2006-07 season but only a few made appearances. Among those called up and who are on the current tour include Vitofrancesco, Darmian, defender
Matteo Bruscagin
and midfielder
Alex Guerci.
The Primavera roster also includes midfielder
Davide Ancelotti
, the son of AC Milan head coach
Carlo Ancelotti
, who played for AC Milan’s U-18 team last season. His father Carlo, is a former Italian National Team player and has led AC Milan to two Champions League titles since 2001, the most recent coming in 2007.
AC Milan Primavera is one of 53 teams that compete in the Campionato Primavera league, a combination of youth squads from clubs in the Italian Serie A, B and C leagues. AC Milan Primavera finished the 2006-07 season with a record of 15-4-6, good enough for second in the league behind rival Inter Milan.
AC Milan is one of the most successful clubs in Europe and competes in Italy’s top tier – the Serie A. Since the club was founded in 1899, AC Milan has won six UEFA Champions League titles, three Intercontinental Cups and 17 Italian Serie A championships. The Primavera team won the Campionato Primavera league championship in 1965.
For more information on AC Milan and the Primavera team visit,
www.acmilan.com
.
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