Brazil soccer club to play first friendly match at Toyota Park

Cruzeiro Esporte Clube takes on the New York Red Bulls in 2010.

By Bob Bong
Desplaines Valley News


A pro Brazilian soccer club will play its first match in the Chicago area when Cruzeiro Esporte Clube takes on Mexico's Club Atletico Monarcas Morelia in the inaugural International Friendly at Toyota Park in Bridgeview.

Organizers, including Schneider Soccer, expect to sell out the 20,000 seats at Toyota Park for the match at 3 p.m. on Saturday, June 29.

“We are thrilled to be able to bring these two popular international teams to the United States,” Pedro Figueiredo, owner and founder of Schneider Soccer LLC, said in a release. “Soccer and team fans are looking forward to this exciting event.” 

Founded in 1921, Cruzeiro Esporte Clube is the second most successful team in Brazil with seven international championships, including two Libertadores. Cruzeiro is among FIFA’s Classic Club and has been Brazilian champions twice, domestic cup champions four times and Mineiro champions 37 times. 

Club Atlético Monarcas Morelia, founded in 1924, has been one of the main protagonists in the Mexican Primera División. Monarcas Morelia won the Mexican championship in 2000 and has played three other finals. Morelia is the 2010 North American SuperLiga champion, with a 2-1 victory in the finals over the New England Revolution.

Schneider Soccer will make a donation from the proceeds to Soccer Without Borders, a nonprofit organization supporting community-led youth programs in the U.S. and abroad for youths traditionally excluded from sports-based and extracurricular activities. 

The match will be televised in both North and South America.

For tickets, visit www.ticketmaster.com.

It is the first of two international friendly matches at Toyota Park this summer.

Eleven days later, the Chicago Fire Soccer Club will host 10-time Mexican Primera División champions Club América at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 10.

It will be the third consecutive year, the Fire welcomes a Mexican opponent to Toyota Park. In 2011, the Fire took on Chivas de Guadalajara in front of a crowd of more than 18,000. A 61st minute goal by Jorge Mora would prove the difference as Chivas de Guadalajara escaped with a 1-0 victory. In 2012, the Fire rallied from a two goal deficit and were led by second half strikes from Michael Videira and Corben Bone to play reigning Mexican league champions Club Santos Laguna to a 2-2 draw at Toyota Park.

The Fire have faced América twice before, falling by identical 2-1 score lines on July 12, 2006, and April 28, 2009.

 Las Águilas, currently atop the Liga MX table, has captured 10 titles in Mexico’s Primera División and have also experience success in the CONCACAF region as well, tied with Cruz Azul as the most successful club in the region with five titles to their credit. América were also crowned champions of the 2008 InterLiga tournament, a competition between Mexican clubs to determine qualifying spots for the Copa Libertadores.

Currently sitting atop the Liga MX table, América’s roster currently boasts Mexican international defender Efraín Juárez and Ecuadorian striker Christian Benitez. Juárez, a 25-year-old right back has been capped 39 times for El Tri, and started three matches in the 2010 FIFA World Cup. América also feature currently Liga MX goal scoring leader, Ecuadorian striker Christian Benitez.

Tickets for the Fire match are available by calling 888-MLS-FIRE or by visiting www.chicago-fire.com. The international friendly will serve as Bonus Game 1 in the Fire season ticket and 10-game packages.

The first 5,000 fans will receive a TrueCar car magnet.