Americans vs. Italians: teams go head-to-head in soccer

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Michael O'Connor
  • 31st Fighter Wing public affairs
AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy --  The Aviano Air Base men's varsity soccer team host the Poli Sportiva Val Colvera Italian team from the Frisanco area during a home game at the Dragon Fitness Center field on Area F at 8:30 p.m. Nov. 6.  Pre-game warmups begin at 7:30 p.m. 

The match is open to base personnel and families to come out and cheer on their fellow Airmen.  These teams are two of nine in the Amici del Calcio league.  The season began mid-October and runs through the end of May 2010.
 
"This match is a big rivalry for both teams," said Justin Foulsham, men's varsity head coach for the 2009-2010 season.  "Last year, we beat them in both regular season games, but finished second in the overal point standings."

The base team recently took second place in the 2009 U.S. Forces Soccer Championship Tournament held at Camp Darby, Italy Oct. 22-25.  The tournament, open to U.S. and NATO military members and their family members, consisted of 10 teams from Belgium, England, Germany and Italy.

The Aviano squad netted 16 goals in six games including the championship match against the team from Ramstein AB, Germany, but lost in a 4-3 penalty kick shoot-out after regulation time ended in a 1-1 tie. The Aviano squad's defensive efforts were just as impressive as their thunderous offense giving up just four goals during the tournament. 

For more details about the varsity team and schedule, call DSN: 632-7459 or 0434-30-7459.

--U.S. Army Garrison Public Affairs, Livorno, Italy contributed to this article.