NEW YORK - Soccer United Marketing today announced that Sydney FC, one of Australia's most successful clubs, will compete in the inaugural Pan-Pacific Championship (PPC) as the Hyundai A-League representative from the 2008 Final Series. In addition to Sydney FC, the PPC will feature two-time reigning MLS Cup champion Houston Dynamo, current J.League Yamazaki Nabisco Cup Champion Gamba Osaka and the 2007 SuperLiga finalists Los Angeles Galaxy.
Led by Australian national team standout Alex Brosque, Brazilian World Cup champion Juninho and team captain Tony Popovic, Sydney FC has been at the forefront of the Australian soccer revolution since joining the A-League as a charter member. In the inaugural 2005-2006 A-League season, Sydney won the championship by defeating the Central Coast Mariners 1-0 in the Grand Final. On the international front, Sydney boasts an equal record of success. As the Oceania representative at the 2005 FIFA Club World Championship, they finished fifth after defeating African club of the century, Al Ahly of Egypt, 2-1. In 2007, Sydney FC again made history by becoming the first Australian side to win a match in the AFC Champions League.
With former Australian international John Kosmina at the helm, the team finished the 2007-2008 season third in the final standings, guaranteeing them a spot in one of the semifinals of the A-League's Final Series. Following a 0-0 draw in the home leg, Sydney was overcome in the away portion of the Minor Semifinal, falling 2-0 to the Queensland Roar. In addition to Brosque, Juninho and Popovic, Sydney FC also features veteran midfielder Steve Corica and former Los Angeles Galaxy and UCLA midfielder Michael Enfield, although a knee injury is expected to keep Enfield out of the Pan-Pacific Championship.
The Pan-Pacific Championship features a single elimination format and will kick off with a semifinal doubleheader on Wednesday, February 20 at Aloha Stadium followed by a doubleheader to determine the third-place finisher and the Pan-Pacific Champion on Saturday, February 23. The week-long event will also consist of festivities organized by Major League Soccer for the Hawaii youth soccer community.
Fans may purchase individual tickets for the Pan-Pacific Championship online at www.ticketmaster.com or through all Ticketmaster retail locations. Tickets can also be purchased at the Aloha Stadium Box Office, located at 99-500 Salt Lake Boulevard in Honolulu, open Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. local time. For further information, call the Box Office at (808) 486-9300, or Ticketmaster at (877) 750-4400.
SCHEDULE FOR THE 2008 PAN-PACIFIC CHAMPIONSHIP
ALOHA STADIUM: HONOLULU, HAWAII
(all times local)
Wednesday, February 20, 2008 (Semifinals)
Los Angeles Galaxy (MLS) vs. Gamba Osaka (J.League) - 6:00 PM
Houston Dynamo (MLS) vs. Sydney FC (A-League) - 8:30 PM
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Third Place Match - TBD - 6:00 PM
PPC Final - TBD - 8:30 PM
