The Legend travelled to Northern Italy this past July to particpate in the Valtellina Cup.  The trip included a tour of the San Siro Stadium (pictured), home to Inter and AC Milan, a few relaxing days at Lake Como which included a training session and a scrimmage, a side trip to St. Moritz, Switzerland on a train through the Alps, five high level matches and of course many other site seeing and social excursions.

 

The Legend completed the tournament with a record of 2-2-1 with a plus 4 goal difference.  The Legend went 2-0-1 versus Italian opposition including a 5-0 win over Morbegno and a 3-1 win over Ardenno.  Losses came from the finalists from Iceland, Fram FC (2-0) and a hard battling Calgary Blizzard Gunners (2-1).  Overall the competition was very strong and the facilities were very nice.  Perhaps the man of the tournament was Legend forward Iyassu Bekele who scored 7 goals in three and a half games played.  Coach Matt Barlow had this to say: "We were looking for something different and we got it.  We were exposed to some different styles of play, we adjusted well and we came together as a group.  Overall it was an excellent experience for the boys."  Many of the team travelled on to Venice for 3 days after the tournament with some families continuing on to Florence or other locations.

 

Thanks to guest players Pete R., a former Legend player, who has since moved to Dallas and Sam K.S. the goalkeeper of the ATSC Titans.  A very special thanks to all the parents that helped make this trip possible and particularly to Diana Greenhalgh who did countless hours of work on this special trip!

 

 

 Team visits the San Siro (aka Giuseppe Meazza) Stadium in Milan.