Portuguese club pays visit
Revolution has exhibition on tap
FOXBOROUGH -- The Revolution's Portugal connection will continue next month. Sporting Clube de Portugal, considered the No. 2 soccer team in popularity in the country, will meet the Revolution in an exhibition game May 19 at Gillette Stadium, according to a team source.
The Revolution conducted spring training in the Azores last month, have played host to SL Benfica and CD Santa Clara at Foxboro Stadium, and also had an exhibition game against Benfica in Lisbon during the 2002 preseason.
Sporting, currently behind FC Porto by 4 points in the Super Liga standings, will begin this trip with a visit to the San Jose Earthquakes May 12, the week after the conclusion of its regular season.
Portugal's top players will be preparing for the European championships, scheduled June 12-July 4 in 10 Portuguese stadia, and the country's top young players will be performing in the Under-21 tournament, starting May 28, a qualifier for the Olympic Games. But many of Sporting's starters are committed to this tour, including midfielders Pedro Barbosa and Brazilian Anderson Polga, and striker Joao Pinto.
Sporting has won 18 Portuguese championships, behind Benfica (27) and tied with Porto, plus 13 Tacas de Portugal. Sporting won its last title in 2002, when it captured the league cup (Taca), and super cup championships. The club sponsors 21 sporting activities, from chess to track and field, and is considered the prime producer of young talent in Portugal, in recent years developing Sporting captain Beto, plus Luis Figo (Real Madrid), Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United), and Quaresma (Barcelona).
Sporting, founded in 1910, has modernized recently in preparation for the Euro 2004 tournament, building the Alvalade XXI stadium-shopping complex next to the former stadium and the youth academy in Alcochete, across the Vasco da Gama bridge from Lisbon, which combines academics and soccer training.
Sporting has organized supporters clubs (nucleos) in 231 locations, including several in New England. Sporting met Benfica in the first soccer game at what was then Schaefer Stadium in 1972, but has not competed in the area since the 1980s, when it played exhibitions in East Providence and New Bedford.
Both Benfica and Porto, which has qualified for the semifinals of the Champions League, are also planning visits to the US, but no announcements have been made. . . .
Jose Cancela (groin) is probable and midfielder Shalrie Joseph (broken nose) is questionable for the Revolution's home opener against San Jose Saturday . . . The Earthquakes (0-1-1) will be missing midfielder Ramiro Corrales, who was ejected in a 0-0 tie with Chicago last Saturday.
