Home › Sports › Soccer
Everton may help cheer up Fusion
Download this story as a podcast!
STORY TOOLS 
More from SoccerStill smarting from the disappointment of missing out on the Premier Development League playoffs, the Ventura County Fusion will play for the final time this season in a dreamy training friendly against Everton FC of the English Premiership.
The Fusion, which completed its first season Friday with a scoreless draw against the Los Angeles Storm, will line up against the 129-year-old institution from Liverpool, England, which has won nine English titles and five FA Cups, at 3 p.m. today at the Home Depot Center.
"I would have liked it to have been a reward for the season," said Fusion coach Graham Smith, whose international connections helped set up the friendly. "But, hopefully, it'll compensate for the disappointment felt (Friday)."
Smith said that every member of the squad will have an opportunity to play against the team that finished fifth in England last season.
"Of course, some of the players will never have the chance to do something like this again, but I hope, for others, it'll be a chance to see what they can do in the future," said Smith."
Everton has brought 17 first-team players from Merseyside, including U.S. national team goalkeeper Tim Howard, Spanish midfielder Mikel Arteta and Scottish forward James McFadden. It will be missing two of its biggest stars, as Australia midfielder Tim Cahill recently played for his country in the Asian Cup and English forward Andy Johnson rushed back to England to attend the birth of his child.
"It should be good for the boys," said Smith. "It's a lovely exercise. I want to thank Everton. We have to remember that it's a practice match."
Everton, which opens the new Premiership season Aug. 11, fell to Real Salt Lake, 2-0, Saturday in Utah.
(Requires free registration.)
Article discussions on this site are to support community debates of issues related to our stories and editorials.
Discussions should not stray from the subject of the story or editorial.
We do not allow the following:
We reserve the right to delete threads and/or ban users for these or other reasons we deem necessary.
Opinions are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.