Diablo Futbol Club

Earthquakes host Diablo FC Night Saturday, July 11

Game features club alumni Wondolowski, Frei

Champions League winners FC Barcelona vs. Chivas Aug. 8 in SF

June 26, 2009

Ticket Information
for Diablo FC Families

Diablo FC alumni Chris Wondolowski and goalkeeper Stefan Frei will square off on opposite sides when the San Jose Earthquakes host Toronto FC on Saturday, July 11, at Buck Shaw Stadium in Santa Clara. Wondolowski recently rejoined the Quakes via a trade while Frei was the #1 goalie draft choice in Major League Soccer this year from Cal, where he was under the watchful eye of coach Henry Foulk.

July 11 is Diablo FC Night for the 7:30 game on the Santa Clara University campus with special activities planned for club members at the game.

The Earthquakes will also host a fabulous international soccer doubleheader on Saturday, Aug. 8. The Quakes face 2008 MLS Cup winners, Columbus Crew, at 5:30 p.m. at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, home of the 49ers. The second game that evening at 8 p.m. features 2009 UEFA Champions League titlists FC Barcelona vs. Chivas Club Deportivo Guadalajara, one of Mexico`s legendary teams.

The Earthquakes have established special Diablo FC prices for a 3-pack allowing admission into all three games. Diablo FC teams and members can place orders for 10 tickets or more by contacting Adam Zielske at (408) 556-7713.

Frei and Wondolowski have in common not only their connection to Diablo FC through their years in DVSC but also as former De La Salle High School Spartans, where they played for Diablo FC directors Brian Voltattorni and Marquis White, respectively. Frei went on to a successful collegiate career at Cal where Diablo FC goalkeeper coach Foulk helped meld Frei into the latest of a long line of Foulk protégés who have moved on to professional soccer.

Another club alumnus and UC Santa Cruz standout Stephen Wondolowski played with his older brother for two years on the Houston Dynamo. Their sister Katie Hoyt is a member of the State Cup champion Diablo FC 98 girls who are embarking on their Under 11 season.

Carles Puyol

11-time Mexican Primera Division champions Chivas

Columbus Crew
2008 MLS Cup winners

Lionel Messi

Chris Wondolowski once
more an Earthquake

Thierry Henry

Samuel Eto`o

Chris Wondolowski scored 7000th goal in MLS history
May 16

Saves like this have made
Stefan Frei leading
Rookie of the Year candidate

Stefan Frei & Commissioner
Dan Garber at
MLS 2009 Superdraft

Frei is a leading candidate for MLS Rookie of the Year honors. He was the first goalkeeper and 13th overall selection in the first round of the January MLS draft. This past season, the UC Berkeley player was on the MAC Hermann Trophy Watch-List, first team All-Pac 10 selection, named to TopDrawerSoccer`s first team of the year and was College Soccer News Third Team All-American.

In Frei`s last season at Cal (his junior year) he led the Pac-10 in shutouts, save percentage and saves per game. Internationally, he was a member of the Swiss U-15 National Team. The goalkeeper was also voted MVP of this past MLS Combine in Fort Lauderdale. He was coached by Kevin Grimes and Foulk in Berkeley where fellow club alumni Patrick Fry, Patrick Dolan and Scot Van Buskirk were teammates on the Bears. Cal was in the NCAA tournament every year Frei was on the team.

Wondolowski went from De La Salle to Chico State, where he was an All-American while leading the Wildcats to the NCAA Division II championship game during his junior season in 2003. There were a dozen club alumni on that Chico State team, the most successful in the school`s history. He was originally drafted by the Earthquakes in 2005 and moved with the team to Houston a year later. He was on hand as the Dynamo won a pair of MLS Cups in 2006 and 2007. He also scored the 7000th goal in MLS history for the Dynamo on May 16 vs. New York Red Bulls this season.

At Candlestick Park on Sat., Aug. 8 the Earthquakes will take on the defending MLS Cup Champion Columbus Crew at 5:30 p.m., followed by a second game pitting UEFA Champions League winner FC Barcelona against Mexican powerhouse Club Deportivo Guadalajara (more popularly known as Chivas). The match will mark Barça`s first visit ever to the Bay Area. Barça and Chivas have played twice before in the United States with Barça posting a win and a tie.

"We are excited to host the `Night of Champions` with the two-time MLS Cup Champion Earthquakes, the reigning MLS Cup Champion Crew, FC Barcelona, who won the Champions League this year, and Chivas, who have 11 Mexican league titles," said Earthquakes Executive Vice President David Alioto. "We are constantly working to bring big soccer events to Northern California and this doubleheader is a perfect example of that. With two great matches and the world-class talent that will be on display, it really will be a magical night."

The Spanish giant have won 19 La Liga trophies, a record-setting 25 Copa del Rey championships and three UEFA Champions League titles, including in 2009 when they recently defeated defending champions Manchester United. FC Barcelona intends on bringing its heralded roster of international superstars that currently includes Lionel Messi, Rafael Marquez, Xavi, Samuel Eto`o, Carles Puyol, Thierry Henry and Andres Iniesta.

The club just finished their treble winning season. They won all three of their major competitions: Spain`s La Liga, UEFA Champions League and Copa del Rey. After finishing the season with 87 points and capturing the La Liga title, Barça went on to defeat Manchester United 2-0 in the UEFA Champions League Final with goals from Samuel Eto`o and Lionel Messi. Messi, a 21-year-old Argentinean, finished as the highest scorer, with nine goals, and as the Most Valuable Player of the UEFA competition. He is also in the running for the FIFA World Player of the Year Award for 2009. Barça also defeated Athletic Bilbao 4-1 in the final of the Copa del Rey.

Guadalajara is one of the top teams in the Primera Division de Mexico, the highest professional division in Mexico, and returns to the U.S. to take part in what will be a rematch against FC Barcelona of the 1-1 tie played in 2008 in front of 92,650 fans at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Chivas have won a Mexican Primera Division record 11 league titles in their existence.

The Earthquakes have had great success hosting international matches during the past three seasons. Mexico has played a number of matches in recent years at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, including a match on January 28 against Sweden in front of 46,550 fans. The two previous trips by Mexico to the Coliseum resulted in sellout crowds of 47,416. The Mexican national team defeated Ecuador 4-2 on March 28, 2007 and more recently on March 2, 2008, the Under-23 teams of Mexico and Australia tied 1-1. Also, the Quakes hosted a sold-out SuperLiga match between Mexican sides Chivas and Atlante at Buck Shaw Stadium in 2008.

San Jose has played one game at Candlestick Park. The Quakes tied Club America 1-1 in front of 22,512 fans on Sept. 18, 2002.

This trip will mark Barça`s third tour on American soil in partnership with Soccer United Marketing. In 2006, the FC Barcelona USA Tour registered the highest average attendance for any club tour in U.S. history, averaging 80,734 in three matches. Barcelona played in front of three sold-out crowds: at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum (vs. CD Guadalajara, 1-1 on Aug. 6 in front of 92,650), at Houston`s Reliant Stadium (vs. Club America, 3-3 on Aug. 9, with a crowd of 70,550), and at Giants Stadium in E. Rutherford, NJ (vs. NY Red Bulls, 4-1 on Aug. 12, in front of 79,002).

In 2008, FC Barcelona USA Tour visited two cities and averaged 40,000 fans. On August 3, FC Barcelona defeated one of Mexico`s most historic clubs, CD Guadalajara, 5-2 at Chicago`s Soldier Field. Three days later, on Aug. 6, Barça defeated MLS` New York Red Bulls 6-2 at New Jersey`s Giants Stadium.