WASHINGTON, D.C. - Following a 5-2 aggregate series win over Peruvian side Alianza Atletico, Club Deportivo Universidad Catolica de Chile has advanced to play D.C. United in the third round of the Copa Nissan Sudamericana. The two teams will square off on Tuesday, September 13, at RFK Stadium in the first leg of the two-game series. Kick-off is scheduled for 8:15 p.m. ET. The return leg will be played in Santiago, Chile at Catolica's home stadium on Thursday, September 22.
"Catolica has a great soccer tradition and is much-respected throughout South America," said United Technical Director Dave Kasper. "United is looking forward to the games scheduled the next two weeks and the challenge of competing in this prestigious tournament."
Individual tickets to the September 13 match, priced from $18-$40, are available through all Ticketmaster outlets or by logging onto www.dcunited.com. Discounted tickets are available when buying in groups of ten or more or when purchasing tickets to United's September 17 League match against the Colorado Rapids in conjunction with the Copa Sudamericana game. Season tickets holders may access the game by using Special Event B. For more information, please phone United at 202-587-5000.
Tuesday's game is the first-ever meeting between the Black-and-Red and Catolica. Additionally, D.C. becomes the first team from the U.S. to compete in the Copa Nissan Sudamericana, a 34-team tournament, which began during the second week of August. Should United advance to the quarterfinal round of the tournament they would face either Fluminense (Brazil) or Banfield (Argentina).
In 2002, the Copa Sudamerica featured nine South American countries, then added Brazil in 2004, and has expanded in 2005 to include Mexico and the United States. Today, the Copa Sudamericana is highly successful. The winner of the competition will take home $795,000, while the runner-up will receive $695,000.
San Lorenzo De Almagro (Argentina) won the inagural cup in 2002 followed by Cienciano (Peru) in 2003. The Argentinian power, Boca Juniors is the defending 2004 champion.
