The Impact’s group at the Walt Disney Pro Classic consists of two familiar clubs in the New York Red Bulls and Sporting Kansas City, but the team’s first game of the tournament will be against a team that none of the three MLS clubs have faced: Fluminense FC U23.
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The Rio De Janeiro based club is one of Brazil’s oldest (111 years old), and even though it’s the U23 side taking part in the tournament, midfielder Felipe knows that the opening match of the tournament will not be an easy one.
"Fluminense is a big club in Brazil that has players on the national team," said the native of Engenheiro Beltrao, 1,200km away from Rio. “It has a well-established Academy system, which has produced national team players."
And the style of play in Brazil is one that is very different from the MLS as well.
"They don’t like to play a physical type game, like the MLS style. In Brazilian soccer, they like to keep the ball and maintain possession. They prefer to take on players one versus one as well."
