Exeter to face Brazilian side in Juiz de Fora
We can today announce that Exeter City will play a friendly fixture against Tupi FC during the forthcoming trip to Brazil.
In addition to the game against Fluminense at Laranjeiras Stadium on Sunday 20th July, the Grecians also face Tupi on Wednesday 23rd July in Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, around 180 kilometres from Rio de Janeiro. The kick-off time will be 7.30pm local time (11.30pm BST).
Tupi currently play in Campeonato Brasileiro Série C – the Brazilian third division – having been promoted last season. They recently beat Flamengo in a friendly fixture, and were knocked out of the 2014 Copa do Brasil recently by Fluminense, in which Brazilian international striker Fred scored twice.
The Grecians will be hosted for their stay in Juiz de Fora by the modern and beautifully-located University of Juiz de Fora and thank their hosts, who also accommodate many national sporting teams who use the wonderful facilities on offer there to train for international tournaments. The university's main stadium will host the fixture, and unfortunately not the municipal stadium as originally announced as the pitch will be in the process of being delayed. However there might be the opportunity to visit the municipal stadium, which is approximately five minutes' journey away.
On the way to Juiz Fora, the club will take part in a foundation stone ceremony for new facilities for Children’s Aid, the charity set up and run by one of our two official representatives in Brazil, Ricardo Calcado.
A video involving Tupi went viral on the internet last season – in their Série D Round of 16 game against Aparecidense, they were trailing on away goals until the 89th minute. A Tupi striker found space to place a shot into the bottom corner – only for Aparecidense’s physio Ramildo Fonseca, who was lurking close by, to enter the field of play to make an extraordinary double-save on the goal-line.
The physio was chased from the pitch and the game finished all-square – but Tupi appealed and Aparecidense were kicked out of the competition. Tupi went on to make the semi-final and secured promotion.