U.S. Men's Paralympic Team To Begin Play at 2004 Paralympics in Athens, Greece
The United States Men's Paralympic Soccer team opens play at the 2004 Paralympics in Athens, Greece on Sunday with a tough match-up against Brazil at the Olympic Hockey Centre. The match is the first of three for the U.S. in Group B action, as the team will continue in the tournament against Russia on Tuesday, Sept. 21 and the Netherlands on Thursday, Sept. 23.
Sep. 17, 2004
U.S. Team Opens Play Against Brazil at 7:00 a.m. ET on Sunday
CHICAGO (Sept. 17, 2004) – The United States Men's Paralympic Soccer team opens play at the 2004 Paralympics in Athens, Greece on Sunday with a tough match-up against Brazil at the Olympic Hockey Centre. The match is the first of three for the U.S. in Group B action, as the team will continue in the tournament against Russia on Tuesday, Sept. 21 and the Netherlands on Thursday, Sept. 23.
The eight-team tournament is the premier event for Paralympic soccer athletes. The U.S. qualified for the event last October in the Paralympic Soccer World Championship in Argentina.
Paralympic soccer is played seven-a-side on a small field by athletes who have Cerebral Palsy, a traumatic brain injury or are stroke survivors. The Athens tournament is composed of two groups of four teams each and runs from Sept. 19-27, 2004.
Below is the complete schedule for the event.
2004 ATHENS PARALYMPICS
— Match Schedule by Group —
GROUP A
Ukraine
Ireland
Argentina
Iran
GROUP B
Brazil
USA
Russia
Netherlands
GROUP A
Date Teams Venue Local Time ET
Sept. 19 Ukraine vs. Ireland Athens 10:00 a.m. 3:00 a.m.
Sept. 19 Argentina vs. Iran Athens 12:00 p.m. 5:00 a.m.
Sept. 21 Iran vs. Ukraine Athens 2:00 p.m. 7:00 a.m.
Sept. 21 Argentina vs. Ireland Athens 4:00 p.m. 9:00 a.m.
Sept. 23 Ireland vs. Iran Athens 10:00 a.m. 3:00 a.m.
Sept. 23 Ukraine vs. Argentina Athens 12:00 p.m. 5:00 a.m.
GROUP B
Date Teams Venue Local Time ET
Sept. 19 Brazil vs. USA Athens 2:00 p.m. 7:00 a.m.
Sept. 19 Russia vs. Netherlands Athens 4:00 p.m. 9:00 a.m.
Sept. 21 Russia vs. USA Athens 10:00 a.m. 3:00 a.m.
Sept. 21 Netherlands vs. Brazil Athens 12:00 p.m. 5:00 a.m.
Sept. 23 Russia vs. Brazil Athens 2:00 p.m. 7:00 a.m.
Sept. 23 USA vs. Netherlands Athens 4:00 p.m. 9:00 a.m.
PLACEMENT MATCHES
Date Teams Venue Local Time ET
Sept. 25 7th Place Match Athens 10:00 a.m. 3:00 a.m.
Sept. 25 5th Place Match Athens 12:00 p.m. 5:00 a.m.
MEDAL ROUND
Date Teams Venue Local Time ET
Sept. 25 Men’s Semifinal 1 Athens 2:00 p.m. 7:00 a.m.
Sept. 25 Men’s Semifinal 2 Athens 4:00 p.m. 9:00 a.m.
Sept. 27 Bronze Medal Match Athens 1:00 p.m. 6:00 a.m.
Sept. 27 Gold Medal Match Athens 3:30 p.m. 8:30 a.m.
