This Friday, August 12 the 2011 AFL International Cup officially kicks off in Sydney, Australia. More than 70 USAFL members are travelling to Australia to represent the USA Revolution and USA Freedom squads.
Both the Revolution and Freedom squads include players from all over the United States with a wide range of ages, experience, athletic ability, professional careers, ethnic backgrounds, you name it!
The Revolution vs. South Africa Lions game has been selected by the AFL to be the curtain raiser for Sunday’s Sydney Swans vs. St. Kilda Saints at ANZ Stadium. Coach Matt Bishop summed up the experience, “The game against South Africa is a fantastic opportunity for the squad to play a game with such high stakes at a state of the art venue, one that most Australians will never get.” An additional highlight on the day will be a visit by US Ambassador to Australia, Jeffrey Bleich who will address the team prior to the game and perform the coin toss.
The Freedom continued their winning ways with a convincing win over the Papua New Guinea Flame on Thursday night at Blacktown by a score of 6.5 (41) to 1.0 (6). Under the bright lights the Flame had trouble finding their way against the more experienced Freedom side. With the win the Freedom are 2-0 and second on the ladder trailing only Ireland by percentage.
Lindsey Kastanek kicked the first goal and the Freedom never looked back in their impressive International Cup debut victory over the Australian Indigenous Multicultural team. Playing in rainy conditions the US women played an agressive style and displayed great teamwork to run out winners by the score of 10.12 (72) to 0.0 (0).
USAFL umpire Jon Mills is currently in Australia at the International Cup where he has had the opportunity to umpire players from around the world. Teams that he has umpired so far include, Canada and Ireland on the women's side, Great Britain, Timor Leste and Ireland on the men's side. 
The Revolution have gotten their 2011 International Cup campaign off to a fantasitc start. After going 2-0 in pool play the Americans have secured the number 5 seed in Division 1. Their first game was against familiar foe Canada Northwind and was one of the mostly highly anticipated matchups of the opening round. The game did not disappoint and was described by the announcer as, "A slog with neither team willing to concede a goal."
By: Denis Ryan
