Soccer Legends and Media Stars Entertain at FC Series All-Star Game

By Greg Oldfield (@GregOldfield21)

Team Volcano Bay captured the FC Series All-Star title inside Universal Studios Thursday night, defeating Team Islands of Adventure 6-4 in the final. A memorable evening on the specially-designed turf field combined soccer legends with media personalities in a knock-out style tournament in front of hundreds of Florida Cup fans. Led by FIFA World Player of the Year Rivaldo and influencer Fred, Volcano Bay overcame a three-goal deficit to claim victory after Islands of Adventure’s Diego Tardelli scored a hat-trick in the opening minutes. Tardelli, once top scorer in Brazil’s Serié A, appeared to be the easy runaway for the Golden Ball, but after two goals from Palmeiras legend Cleber pulled Volcano Bay back into the game, Fred scored the next four goals to put Volcano Bay up in the second half. Edu made several fantastic saves late to seal the win while also dazzling on the field for the champions were LA Galaxy’s 3-time MLS Cup winner Juninho and social media star Fui Clear.

In the All-Star opener, Volcano Bay defeated Team City Walk in a thrilling 5-4 victory to advance to the final. City Walk, who were led by World Cup winner Denilson and Chelsea star and manager Roberto Di Matteo, took Volcano Bay into the break tied 3-3 behind two goals from World Cup winner Denilson and a third by Serié A Team of the Year honoree Renato Abreu. Fred scored twice for Volcano Bay to keep his team in the fold. Denilson gave City Walk the lead minutes into the second half before Rivaldo leveled and Juninho found the winner late. Neither team wanted to leave the field on the losing end as players from City Walk pushed for an equalizer, only to be denied by Volcano Bay’s determination to reach the main event.

Team Islands of Adventure reached the final after defeating Team Universal Studios in the second semifinal. Media star Jukanahla got the fans on their feet at the start of the game with a rousing clap off, then hit the back of the net in the opening minutes to put Universal Studios up 1-0. Joined by Arsenal legends Ray Parlour and Gilberto Silva, members of the Invincibles, Universal Studios proved to be very difficult to break down on the small field. Tadelli tied the game at 1-1 midway through the half, and the teams went back and forth at either end, unable to grab the lead. After the half, futsal legend Falcão put Islands of Adventure up 2-1 before Tadelli added another to make it 3-1. Orlando City’s color analyst Miguel Gallardo stopped several chances late to send his team into the final.

Lineups

Volcano Bay

Edu, Vinicius Rodalhvo, Cleber, Rivaldo, Fred, Juninho, Fui Clear

Islands of Adventure

Miguel Gallardo, Marcelo Saragosa, Gilmar, Falcão, Diego Tardelli, Natalia Guitler, Julio Cocielo

City Walk

Mike Bolvin, Emerson, Renato Abreu, Roberto Di Matteo, Denilson, Victor Sarro, Pedro Certezas

Universal Studios

Ronaldo, Ray Parlour, Gilberto Silva, DJ Diveny, Leticia Esteves, Ricardo Villar, Jukanahla