ST. LOUIS, MO (August 19, 2010) – AC St. Louis, playing in the USSF Division 2 Pro League, will conclude their five game home stand on Friday night when they host the Puerto Rico Islanders for a 7:10 p.m. kick-off at The Anheuser-Busch Soccer Park. The game can be viewed live via web streaming at www.ac-stlouis.com.

AC St. Louis is currently 1-1-2 on this home stand, and will be looking to get back into the win column as well as the goal-scoring column come Friday night. While the club has lost just once in their last five games they are also winless in their last three, and have now been shutout on back-to-back home dates. With the playoffs fast approaching AC St. Louis find themselves five points out of an eighth and final playoff spot with just eight matches remaining.

To make a push for the playoffs AC St. Louis has signed former New England Revolution midfielder Mike Videira to a contract through the end of the season. Videira was a standout performer at Duke University where he was a three time MAC-Hermann Award finalist as well as an All-American and All-ACC selection. Videira joins AC St. Louis after appearing 16 times for New England in 2009. Prior to playing for the Revolution Videira played for Hamilton Academical in the Scottish Premier League. Videira began training with AC St. Louis on Tuesday morning, his presence will hopefully solidify the center of the field.

“I was talking to a lot of the guys, and everyone is very driven to make these playoffs,” stated Videira. “We are not that far out at all. Coming here I obviously want to get games in, and help the team make the playoffs. I think it would be great for everybody. Four wins and we have a really good shot of getting in. That is exactly the goal everyone should be looking for, and for me that is the ultimate goal.”

Videira is expected to be in the starting lineup on Friday night as head coach Dale Schilly looks for the right combination to give AC St. Louis a more sustained attack. Part of that combination is the potential move of Brazilian midfielder Gauchinho to the right back slot. Gauchinho was used as a right back while in Brazil, and the position is his favorite spot on the field.

U.S. U-18 sensation Luis Gil completed his first full week of training with the club, Gil, just 16, played 14 minutes last Saturday night and can be expected to see some more minutes in the match against Puerto Rico.

A win for AC St. Louis will be critical so the club can stay within a game of the eighth and final playoff spot. Plus, quite a few players will be anxious to get back on the score sheet. Mike Amberlsey, Luke Kreamalmeyer, Chris Salvaggione, and Jeff Cosgriff are just some names that will be counted on to get AC St. Louis on the scoreboard early. The first goal figures to be critical. AC St. Louis is 5-1-3 when scoring first, versus 0-10-1 when their opposition finds the back of the net first. Furthermore, AC St. Louis is undefeated, 3-0-2, when they take a lead into halftime. A statistic that stands in stark contrast to their record of 0-9-0 when trailing at halftime.

Puerto Rico has conceded better than a goal a game, 24 in 21 games, and St. Louis knows they need to bring the attack and bring it early, which should make for a spirited first-half on Friday night.

Tickets for Friday’s match are still available. Call 1-888-STL-GOAL or visit www.ac-stlouis.com.