[Face painting at California Bar & Restaurant near Ellis Park]
It was obvious when at the stadium that the Americans were the majority of the crowd. There was so much pride and joy for the "Stars and Stripes" (the apparent nickname for the US national team, unknown to even most die-hard fans).
[US fans; US National Anthem; huddle]
The game didn't start well, as most of us know, with the Slovenians scoring in the 13th minute and worse, in the 42nd minute to go in 2 up at halftime. Oh, hey, Clinton was at the game!
The second half proved hopeful for the American side, with the lead cut in half by Donovan's goal just 3 minutes into the second half. After a second and equalizing goal, the Americans were full of hope. Then, a miracle in the 86th minute when Edu produced a third and potentially winning goal, or so we thought...the referee disallowed it for still unknown reasons (referee was then "left off the list" for any Group C matches and possibly even for the remainder of the tournament). It was a spectacular come back, Ayoba!
[Donovan, our hero!]
A relieved, hopeful yet also heartbroken crowd left Ellis Park Stadium that night, knowing we now had to beat Algeria to ensure our advancement, regardless of the England-Algeria result later that night.
While I still consider the USA-Italy draw in Kaiserslautern, Germany 2006 the most intense and stressful match I've ever attended, this was a very close rival! I even have the war wounds from jumping up and down banging my legs against the seats to prove it!
[Dedicated fan injuries]
Later that night, we ran into our good friend Rob from the GAP Tour, and went to watch the oh-so-boring England-Algeria match, which resulted 0-0, couldn't have been a better result for the US!
[Rob, Amy, me & AJ]
June 19: On this day, my travel buddies all parted ways. While Molly headed to Cape Town to explore, Amy departed for Kenya to meet her mom for safari. So long, World Cup travel buddies! Me, well I met my friend Marc in a Fourways local restaurant for the Springbok v Italy rugby match. The locals were very welcoming and patient in teaching is the rules, in an accelerated course. After which, we headed to Heartbeespoort Dam, my home for the next several nights where I met the other 5 housemates (John, Carolyn, Rich, Adrian and Leslie). The night was spent decompressing from the big game the night before and the big city, Jozi.
June 20: My new friends were kind enough to book a quad game drive. It was awesome, we were about 30 yards from giraffes, kudu, zebras, wildebeests, impala, etc. Awesome trek, and my first time driving my own quad (was only a passenger in Galapagos).
[With the group; on our quads; giraffes so close!; riding by zebras; conquering a steep rock successfully; posing; AFTER riding]
This day brought with it an incredible upset that was the draw between the defending world champions and the lowest ranked team in the tournament. Well played, New Zealand, you deserved the result!
June 21: Today was a day for relaxing and recharging as the group ventured to the Cradle of Humankind. I took a lovely nap in the warm sun by the pool? Maybe more of an overgrown hot tub, sans heat and bubbles.
That night we attempted, but we're unsuccessful in acquiring Spain-Honduras tickets. This was the first time we found more ticket seekers than sellers at any match.
Instead, we watched the game from the warm California Bar and Restaurant with many other unsuccessful ticket buyers. I ran into Evan from Boston again (who will likely meet Amy again in Rwanda), met a cute German from Munich, and a lovely Uruguayan journalist, Mercedes, living in Pretoria all of whom made for a unique and entertaining game watching experience.
After the match, we hit the local KFC (which are more prevalent than the golden arches) for dinner where they offered a number of interestingly named options. [photos] It was here that a Honduran fan gifted me his scarf, and a local woman warned me about a potential pick pocket. I love South Africans and World Cup fans!
June 22: As I had already seen the Cheetahs with my GAP Tour, I passed on the park entrance, and just hung outside the De Wildt Cheetah Research Centre admiring the beautiful animals that were within eye shot. I was even lucky enough to receive a call from my mommy while I was chilling with the cheetahs.
[More cheetahs!]
We then headed to a local Irish Pub (yes, they are everywhere!), O’Hagans for the South Africa-France match, and oh how glorious it was to see France check out of the World Cup in a loss to the most gracious hosts, only to fly home coach.
The late match found us in a very cold medieval times style bar, which prompted us to find another location for the second half, only to be engulfed in smoke (ok, this is the first time I’ve missed New York, well, it’s smoking laws at least, since I left).
June 23: The BIG day, the day of reckoning. Stress and excitement was felt by all US supporters meeting in Pretoria at Homebaze in Eastwood Village. The patriotism rivals anything I’ve ever seen at any World Cup!
[Game day breakfast; pre-game rally Marc & friends; pre-game rally me, Derrik & Molly]
For better or worse, Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria provided more security than previous games, actually checking our bags as we walked through working metal detectors. This and poor or antiquated stadium architecture delayed our arrival to our seats just a few minutes before the players exited the tunnel. What an atmosphere, and fortunately, most fellow Americans seem to hate the vuvuzelas as much as I do!
[Stadium; National Anthem; huddle; Bill Clinton]
The game started with an early shot on Howard, thankfully catching the upright rather than the net. Several other chances at both ends provided nail biting entertainment. The disallowed goal in the 20 some odd minute of the game was quite the disappointment . This was later to be said that it was NOT offside, however I’ve seen it and from an inconclusive angle, and it did seem the right call, but even if it wasn’t, the linesman didn’t have benefit of replay in his favor, so I don’t think it’s as controversial as many claim. Although someone noted that the US has had more goals disallowed than England has scored in the World Cup, which is a pretty funny statistic.
The tension built as Dempsey and Jozy both missed sitters throughout the play. The second half found more aggressive play by the Algerians, naturally thinking they too had a shot at advancing. The US fans would try and rally the team after a sure shot went over the bar, chants were tentative, yet encouraging...not quite giving up, the US side kept up the pressure. After one of Howard’s classic saves in the 91st minute, he sent Donovan on the run, hitting Jozy for a cross to Dempsey only to have the Algerian keeper stop it, luckily to be rebounded by Donovan who finally placed it in the back of the net. The crowd was elated, it was more than spectacular, there are not enough descriptive words to accurately detail the moment of elation. Everyone was hugging and high-fiving everyone next to them, it was unbelievable! A fairy tale ending to the group round for the Stars & Stripes as they claim the top spot! AYOBA!!!
[Celebrating after the game]
As we walked out, we were high-fiving fellow US fans, one of which was graphic enough to admit to us he “pooped his pants three times” during the match! It was quite the experience while thanking the Algerian fans for a great and well fought game, to which they were very gracious wishing us luck.
Back in Sandton, Melrose Arch to be exact, we had a well needed hearty steak meal at The Meat Company. Fantastic food and all while watching the first half of Ghana-Germany. After the long day of fun and excitement, we actually were in bed before the result of said match, only to find out the next morning that our opponent will be a rematch from 2006 with Ghana! Bring it on! Ke Nako!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment