September 4, 2005
US vs. Mexico
Last night we were fortunate enough to see the game between the US Men’s National Soccer team and the Mexican Men’s National team at the Crew Stadium in Columbus. Our tickets were purchased during one of the pre-sale periods, which means prior to the general public sale, and still our seats were the last row of the mid-field behind the benches. Yes, if the camera had panned up to the stadium lights, there we would have been waving our American flag blanket. As it turned out, having the last row seats was actually a really good thing because Pierson (our son) was able to stand up on the shelf behind the bleachers which meant that he was high enough to see over the standing, screaming fans.
The kick-off was at 7:30pm but the parking lot (read grassy field) opened at 3:30pm to allow for the sold-out crowd of 24,865. At a regular Columbus Crew game there are impromptu soccer games and plenty of tail-gating, barbecuing and general fun in the lot prior to kick-off. Last night it looked like people were going to just move in. We arrived at approximately 5:45pm and the lot was full of campers and tents, fans, cook-outs, chanting and general good-natured mayhem. I was stunned by the number of Mexican fans. Some sported face paint and crazy hats. Others wore shirts that were half the Mexican flag and the other half the United States flag–very inventive, I thought. Due to the surprising number of Mexican fans, the US fans seemed a little uneasy and did not respond in kind to the good-natured taunting the Mexican fans organized.
The gates opened at 6:00pm and we immediately went to the US team shirt stand to buy our team jerseys. By the time we were able to be helped many sizes of t-shirts and jerseys were sold out, but we were lucky to find everything we wanted. We arrived in our last row seats and looked around to find that we were surrounded by Mexican fans. One man leaned back and said he hoped we wouldn’t be upset when the US lost. Peter said he was looking forward to 2014. I said, I won’t be upset because we are going to win!
As the stadium filled, more red white and blue appeared and by the kick-off, there were probably 60% US and 40% Mexican–a lot more green than I expected. As our row filled in, it turned out we were all US fans–what good luck! A parachutist flew down into the stadium flying a huge American flag behind him and after the National Anthem, the announcer actually managed to quiet the raucous stadium for a minute of silence for the victims of Hurricane Katrina.
The first few minutes after the kick-off of a soccer game always gives me butterflies in my stomach, but this was like a clenched fist. If we win, we go to the World Cup, if we don’t, it’s over!! I was happy to see Frankie Hedjuk, my favorite player, was a starter, along with Landon Donovan, DaMarcus Beasley and Brian McBride, with Keller in goal. The US pretty much dominated possession of the ball in the first half taking a number of shots on the goal, none of which resulted in a goal. Keller had an amazing, diving save on a free kick which looked, from our perspective, like it was going in.
The chants of "U-S-A" were countered with "Mex-i-co" and as the momentum of the US team increased, a slightly intoxicated Mexican fan in front of us said our row was chanting "U-S-A" too loudly. (At least we think that was what he said.) The entire section of seats behind the Mexico goal was filled with "Sam’s Army," a group of diehard US fans with signs to spell out "USA" along with drums, flags, horns, noisemakers, confetti and streamers. Across the aisle from us was a well-lubricated group of Mexican fans who became progressively less vocal as the 1st half came to a close.
Mexico had a couple of drives that looked very promising but were frequently drawn off-sides by our well-coordinated defense. In fact, by the end of the first half, the Mexican forwards were looking side to side as they were driving towards the goal, giving our defenders ample opportunity to shut them down. The first half ended with both teams scoreless
During half-time, we met a Mexican fan in front of us. He had traveled from his current hometown of Detroit, Michigan with his son to cheer on Mexico, his country of birth. He grew up in Venezuela, but still wanted to come cheer for Mexico. We had a very nice chat about soccer, our countries and the World Cup.
The 2nd half opened with a number of beautiful plays by Landon Donovan, but Mexico covered him with at least 2-3 players at pretty much every point. The energy of the US team was like electricity, and it was just a matter of the right angle before they scored. In an amazing play off of a free kick, the ball was finally headed into the goal by Steve Ralston! Well, the stadium went wild!!! There was dancing and singing and hugging and screaming–it was amazing!! We were actually winning but could we hold it?
The most dangerous time is just after a goal, so our players charged right back to shut down the next few attempted drives by Mexico. The well-lubricated Mexican fans across the aisle were now being taunted by well-lubricated US fans next to them. Almost as if the Mexican team could feel the palpable drain in their fans’ energy, they allowed a clean drive by the US to turn into a curve-it-like-Beckham shot into the goal by DaMarcus Beasley!!
Even the US players took the opportunity for a little celebration after this goal, and the stadium was over-the-moon! As we looked to see if a follow-up attack by Mexico was coming, they instead looked defeated. With about 30 minutes left, it looked like they were giving up. The US fans started singing "We always beat you 2 - nil" and "Nah, nah, nah, nah, hey, hey, hey, adios!" I think the taunting must have woken up the Mexican team because they became very aggressive and hostile, flagrantly fouling Beasley. He was taken to the sidelines on a stretcher and looked to be in tremendous pain.
Seizing the opportunity, Mexico drove towards the goal taking shots and using their bodies to clear space but the US wasn’t having any of it. With partial bicycle kicks, headers and body blocks the US threw everything they had in the line of fire and shut them down. Beasley came back onto the field, greeted by a standing ovation and cheers. The minutes were dwindling and the last few plays by Mexico smelled of desperation. The Mexican fans began leaving the stadium and the US fans could not contain their excitement. Chants of "USA" and "Goals, Goals, Goals," the official song of US soccer sprung up spontaneously and merged into other chants, some from fans too excited to chant clearly.
Three minutes of stoppage time was added to the clock but it was all but said and done! We knew we won and we were just waiting for the whistle. The US players did not stop playing their best until the whistle blew and Mexico was defeated!! The final score was 2-0! The US fans stayed to watch fireworks and cheer as the team ran around the stadium to thank the fans. Frankie Hedjuk ripped off his jersey, threw it into the crowd, hugged nearly everyone on the field, and thanked all of the fans. Landon Donovan wrapped himself in the US flag and waved and thanked the fans while the big display screen showed "Germany, Here We Come!"
With good-natured chanting in the parking lot, fans were still buying both US and Mexico shirts from vendors and some of the cook-outs were just winding down. We rolled the car windows down and let the chanting carry us back to the highway to go home. What a great night!