I’ve been to my share of soccer games in the past several years, but nothing compared to this: World Cup qualifying!

Last Wednesday I had the privilege to attend the match between Brazil and Paraguay, who, entering the game, were tied on points at the top of the standings for South American qualifying for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. My boss, Keith, and several other colleagues from Recife had waited in line the week before for nearly 5 hours to get the tickets, so a hearty thanks goes out to them! Attending the game along with me and Keith was John, another colleague of ours from North Carolina, Joel, my fellow SALTer, and his family, who was visiting, as well as Ana Laura and Felipe, relatives of Keith’s wife Cristina. So it was quite the group, all of us decked out in our Brazil gear, as we headed out for the stadium. Dinner along the way was of course at Habib’s, the popular Middle Eastern fast food chain. Yes, you read that right.

We got to the stadium about 2 hours ahead of time, to make sure that we got some decent seats. Our tickets were for the upper deck, but there are really only two levels in the stadium. We made it through the crowds and the security and into the stadium, and I was shocked at how huge the field seemed. We found some seats without problem, and settled in to wait for the start of the game. As the crowd grew, the competing chants from different Recife teams started up, but those soon died down as the rain started up. Some of us had come prepared, with raincoats and umbrellas. Not me. Ah well. It didn’t last too long, but nevertheless I was nicely soaked by the time it stopped, and there was still well over an hour til game time. But I wasn’t about to let a little thing like that dampen the evening (pun intended)!

The excitement was certainly palpable (I love that word) as the start of the game approached, and you could tell that people were more than ready for the first Brazilian national team game in Recife in 14 years. The chants and cheers continued to grow, and anytime the sparse Paraguay fans tried to start up a cheer they were immediately drowned out by the boos of the Brazil fans!

Finally the team took the field and the place went crazy! Before too long, the game was under way. Brazil controlled the early going, but was unable to make anything of some early chances. Robinho seemed to be struggling to get his game going, but Paraguay couldn’t muster much of anything either. Then, after 20-some minutes, Paraguay was awarded a free kick just outside the area, and their star player stepped up to take it. He took the kick, and it was headed for the leaning Julio César, Brazil’s goalie, but it then deflected off the foot of a Brazilian defender and buried itself in the back of the net! 1-0 for Paraguay! Noooooo!

The Brazil fans were stunned. But by no means done. Brazil continued to control the match, but still couldn’t capitalize on any of their chances, and their attack just didn’t seem to be quite in synch. But then, just minutes before half-time, a cross came from the right side into the area. It went over the head of the lunging Kaká and I figured that was it. But then Robinho came from nowhere to connect off the short-hop and send the ball over the head of the Paraguay goalie! All tied up! The stadium absolutely erupted, oh my goodness, it was wild! I’d never been part of any celebration of that magnitude, haha, it was awesome!

So, the half soon ended, which meant we could finally sit down for a little bit. But before long it was back on our feet as the teams took the field for the second half. Not too long in a ball came to Nilmar at the top of the area. He went to chest it down to Robinho, who was coming up the right side. But the Paraguay defender got in the way, but wasn’t able to control it, sending it back towards Nilmar. By this point they were close to the goal, and the goalie came out, as Nilmar managed to get a foot on the ball and send it the other direction. What resulted was a slow dribbler heading for goal! Robinho nearly pounced on it to finish it off, but instead wisely just watched it roll in as the Paraguay goalie and defenders could only watch from a distance! Gooooooaaaallll!!! And a good thing that Robinho didn’t touch it: he was in the offsides position, and had he touched it the goal wouldn’t have counted! So, need I say that the place went crazy? Well, it did! And I had been trying to get some pictures of the attack, not expecting a goal, so I actually got this picture just as the ball is going into the net with Robinho watching and applauding!

Robinho clapping as Nilmar watches his goal dribble in!

In the rest of the game Paraguay had a couple chances, but nothing too threatening, and Brazil should’ve scored at least 2 more goals, if not more, but failed to convert several incredibly good chances. Robinho had a one-on-on coming up the left side but couldn’t do anything with it, and then Pato, shortly after coming in as a substitute for Nilmar, missed an absolutely point blank volley off a cross from Lúcio. So the game ended up finishing 2-1, and, though it could have been more convincing, it was still a win against a top team, leaving Brazil all alone at the top of the qualifying standings! A good result!

All in all, it was an awesome experience, wow, I’m so glad we got to go! I’ve been to my share of sporting events in the states, baseball games and the like, plus some incredible soccer games in Germany, cheering for my boys Werder Bremen (woo!), but the atmosphere at this game was something new. I’ve never felt such a buzzing excitement watching a game, and I absolutely loved it! My goal now? Make it back here for the 2014 World Cup! Who’s with me?!

Enormous banner that was unfurled, bearing the crests of the Brazilian and Paraguay national teams

Another near goal, missed opportunity late in the second half.

Go Brazil!!