USA vs. Costa Rica

Our group was very lucky with the timing of our trip because we were given to the opportunity to see the USA soccer team play Costa Rica here in San Jose. Last Wednesday (June 3rd) was one of the qualifying matches for the 2010 World Cup. The Ticos, like many of the latin american countries, take soccer very seriously, especially when they play big rivals such as the United States. Coming into this game the US international team has a record of 0-6-1 on Costa Rican soil, so we didnt know what to expect for the outcome. The game was played at Ricardo Saprissa Stadium which was a bit different than the stadiums I have visited back home. It was mainly concrete bleachers, which didnt really matter because we were standing the whole time anyway. There wasnt assigned seating but somehow we ended up in the top corner next to most of the other Americans. The field itself was in pretty poor shape, according to other Americans around us it is concrete with a layer of turf over it, making it tough on the players. By the start of the game the Ticos were already fired up with chants and songs, something I have always wanted to experience. Unfortunately within the first two minutes Costa Rica scored, setting the pace for the rest of the game. By the end it was 3-1, with the US´s goal being scored in the final minute by penalty kick. We found a few hecklers on our walk back to the bus, but I didnt mind. Overall it was an excellent experience. I will post pictures later.