Today a group of us chartered a mini bus into San Jose to catch the local professional team, Saprissa, play Herediano from Heredia. The teams are huge rivals and as expected, both teams came out in full force - including a massive fan base decked out in jerseys (us included). Yendry, our administator from the Center is a die hard Saprissa fan, so we joined the locals of San Jose and her as loud and obnoxious supporters of the purple monsters.
The game started out slow, almost as if each player was still warming up and just show boating their angelic touch on the ball. It was certainly a different style of soccer than in the states. So many light touches, small chips, baby passes, bent balls, one touch volleys - to say the least it was mesmerizing, even as they just kicked around. Then, towards the end of the first half, even though Saprissa was controlling the game, Herediano scored. It seemed to jolt both the Saprissa team and the fans awake, and the second half was a different game.
Dynamic and spirited, Saprissa kicked off the second half with passion, stemming right from the rattling and drumming purple stadium. Despite some cross bar attempts, it was not enough. Fouls became more frequent but luckily, the ref was definitely providing a home field advantage. (Good thing for his own health, Saprissa fans mean business). After a red card to a punch throwing Herediano player, it seemed victory was imminent for Saprissa playing a man up.
But Herediano responded quickly to add another tally to their lead, now making it 2-0. Fans in a riot, Saprissa knew they needed to turn the game around. And that's just what they did.
Never letting up, Saprissa kept the attack on, and just like that, one by one, the goals came. Each one more beautiful and perfect than the previous, a cross, a header, a line drive from outside the box - Herediano couldn't contain the purple monsters and their roaring fans. The passion in the stadium was like the fire that blows from the mascot's mouth, fueling the infuriated morada.
Final score read 3-2, and Saprissa team left satisfied and invigorated, another win under their belt. And we the fans also left feeling invigorated and motivated, myself with a biting desire to get back in the competition myself. Fall can't come soon enough - but for now I'll embrace every ounce of passionate and beautiful soccer I can here in Costa Rica and bring some of it back to New York!
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