Chicago Gold Cup Road Trip: Day 5, The Main Event

Wake up, pack up, hit the road! We're on our way to watch USA beat Mexico in the Gold Cup Finals, all decked out in our patriotic soccer gear once more. The weather is fine, the traffic isn't too bad yet, and we've left in plenty of time to find good parking. We've been invited to a tailgate with some other US fans, so won't have to be completely surrounded by Mexico fans as we approach the showdown.

We just passed a mini-van full of Mexico fans, so of course we had to pace alongside and wave our US flag at them ;-) This occurs several times more. Good fun. Go USA!

(Noon) We've met up with our fellow tail-gaters and begin the festivities. The game is 2 hours away, but there's plenty of food and fun to be had in the meantime. Nate and Tewany play bag toss, in the background the roaming US fan beer bongers continue to challenge Mexico fans to races (Mexico is winning that game at least), and the smell of grilling meat permeates the air. The Mexico fans definitely outnumber us, about 10 to 1, but the rivalry is genial thus far and they even loaned us some tortillas for our chicken bites. Still, gotta say, Go USA! :-)

(12:30PM) Nate and I decide to wander the lot and see all the different tailgates going on. It's amazing what wearing a flag, jersey, scarf, and top-hat will do for your charisma! We get our picture taken with just about everyone, and vice-versa. The crowd is definitely awesome, evident rivalry but everyone is friendly and offering us beers. I got handed some meat wrapped in a tortilla and informed that its donkey meat. Whatever it was, it wasn't half bad!

(1:45PM) 15 minutes to game time and we've secured a place in the section known as Sam's Army. We're viewing a sea of red, white, and blue. Nate and Dave shout, "1 2 3 **** the Mexicans!" secure in the knowledge they won't be mobbed by the surrounding fans. Cheer competitions between our section and the next start up. The stadium itself actually isn't quite as packed as I expected it to be, but that might change nearer to the start of the game...

(10 minutes later) OK... now its packed. I receive the dubious compliment of being called a look-alike for Dwight Schrute (a character from the TV series "The Office") by one of our fellow USA fans. Thanks. I think.

(Half-Time) After a long almost goal-less first half, Mexico unfortunately leads 1-0 and their fans are jubilant (often right in our faces). We're staying positive, but walking through the crowd is tough. It probably doesn't help that I have beer in my shoe...

(60th minute) A penalty kick by Donovan evens the score up. Life returns to the U.S. fans as we chant "U S A"!

(72nd minute) Feilhaber scores a second goal. We get doused in beer as the Mexico fans throw cups of it from the stands. Nice... this will be a pleasant addition to the 8 hour trip back to Kansas City tonight. A fight is apparently occurring in the section below us. On the upside, we're winning!

(85th minute) Beasley gets a bottle of water thrown at him from the stands. Thinking quick and cool, he picks it up, drinks it, and throws it to the sideline. This gets him a yellow card for delay of game, but what else is he going to do?

(88th minute) More beer rains from the heavens as Howard stops Mexico's last real chance for an equalizer. Chesher and I are unamused. The score is still 2-1 but it should be 4-1, USA had some really nice positions toward an open goal that instead shot into the crossbar... come on, guys.

(90th minute and stoppage) Mexico just can't get another ball past Howard, and USA wins 2-1!! The Mexico fans aren't happy and more beer bombs are thrown, but we don't care, we're ecstatic to have a successful Gold Cup final under our attendance record. The closing ceremony commences. Our walk out to the car will be jubilant, but wary.

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