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Hier Kommt die US Boys!
Much like everyone else, we were excited and looking forward to the game. We had been preparing all week for it. We had gone out Tuesday night and waited in the 70's like gas lines to fill up the NJB BUS before the prices went up 30 to 50 cents. I had bought some streamers earlier in the week. Monika had fixed a few holes in the 30 x 60 ft flag with her sewing prowess. Rob installed the new dvd head unit we had gotten and set up all our audio/video equipment to his specs. We spent all Thursday night cleaning out the BUS getting it ready for the trip. We checked all the fluids and the tire pressure. We were set to go.
We had planned to leave Friday around 6:30ish but Todd wouldn't let Nik off so we had to wait for him to get done working. We weren't going to be able to leave until 11:00ish. We wanted to stay at the same Days Inn that so many of our friends wer staying in but not really sure how many people we had going and who was going, we were a little late in booking our accomodations and the place was full. We also wanted to make sure we stayed a different hotel than we stayed alt last time for obvious reasons. Well -- most of us did. Rob wanted to return to the scene of the crime but he was overruled. Since Dimitri is fast becoming our "official" travel agent, he booked us rooms at the Midwest Conference Center and Hotel about 5 miles north of the Stadium. We left around 11:30 Friday night. For the first time since our last trip to Columbus we actually had a working dvd/tv combo. Rob, always out to try to prove something when driving late at night for some reason, drove the full 8hrs from NJ to Columbus. With only one stop for gas, he made good time and we arrived at the Hotel around 7:30am. Not knowing what to expect, we were pleasantly surprised with the location and surroundings of the hotel. There would be no need to worry about the NJB BUS getting broken into this time while we slept.
It took way longer than anyone could have expected to set up the card stunt. After that we hung all the banners, situated all the big flags and then headed out to the tailgate to wait for the rest of the NJB. Lukas and his Rochester crew were already there and I started drinking with them. I waited and waited. Greg and his father from NJ showed up. Jon & Chucky showed up leaving the football game at half time. Robb & Jeff walked over from the Days Inn. "Where's the NJB BUS," I would keep getting asked. "Where's everyone else?" "Its coming, they're coming," I would reply. Apparently, the BUS was stuck in stand-still traffic coming back from the Giant Eagle. We normally go shopping at the Giant Eagle that is 5 minutes from Crew Stadium but it is also 5 minutes away from the Horseshoe. I told Rob and D that we would hit traffic but they didnt think so. Eventually the NJB BUS made it and the tailgate could offically begin.
The first half was not full of alot of chances. It was full of hard fouls though. Bitch Borgetti was really off his game and tried to get at both Berhalter and Gooch after being fouled by them. Gooch's reaction was great. Mexico all week had been trying to say how the fact that they haven't scored or won in the US since 1999 and hadn't beaten the US in an away WCQ since 1972 wasn't a factor, but it cleary was. They had no ideas on how to get past the US defense. There only chance came late on a free kick to the far post that Keller did well to push aside. To be honest, the shot looked to be going wide anyway.
When the final whistle sounded, fireworks went off in the sky. We had done it. We had qualified for the 2006 World Cup in Germany, our 5th World Cup in a row. The players all donned American Flags and took two victory laps around the stadium thanking all the fans for their support. There really was no doubt that we would be going to the Germany but to qualify by beating Mexico, well that just made it that much sweeter.
Deutschland - Wir sind dabei! Hier kommt die US-boys.
Ed Kirwan
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Columbus, OH - This was the date that every US soccer fan had marked down on their calendar. This was the game, that if they could only make one game, make one trip to see the US play this year, this was the game. US vs Mexico,the Concacaf SuperClassico ....with the winner having the bragging rights of being first in the standings and the first team to qualify for the World Cup out of our region.
The NJB crew for the trip consisted of myself, Rob, Dimitri, Nik, Dave, Jen & making her return from a 4 year absence, Monika. We almost got Mikey to go, but he had college orientation all weekend at Drew to attend. Yes he graduated from college already...No, he's not going to Drew....don't ask, just don't ask.
I got dropped off at the stadium at 12:30 so I could get the flags in and also so I could help Andrew Brown and the rest of the boys set up the U-S-A card stunt in the 3 US Supporters sections. While I was doing that, the rest of them were going to wake up, shower and go food shopping. The gates were suppose to open at 4pm but apparently the Crew Stadium staff decided to open the parking lot early to avoid lines of cars waiting. I told the gang this and told them to go food shopping and get there as soon as possible because of the OSU game. We had actually toyed with the idea of checking out the Ohio State vs Miami of Ohio College Football game but there was no way we were going to pay $65 to only see half a football game. Somehow Jon and Chucky got tickets and saw the game, lucky bastards.
As soon as the BUS showed up, we set up our shop and began blaring our music. Within seconds of hearing "Living in America," the swarms of Mexican fans made their way over to start chanting Mehico Mehico. Likewise the sea of Red from our tailgate made their way over to meet them. The chanting went back and forth and we were right in the middle of it. This scene had already been played out earlier in the day but it looked like the Mexicans were ready for Round # 2. We went back and forth for a few chants and they had no answer for our Sombrero song and for our Estados Unidos, Corea and 2-0 chants. We cooked our food, drank our beers and headed in a little early so we could find our places and be ready for the game.
When the players were coming out onto the field, each person was suppose to hold the cards we had set up over their head so it would spell out USA for the whole stadium to see. This didn't work out so well. The stunt itself looked ok but everyone held their cards up too early when the parachuter came in with the American flag. After that, they put the cards down and brought up the flags when the players came out. Way too much work for such little reward. The flags, however looked really good. We actually had enough supporters for the 30 x 60 ft flag, the 20 x 30 ft flag & the Rattler. There was even room for the 50 state'r if it was brought to the game.
The US came out in the 2nd half looking for the win. Off a free kick, Gooch had his header go off the post. The ball bounced back towards the middle of the goal mouth and Steve Ralston was there for the easy tap in header. The whole goal was eerily similiar to the first goal that Mexico scored against us in Azteca. After that the place just went nuts. From the supporters section to the side lines fans, the US fans just went nuts. I don't know if I've seen a more raucous US crowd before ever. With the Mexicans reeling, we struck again 5 minutes later. This time, off a corner kick, LD passed to Reyna who found DMB making a great horizontal run onsides. He bent the ball around the dirty Sanchez keeper for the 2 - 0 lead. As soon as DMB got the ball, everyone in the stands knew it was going in --streamers were coming out of our section before the ball was even in the net. At this point, we were all just going bonkers. My tri corner flew down about 5 rows. Andreas Cantor said it best on the Telemundo telecast after DaMarcus Beasley scored the goal for the U.S. "Sprechen Sie Deutsch?" Because he knew, like everyone else there or watching, that there was no way Mexico was going to come back against the U.S. The rest of the game seemed to just fly by. We were rocking the whole rest of the 2nd half with our "oooooooooh, lets go USA" chant.
In Mexico City, the Mexican fans made a banner that said EL GIGANTE NO ES MUERTE. Translated into English that meant "The Giant is Not Dead." Well Brent and Cory had a reply for this game. They made a banner that read: EL GIGANTE ERA SOLO UN PITUFO. Translation: "The Giant was just a midget." I'm sure that every Mexican who saw it, felt the sting of those words and really, there is no comeback to that statement. There is only one place in the world we have problems beating them and its only a matter of time before we hurdle that obstacle too. Now I know some people out there don't like it when we use Spanish in our songs or on our scarves because this is America and we speak English blah blah blah... but nothing and I mean NOTHING gets under their skin more than seeing us use THEIR language and beat them at THEIR game. Myself, I wish I knew Spanish. I'd love to go at it with em like Brent can. For now though, at least I'll do alright getting around Deutschland next summer.
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