SEATTLE, Wash.--Today it didn’t matter where people were to watch the USA – Brazil match. Soccer fans from all over the country sat on their couches, gathered in nearby pubs or just sat in awe as the USA scored two first-half goals against Brazil.
In Seattle for example, I was on my way to the Seattle Sounders FC and Colorado Rapids match. I was planning on heading into the stadium, but then I watched a sea of green head into a local bar – Sluggers. So I followed suit. I pulled up a stool and sat in a bar surrounded by green jerseys or Sounders fans as others call them.
When the bartender turned on the game, the place erupted in applause. I sat in awe, surrounded by all those who had the same idea that I did. When Clint Dempsey tallied a goal in just the 10th minute, the crowd went crazy. Screams, yells, high-fives, hugs and a look of disbelief on many people’s faces were everywhere.
Brazil coach Dunga has hailed the contribution of striker Luis Fabiano to the team's Confederations Cup success.
Fabiano was on fire in front of the goal as his brace helped Brazil pull off a comeback against the USA to win the final 3-2.
Dunga's choice to use Fabiano had been far from popular among some of the supporters of the Selecao.
The coach is now confident that Fabiano's displays in the Confederations Cup will silence the Sevilla man's critics.
"I have heard some people say that Luis Fabiano scores goals but is not good for the national team," Dunga told the press after the game.
"In the way I see football, a good striker is that who scores goals. And he does that.
"Once, we were in a training in which the players could touch the ball just two times and some players would send the ball wide when in front of the goal.
"But not him. He would go there and score, because he is hungry for goals. That's why I decided to put him on the team."
The yellow card to Carlos Bocanegra in the 19th minute got some grumbles from the crowd. Until that is until they showed the replay. And then people nodded their heads and said, “Yeah, well that makes sense.”
And when Landon Donovan tallied in the 27th minute, screams got even louder. Arms were raised and there were some people who literally jumped for joy. The fact that the Americans scored two on Brazil was too much for most of those present to handle.
When I headed out of Sluggers at halftime of the USA game and to the stadium, the buzz was everywhere. The Sounders had shown the first half of the USA match on the big screen in the stadium. About half the stadium was full of fans who cheered with the best of them. But then, with the Sounders game a half an hour from kick off, they blacked out the stadium.
Here I was, one of 32,526 people--well I didn’t have a ticket, but I was in the stadium with my credential. So I don’t technically count against that number. Regardless, it was odd to me that they wanted to stop people from watching the match. I mean, I get it. The focus should be on the Sounders FC vs. Colorado. That’s fine. But seriously, with Wi-Fi in the press box, and text messaging, they didn’t think the word would get out?
The plan was to show the second half at the conclusion of the Sounders match. And they did. But the word got out and, I’m sure, spread around the stadium that had Brazil topped the Americans. I was one person who had texts coming in and found the result online. I must confess, however, that I did sneak in a couple looks at the TV. I think there were three TV’s that showed the match. I found two of them. But after the third U.S. goal, it turned into Sounders vision.
After the match, the fans stayed in the stands and awaited the team march around the stadium. The Sounders walk around the stadium after every match and thank all their fans, so some fans waited for that. And then the video of the second half began playing on the big screen, or at least part of it. But one by one, or more than that, the fans dispersed.
Regardless, there is no doubt in my mind that the majority of those people recorded the match at home and watched it when they returned. Maybe they didn’t. But there was something special about the match today. And soccer fans all across the country watched history being made. Seattle was no exception. If anything Seattle may be the rule.
Today was about soccer, soccer in Seattle, and the USA. The U.S. men may not be able to beat all the giants yet. But they have given fans across the country hope that it can be done. And the fans in Seattle will surely give the Americans extra applause when the Gold Cup kicks off next Saturday.
