Post by IWEDFM on Jan 10, 2007 17:24:10 GMT -1
Club Athletic Independiente 0-0 Racing Club
Estadio: Jose Minella, Mar del Plata, Argentina
Kick-off: 10:15pm
Competition: Torneo de Verrano
This is what is known as the "Avellaneda" derby in Argentina. It's probably the second biggest match after Boca Juniors-River Plate. Although this fixture wasn't a league encounter, both sets of supporters were extremely up for it as they always are. Players see it as a chance to showcase their skills, prompting managers to put out their strongest available line-ups. Although only a summer tournament, it is respected a great deal over here. Torneo de Verrano means - The Summer Tournament in English. Every year, five of Argentina's most elite clubs are chosen to participate. This time round, Boca Juniors, River Plate, San Lorenzo and the above two have been chosen. Some of you may think, "what is the point in having a summer tournament"? but I can assure you there is every point. We all know how boring it is in England when the football season has drawn to a close? I feel lost on a Saturday afternoon. This is a good way to keep the football flowing throughout the summer, as football here is the only thing people seem to think about, 24/7. The five clubs compete against one another in a bid to top the group, altogether there are 12 games, seven of which are played in my city Mar del Plata, whilst the other five are split between places such as Salta & Mendoza, which are in the north of Argentina. Luckily for me, most games are played in MdP, meaning I haven't got far to travel.
Independiente & Racing are arch enemies, infact there was huge concern before yesterdays games as to how the supporters would behave. Thankfully both sets of fans did themselves proud as I didn't see or hear of any trouble. This same fixture left Argentinean football in tatters less than two months ago in a league game. Fans of both clubs rioted against each other, leaving many innocent fans injured aswell as police officers and stewards. It was a devastating blow for the Argentinean football association, and as a result, banned away fans from all stadiums up and down the country, and made it season-ticket and members only for home supporters. You had no chance of buying a ticket on matchday, you had to be a registered supporter with that club.
However, this course of action left supporters infuriated and they showed their disgust by protesting outside the AFA offices, leaving them with little option but to lift the ban. Some fans here would go to any length and this played on the AFA's mind.
In a rain-drenched Jose Minella stadium where thunder availed, the atmosphere built up nicely before kick-off. We decided to get there around 8:15pm - 2-hours before kick-off as we didn't have tickets, and we weren't too sure how many people this game would attract, but being a derby clash, we knew it would attract a pretty decent crowd, and it did. After getting our tickets we decided to take a walk around the ground and have a small bite to eat.
At 9:15 we decided to enter the stadium as we didn't have much else to do, I was quite taken back when I found each and every fan being escorted to their seat, quite bizarre too as before you sat down they wiped the seat clean with a cloth, not something you'd see in England, but it was a nice gesture and as a sign of good will, I therefore deciced to tip the boy with a peso (15p) which is alot of money in Argentina. He was chuffed to bits and couldn't thank me enough - a sign of appreciation is always something I take kind to.
More supporters started to enter the stadium, as kick-off edged closer. At 10pm, most fans had already taken to their seats. The atmosphere was superb, if not a little intensifying at times. It's not the sort of atmosphere we are used to, but fook me this was something special. I would find it hard to put into words of my emotions at the time, there were times where me and my brother would turn to one another in a state of disbelief, huge raws coming from all corners of the ground, scarfs and blue pieces of paper thrown from the Racing section, Red fireworks let of by the Independiente fans, signalled kick-off was just moments away. I have been to many football games, not just in England but in other countries too, and I have never been involved in an atmopshere like it, the sheer passion, the sheer hope, the sheer love of the game. I don't think I have ever been to a match where I have watched the supporters as much as the players. It was absolutly immense!
The game itself was a poor spectactle, the weather conditions didn't do either side any justice and you could see both sets of players were finding it hard to put any passing movement into their play. Scrappy but committed, none the less, with tackles flying in all over the place. Both sets of supporters were in fine voice, taunting one another constantly during the first half hour. The atmosphere was intimidating, it was the sort of game where you'd rather be a supporter than a player, as any bad pass, shot etc. would be heavily groaned.
A pretty funny incident appeared on the stroke of half time, the rain started to bucket it down good and proper (I was sitting with the Racing fans in the open, so you can imagine how wet I got). The funny bit was when this one guy started to walk around the stand selling raincoats, yes raincoats, glad he thought of it, because I certainly didn't. You don't expect to see someone selling those at a football match. I have never seen a whole stand rush to the front so quickly, everyone wanted one of these raincoats, I felt sorry for the guy as he only had a handful and he must have been pounced on by 2,000 Racing fans. So utterly bizarre.
The second half begun, for the first 15 minutes, the pattern of play seemed to be swinging in the same direction as the first. No real passing movement and very little end product. It was frustrating for the supporters but I think they realised the conditions weren't helping. The pitch was, at this stage a mud bath, passes going astray, whilst the ball was often held up by strong winds.
Both sides had chances to win it late on, but all in all I felt a draw was the fairest outcome. It would have been tough on the other team if someone had snatched a late winner!
A great atmosphere, but a gritty footballing performance, but credit must go to both sets of players for keeping their cool, in a fixture that has been blighted by red cards down the years. And off course, for putting in a spirited display in awful conditions.
I spoke to a few fans afterwards, and told them how amazing I thought the atmosphere was, they laughed and said..."You think that was good? you just wait for Boca-River next week.
A nice warm end to a cold rainy night as a few of us were invited to an indoor BBQ at 1am, an awesome night.
I took some pics:
I appreciate some pictures are not that clear, but I took my shit camera with me and not my 300 quid one. Also there was alot of smoke and fire rockets being thrown during the game if you are wondering why some of the pictures look as if it is foggy, it wasn't, it's smoke.
Estadio: Jose Minella, Mar del Plata, Argentina
Kick-off: 10:15pm
Competition: Torneo de Verrano
This is what is known as the "Avellaneda" derby in Argentina. It's probably the second biggest match after Boca Juniors-River Plate. Although this fixture wasn't a league encounter, both sets of supporters were extremely up for it as they always are. Players see it as a chance to showcase their skills, prompting managers to put out their strongest available line-ups. Although only a summer tournament, it is respected a great deal over here. Torneo de Verrano means - The Summer Tournament in English. Every year, five of Argentina's most elite clubs are chosen to participate. This time round, Boca Juniors, River Plate, San Lorenzo and the above two have been chosen. Some of you may think, "what is the point in having a summer tournament"? but I can assure you there is every point. We all know how boring it is in England when the football season has drawn to a close? I feel lost on a Saturday afternoon. This is a good way to keep the football flowing throughout the summer, as football here is the only thing people seem to think about, 24/7. The five clubs compete against one another in a bid to top the group, altogether there are 12 games, seven of which are played in my city Mar del Plata, whilst the other five are split between places such as Salta & Mendoza, which are in the north of Argentina. Luckily for me, most games are played in MdP, meaning I haven't got far to travel.
Independiente & Racing are arch enemies, infact there was huge concern before yesterdays games as to how the supporters would behave. Thankfully both sets of fans did themselves proud as I didn't see or hear of any trouble. This same fixture left Argentinean football in tatters less than two months ago in a league game. Fans of both clubs rioted against each other, leaving many innocent fans injured aswell as police officers and stewards. It was a devastating blow for the Argentinean football association, and as a result, banned away fans from all stadiums up and down the country, and made it season-ticket and members only for home supporters. You had no chance of buying a ticket on matchday, you had to be a registered supporter with that club.
However, this course of action left supporters infuriated and they showed their disgust by protesting outside the AFA offices, leaving them with little option but to lift the ban. Some fans here would go to any length and this played on the AFA's mind.
In a rain-drenched Jose Minella stadium where thunder availed, the atmosphere built up nicely before kick-off. We decided to get there around 8:15pm - 2-hours before kick-off as we didn't have tickets, and we weren't too sure how many people this game would attract, but being a derby clash, we knew it would attract a pretty decent crowd, and it did. After getting our tickets we decided to take a walk around the ground and have a small bite to eat.
At 9:15 we decided to enter the stadium as we didn't have much else to do, I was quite taken back when I found each and every fan being escorted to their seat, quite bizarre too as before you sat down they wiped the seat clean with a cloth, not something you'd see in England, but it was a nice gesture and as a sign of good will, I therefore deciced to tip the boy with a peso (15p) which is alot of money in Argentina. He was chuffed to bits and couldn't thank me enough - a sign of appreciation is always something I take kind to.
More supporters started to enter the stadium, as kick-off edged closer. At 10pm, most fans had already taken to their seats. The atmosphere was superb, if not a little intensifying at times. It's not the sort of atmosphere we are used to, but fook me this was something special. I would find it hard to put into words of my emotions at the time, there were times where me and my brother would turn to one another in a state of disbelief, huge raws coming from all corners of the ground, scarfs and blue pieces of paper thrown from the Racing section, Red fireworks let of by the Independiente fans, signalled kick-off was just moments away. I have been to many football games, not just in England but in other countries too, and I have never been involved in an atmopshere like it, the sheer passion, the sheer hope, the sheer love of the game. I don't think I have ever been to a match where I have watched the supporters as much as the players. It was absolutly immense!
The game itself was a poor spectactle, the weather conditions didn't do either side any justice and you could see both sets of players were finding it hard to put any passing movement into their play. Scrappy but committed, none the less, with tackles flying in all over the place. Both sets of supporters were in fine voice, taunting one another constantly during the first half hour. The atmosphere was intimidating, it was the sort of game where you'd rather be a supporter than a player, as any bad pass, shot etc. would be heavily groaned.
A pretty funny incident appeared on the stroke of half time, the rain started to bucket it down good and proper (I was sitting with the Racing fans in the open, so you can imagine how wet I got). The funny bit was when this one guy started to walk around the stand selling raincoats, yes raincoats, glad he thought of it, because I certainly didn't. You don't expect to see someone selling those at a football match. I have never seen a whole stand rush to the front so quickly, everyone wanted one of these raincoats, I felt sorry for the guy as he only had a handful and he must have been pounced on by 2,000 Racing fans. So utterly bizarre.
The second half begun, for the first 15 minutes, the pattern of play seemed to be swinging in the same direction as the first. No real passing movement and very little end product. It was frustrating for the supporters but I think they realised the conditions weren't helping. The pitch was, at this stage a mud bath, passes going astray, whilst the ball was often held up by strong winds.
Both sides had chances to win it late on, but all in all I felt a draw was the fairest outcome. It would have been tough on the other team if someone had snatched a late winner!
A great atmosphere, but a gritty footballing performance, but credit must go to both sets of players for keeping their cool, in a fixture that has been blighted by red cards down the years. And off course, for putting in a spirited display in awful conditions.
I spoke to a few fans afterwards, and told them how amazing I thought the atmosphere was, they laughed and said..."You think that was good? you just wait for Boca-River next week.
A nice warm end to a cold rainy night as a few of us were invited to an indoor BBQ at 1am, an awesome night.
I took some pics:
I appreciate some pictures are not that clear, but I took my shit camera with me and not my 300 quid one. Also there was alot of smoke and fire rockets being thrown during the game if you are wondering why some of the pictures look as if it is foggy, it wasn't, it's smoke.
)
