Fútbol, Soccer: either way, the game rocks

Written by Bessie and Kyle about El Salvador. Feelin' happy

In the spirit of fútbol fans in El Salvador, I'm writing my perspective áccent-fílled and in Spanish. Sorry non-español-ers. Check out Kyle's perspective.

Tuvimos una oportunidad íncreible: fuimos al partido de fútbol por el World Cup Qualifers con El Salvador y Panamá. Parecía casí imposible que El Salvador podría ser exitoso contra el partido de Panamá, pero logró el imposible.

Jugaron los dos equipos la primera vez una semana antes - el 15 de junio - y Panamá ganó 1 - 0. Para ser exitoso, en total, El Salvador tenía que ganar un punto más de los puntos toteles de Panamá para continuar al próximo rondo.

La realidad es que hasta al segundo medio del partido, El Salvador no jugaba bien. No soy una experta de fútbol, pero parecía que no tenía ganas El Salvador de ganar. Pero es el World Cup Qualifier - ¡tenga que luchar!

No ayudó ningún equipo que llovió fuertísimo, como lo más fuerte que posible. Todo fue mojado: los jugadores, el campo, la pelota - todo. La lluvia estaba tan fuerte que, en un parte, casí no podía ver nada.

Todo cambió en el segundo parte del partido. Continuó la lluvia, pero el equipo salvadoreño jugaba con un fuego, un esfuerzo fuerte, que Panamá no podía contestar.

El momento del cambio del partido fue el penal de Panamá en contra de El Salvador. Perdieron un jugador Panamá, y no tenían ningun chance de luchar ni ganar.

Mejor de la descripción mía, tiene que ver el video. Fue super chivo!!!!!!!!!!!

Fútbol, Soccer: either way, the game rocks

Written by Bessie and Kyle about El Salvador. Feelin' happy

This is not a direct translation (actually, this isn't a translation at all), so I don't want to hear any complaining from all of you bi-lingual people out there....

TV Camera Man, Cuscatlan Stadium, El Salvador

So, I thought the back and forth thriller between America and River Plate that we saw in Mexico City was an awesome game, but this one might have taken the cake.

Some background to this game: El Salvador lost to Panama 0-1 in Panama, so El Salvador had to win this game to move on to the next stage of the World Cup Qualifiers. If El Salvador won this game by 1-0, then they would go to penalty kicks to decide who moves on. If El Salvador wins 2-0, they would move on because they scored 2 goals while Panama only scored 1. Follow me? Ok, good.

What happened in this game, though, was neither one of those scenarios. Within the first 15 minutes or so Panama scored a goal. Not good. Now, if El Salvador scored 2 goals, they would tie, right? Not exactly. Since each team would have 2 goals, but Panama would have 1 goal on the road, Panama would win. (Home field advantage in soccer is significant, which is why there is more weight for away goals) So, that means El Salvador would need to win by a 3-1 margin. Winning by 2-1 would not be enough.

I don't know how to properly relate this in terms of other sports, but scoring 3 goals in soccer while not allowing one to be scored is not the easiest of tasks. It doesn't help win a monsoon starts in the middle of the game, either.

It's hard for me to put into words exactly what happaned from then on in the game. Let me just say that it was one of the more exciting sporting matches that I have ever seen. Well, I'll get out of the way and let you watch it: (if you want to see how much people loved this game, check out our comments at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iF6LP5LyOSA

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June 23, 2008 J J Marti: I like your post. I'm a salvadorean reident in Virginia Watch the game via internet the salvadorean restaurants charged $ 25.00 admission . so we stayed w Computer.

Hope you guys enjoy. I would give anything to be there this is my Blog:

http://elgarrobo1.blogspot.com/

June 23, 2008 Bessie: $25 to get in??!!! - that's insane! I'm happy we caught the ES goals on video, just to share it with people like you...

June 23, 2008 Shamba.: Yo estuve en "el vietnam", bajo la lluvia ...grite y llore el últimio gol... y hoy que vi el video volví a llorar...XD...nice vid.

June 23, 2008 Kyle: Si, casi lorré tambien. Habia mucha genta dando abrazos y besos. Me alegraron mucho.

June 23, 2008 Bessie: todo fue muy emocianante - solo puedo imaginar el ambiente en "el vietnam" - todo la gente mojadisima, y antes del segundo parte - no habia mucha evidencia de la gana. Y despues de algunos gols - que emocion!

Felicidades El Salvador!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hasta la proxima gana....

June 23, 2008 Kelvin: I was watching the game here in Sonsonate on channel 4, and all of a sudden a huge thunderstorm came. The power kept going off, it was second half and El Salvador needed to score three goals in 25 minutes, not impossible but this is El Salvador we are talking about. When the power came back in I heard screams, laughter and people cheering. I turned on the TV and I couldn´t believe my eyes. You could already imagine my reaction:)

I was happy that I got to watch the game for free because back in the states I was charged 10 dollars on a salvadorean resturant, hah 25 dollars is exagerating. I wouldnt pay that much watch it.

By the way how long are you staying in El Salvador? :)

June 23, 2008 Kyle: It was a pretty incredible game, I wish you could have seen the whole thing. El Salvador played 10 times better after the first goal.

We've been here a couple of months and we have almost one more month to go...

June 24, 2008 Orlando: Wow, this is an amazing video you guys came up with. I am salvadorian and I have lived in the States for 20 years and I have never been in Cuscatlan stadium. I know you guys took part of a very important moment of salvadorian sport history that all grampas will tell to their kids what happened this day :). I was following the minute by minute in a salvadorian news web, and I read that Panama just scored in the 14 minute and knowing that El Salvador had to score 3, I just shut my computer off and I was convinced that was it, with tears on my eyes believing no more South Africa 2010. But later on, on my job I checked the website again, I just couldn't believe it what was I reading. I felt and still feel like if this game was a direct qualification to the World Cup.
So what you guys doing in El Salvador?, and where are you guys from?, I wish I could be there right now, hope one day, any way "mi pais, su pais!!" :).

June 24, 2008 Bessie: "mi pais, su pais" - you're awesome! thanks for the hospitality! Their comeback was pretty incredible. I don't think anyone could believe it, but was super excited that it happened!

Check out our FAQ for the full story - We're living in San Salvador volunteering for 3 months. I heart pupusas!

June 24, 2008 Orlando: By the way how much was the game ticket?, take care guys and thanks a lot for this video is amazing not just for the event but by the way you guys put it and edited.

June 24, 2008 Bessie: We got a ticket hook-up through a friend of a friend, and didn't pay anything to sit in their box seats.

Thanks for the editing compliments - we enjoy making movies!

June 24, 2008 Tania: I live here in California...Los Angeles to be exact!!! I was in total shock when I heard of the huge turn around that El Salvador did to win this important game. It was a nice feeling to see this humble team to win not only by a huge upset but to do it in front of a huge crowd that is always behind them no matter what!! I want to thank you for making these pictures available for me to see how the stadium is up close and personal. Its amazing how you guys were part of this celebration with all of my people around you!!! Thanks again and i have FAITH that this team will make it further its just a matter of practice,practice,and more practice!!!! THANK YOU and good luck on your remainin days in MI LINDO EL SALVADOR!!! GRACIAS

June 25, 2008 CALOS..: HI EVERYONE...I GOT A REALLY BIG QUESTION...I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW CAN I SEE THE GAMES OR ANY CHANNEL FROM EL SALVADOR IN THE COMPUTER I BEEN TRYING SO HARD TO DO THAT ANYONE GOT ANY INFORMATION ABOUT IT....AND BY THE WAY THE VIDEO IS REALLY NICE...I LIKE IT....AND ARE U MISSSIONARY FROM WHERE..

June 25, 2008 Kyle: I know the Euro Cup games are on www.channelsurfing.net, not sure if they show all of the WC Qualifiers...

We are not missionaries, just travel bums working for a bit in San Salvador.

June 25, 2008 Poopoosah: That's a great video!!! thanks for sharing. i was here in northern cali that day and was buzy with my family so i couldn't even watch the game. When i cameback home at night i went straight to my computer to check the final score and it was a fantastic surprisse!!

What i didn't know was how the game developed, and how crazy that comebak from behind was. It reminded me of some crazy Warriors games i went to watch this year, and their come from behind wins. but watching the replay in canal 4 and listening to the commentators i felt like the team had just qualified to the world cup.
Anyway i just wanna say thank you for the video, and your kind comments and support. You guys rock!!!! Que vivan las poopoosas y las hamburguesas jajajaja JK!!
salu pues cipotes y saludos desde Northern California

June 25, 2008 CALOS..: ooooohh...ok my fault....soo u guys have alot of fun in el salvador...i havent been there around 2 years it hink.....what u guys think about el salvador...

June 26, 2008 Kyle: There are plenty of things to see and do here, I just wish there were more signs to make them easier to find :)

June 26, 2008 TheGift/Pepsinono: Hey guys. Cool to see how you guys celebrated the goals.

This is a clip I took while me, my brother and some friends were watching the game in a Restaurant in US....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtDn7r2aRfw

June 26, 2008 Kyle: Nice. Wish you would have been able to make the game in person, it was an awesome experience!

June 26, 2008 Henry: Wow, that was an incredible come back for La Selecta, I have not been at El Cusca for about 20 years since i was about 6 years old to be exact, but this was a huge victory for all of us, I was crying just to see all the people in the stadium celebrating, I'm so envy of you guys that were able to attend the game ( but in a good way.) And by the way for those of you that were asking where to watch the games online, you guys may one to go to justin.tv, great website channels from all over the world, VAMOS SELECTA FUERZA.

June 26, 2008 Kelvin: Oh wow 5000 views on that video in a week, just to show how much El Salvador loves soccer.
You´ll definitely keep getting more youtube views.

Que viva El Salvador! :D

June 26, 2008 Kyle: Ya, we have to make more soccer videos...

June 26, 2008 roky: ese partido fue un atentado un robo a mano armada con la ayuda de un arbitro vendido. fue injusto

June 26, 2008 Kyle: Fútbol no sería fútbol sin la controversía.

Soccer wouldn't be soccer without controversy...

June 27, 2008 Henry: I agree with you kyle, that's is the beauty about the game, we never know what wil happen, the best sports in the world.

June 29, 2008 Kyle: To be honest, I didn't like soccer that much before we started traveling, but now I dig it. Sometimes I even think the games are too short...

June 28, 2008 george: Hi guys for those ones who ask, where to see EL SALVADOR games online you can go to
http://justin.tv/firpotv

that channel broadcasts the national team soccer games and also the savadorean national league, that is because that channel is dedicated to C.D. LUIS ANGEL FIRPO, the current Bi-Champion, i mean they won the championship two times in a row......ok guys see u soon...

hope u dont mind i post that link.....i do it to help other salvadorean ir order they can see games online...

June 29, 2008 Kyle: That's cool with me, plus now I know how I can watch the next round of qualifying games...

June 28, 2008 ShaggyFX: Guys, thanks a lot for sharing this wonderful pixs and videos from my beloved El Salvador. I'm happy to see that you are having a great time in San Salvador. I hope that when you leave this beautiful country you only take with you great memories.
I was happy to see that Kyle is now playing baseball. I used to play in the same field when I was still back home (17 years ago), I played on the national team (little leagues) and I also used to play for Kern's every Saturday (back in the 90s). Kyle don't be jealous but I used to get my name called out on the loud speakers every time it was my turn to go to the plate, great memories!!!.
Thanks again guys much love!!.

June 29, 2008 Kyle: Actually, we have an announcer now, so my name is called out! Unfortunately, it is pronounced totally incorrectly, but it's understandable as it is a name that translates poorly to Spanish. It's still amusing, though!

July 01, 2008 Elmer: Hi guys,
I've been browsing through your blog (I think I better go back to day one and read from there)
I almost drop a tear watching the football game you recorded. I was born in ES and live in CA. I admire what you are doing and thank you for sharing with the world a bit of "El pulgarcito de America"

July 01, 2008 Bessie: Awesome! We're happy to do it - thanks for checking out our site!! Go Selecta!

July 01, 2008 Elvis: I lived like two blocks away from the stadium, good memories. I loved blog btw.

July 01, 2008 Carrie Lynn: Hi Bessie and Kyle!

It's funny that a huge ocean separates us, with many countries in between, but we're both going nuts for authentic Football or Fussball! We just had the European Championship on Sunday and Spain defeated Germany 1-0, but second place isn't bad. Hope your soccer experiences are fun, even if Kyle's name doesn't translate!

Continue having the time of your life!

Your buddy,
Carrie Lynn

July 01, 2008 Bessie: Yeah football! Yeah, Kyle and I watched that game with a bunch of people at our co-worker's house. He's an insane Germany fan amongst an ocean of Spain fans, and was pretty sad to see them lose. I'm sure it was pretty intense over there!

July 06, 2008 Ernesto Portillo: thank you very much you guys, we realy apreciate how people fromo other culture loves my country, you are always wellcome to my little in zize but big in heart EL SALVADOR, im out of el salvador and i watch the game on internet, but thanks very much just look how i live the goal #3 is a dream, see you guys and keep in touch

July 14, 2008 Bessie: El Salvador does have a big heart! People here are amongst my favorite in Central America.

July 06, 2008 Ernesto Portillo: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HcyjPfDVJoo this is my video this happen when my national footbal team score the 3 -1 EL SALVADO, EL SALVADOR, EL SALVADOR, EL SALVADOR, LA SELECTA CUSCATLECA DE TODAS ES LA MAMA YEAHHHHH

July 11, 2008 DADDIO: WOW...So many comments on this post! I figured I'd wait a few weeks so I could have the last word at the top of all of the comments! Thanks for the peppy video. And here it is... the last SUPER $10.00 word: ........ ELECTRIFYING.........!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

July 14, 2008 Bessie: hee hee, yeah, soccer games make us pretty popular! :)

July 16, 2008 Linda: Soccer madness.......makes the fever at Wrigley look tame!!

July 17, 2008 carlos: haha you said "super chivo" thats pretty salvadorean right there, i love it! hey it was nice you guys had the chance to be in this game, I was there and got pretty wet and all but at the end I was so happy, I didnt mind it at all.

July 17, 2008 Bessie: if you're like most fans, getting wet was worth it to see such a great comeback! Super chivo and pu-chica are my favorite salvadoran slang words... :)

July 18, 2008 Mezclado: Hi there,

to the person who posted the information on the way to view games online through the Firpo channel, George I think: is the streaming pretty constant or does it cut off during the game, do you have problems while viewing the game?

I'm thinking this as many who are trying to view the game are probably congesting the streaming, that's over a million Salvadorans trying to view the game lol.

Also, are they going to broadcast the friendlies with Guatemala and Jamaica on this online channel?

Thanks in advance.
Cheers

July 30, 2008 carlos chavez morrison: hey how r u guys doin?? i live in el salvador and im glad that foreign people like both of you come to my country specially to a sports event like that.. it was freak!!!!!! damn i thought that we were lost but the boys did really well and i like that you like el salvador ... have u guys tried pupusas already????
=) and i have a question.. where r u guys from?? i would like to meet you in your next trip to my country y si el partido estuvo CHIVO!!!!!! PUCHICA!!!!!!! jjajajajajaj gracias x el video en youtube y quiero q sepan q aunque no nos conocemos en mi tienen a un amigo... im ur friend right???? hahaha.lol. hoping ur answer i say good bye... adios!!!!!! salu!!!!!!!!!!!!! =)

October 06, 2008 osarhassin: thank you for visit my country...i hope you like it.

El Salvador the great country ever!!!!

October 26, 2008 Edwin: Great Job, Welcome to our country, thanks for the video.

November 17, 2008 Xavi: I saw your video on youtube, what an amazing game. I was born in San Salvador in Soyapango, but as you know our arch-enemies will always be the catrachos!!

November 17, 2008 Bessie: Yea Soyapango! Conocemos bien a Soyapango - fuimos dos veces por un proyecto voluntariado de Crisalida, adonde trabajamos allá. Escribi un blog en agosto con fotos y mas. El Salvador es un país muy lindo.

March 19, 2009 MARP: I LOVE EL SALVADOR.
THE MOST BEAUTIFULL COUNTRY IN THE WORLD.
TANKS FOT THE VIDEO.
I LIKE WHEN I SEE PEOLPLE LIKE YOU IN EL SALVADOR.
ONCE AGAIN.
THANKS FOR THE VIDEO.
ESPERO QUE REGRESEN A EL SALVADOR.
THANKS

June 30, 2009 Salvy: Hi! I am glad you guys managed to visit my beautiful country and I am very Jealous of the fact that you manage to witness this incredible game in person... I was stuck in a room looking for updates on the internet while growing desperate of the 1-0 loss... but wow those 3 goals where incredible! BTW your spanish needs slight improvements but it is really, really Good!

October 06, 2009 oscar: Wow! El Salvador 3 vs panama 1 Was amazing, I Love my team I love LA SELECTA CUSCATLECA. LA SELECTA jugo muy bien y le gano este año a mexico, costa rica, haiti, empatamos con usa , en amistosos tambien ganamos a peru, ecuador , bolivia etc, hemos mejorado mucho ,.saludos para ti!

October 10, 2010 Karen: Hi, I am half Salvi half Mexican. I am planning on going with my husband and small children to visit my grandmother in El Salvador....I have heard negative things, which I expect. However I want your input, did you ever feel threaten or in fear of your life? What do you suggest to see, I will be in Apopa, but we would like to rent a car and go sigh seeing with my uncle and aunt who are from there. My husband also is white and has tattoos so I need to be cautious about whether some MS-13 is going to confront us. We don't look like thugs however. Any info would be greatly appreciated! I would love to go to the Stadium as well.

October 11, 2010 Kyle: We didn't ever feel threatened in El Salvador. Just like any place in the world, there are places you go, and places you don't go. People will let you know where not to go. The tattoos on your husband won't be a problem unless he has a lot of them covering his body. Being a "chele", though, will probably mean he won't have any problems.

As far as places to go, I would definitely check out Lago de Coatepeque and Suchitoto. But honestly, the best thing to do is just to go anywhere the people are and strike up a conversation. Salvadorenos are an amazing and gracious group of people!

Fútbol, Soccer: either way, the game rocks

Fútbol, Soccer: either way, the game rocks

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