Saprissista yet?

¡Vamos, vamos Morados! ¡Esta noche, tenemos que ganar!

Last night, we attended the Saprissa vs. Real Salt Lake partido de fútbol (soccer game, that is, for all you Americans) at the Saprissa Stadium in San José/Tibás. (http://www.saprissa.co.cr/contenido/ubicaci%C3%B3n.html, and http://www.teletica.com/teleticadeportes/detalle.php?id=91888)

Even the sunset's colors--purple and orange--
(though the photo doesn't capture its beauty)
signaled it was a night for Saprissa!

Our tickets and Lauren's Saprissa bling!

My favorite part of going to this game was the people we went with. Well, looking at these ripped soccer guys' abs as they stripped off their jerseys at the end of the game wasn't too bad either, but... Anyway, I drove Emily, Adam Yoder, Jim Weddell (science prof Bertie's husband; they'll be here for the duration of this month's biology course), and students Amy K, Lauren, and Nick. What a hoot these people were! The yawning and lethargy on the van ride there stopped once we arrived (it was an 8pm kick off, but we left around 5:30 to find our way to the stadium and find parking). Although halfway through the game, I had Em's head leaning on my shoulder... After arriving at the stadium, we ran up and down stairs, getting acquianted with the high-up view of the whole field from the nose-bleeds section (also inevitably getting cat-called and hooted at by all the Tico jovenes (youths) and oogled by the viejoverde old dudes).

Down on the left-bottomish side you can see our seats,
where Jim, Emily, and Adam were sitting eating ice cream
before the stadium filled up for the game.

We settled in our $16 front-row seats that bordered the sideline by the RSL goal in the 

Nick and Adam (pre-scarf wearing).

first half. Saw one goal scored there. And then during the second half when they had switched sides, within the first minute or so, we witnessed Saprissa's first goal of the game, and goal from a penalty kick towards the end of the game. Great seats! I might enjoy being up in the stands more though (better view of the whole field and no annoying people in the walkway to block one's view). I especially enjoyed Adam Yoder's presence. He's got to get out more (we realize parenting two young kiddos is a full-time job, and we hope this fútbol excursion was a good break!). He was the most hilarious. As RSL entered the field to warm up, Adam, sitting next to me, shouted benign remarks (in a mean tone of voice) such as, "Hope you're wearing sunscreen!" and "Go to the beach while you're here!" and other such advice for U.S. tourists. Later, wearing my purple and white scarf, he shouted at a Saprissa player, named Alemán, who was (unsuccessfully) practicing his penalty goal kicks from the corner right in front of us, "Gana para mí, Alemán!" (Win for me, Aleman!) How strange it must have been to have an American shouting at him in a gringo accent, while wearing the unique get-up of a Saprissa jersey and my scarf. Cute.

Warm ups on the field.

This was a special game because it was a CONACAF Champions League semifinal game; the second (or third? I'm not really sure) between RSL and Saprissa. So scoring was on an aggregate system (thanks for helping me put a name to this, Ob. And thanks to Adam for initially explaining the system to me!). So even though Saprissa ended up "winning" the game 2-1, they actually lost because their overall scoring from previous games wasn't enough for them to progress to the finals. Sad day for Saprissistas. And we spotted the few RSL fans in the arena quickly zipping up their coats over their RSL jerseys and apparel in a cocky display of their dominance on their way out of the stadium, so as not to be assaulted for their disloyalty to the Costa Rican favorite.

The game begins! Purple and white smoke being shot up in the air,
purple & white balloons, lots of noise and fun cheers!

It was also my first Saprissa game. The last game I went to was a Liga (LDA) one (http://www.lda.cr/). In our area in the Valle Central (Central Valley region) of Costa Rica, you're either a Ligista, Saprissista, or Herediana; those are the three main/major teams represented in the area. Short history: La Liga and Saprissa are sort of rival teams that battle it out for the championship every year. Usually Saprissa wins. However, La Liga won the last championship. As for the Heredia team--there is a stadium in Heredia where their local fútbol team plays opposing teams--they are sort of a B-line team (the worst around, in our opinion). Loyalty ties are strong around here though--no matter how good or bad the team is doing.

I have been to a few games. One Heredia game as well a long time ago. But after last night, I might be with Adam now... I think I might be becoming a Saprissista! Don't hate me, Em! (Emily is a Ligista. A little rivalry over a game is healthy though, right?) Besides, the Saprissa jerseys are waaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyy cooler than those of La Liga!