Advertisement
Published: March 8th 2009
Edit Blog Post
The Maracana is set to host the 2014 world cup final and what a stadium it is. It currently holds 90,000 people but holds the world record of nearly 200,000 for the world cup final between Brazil and Uruguay in 19??. Last night saw the match between Flamengo and Cabrofrinese take place. The attendance for this match was only about 25,000 but the noise and atmosphere created by the home fans was amazing.
We were picked up from our hostel at about 4pm after only been dropped backed from our previous tour a few minutes earlier. A Danish couple and an American girl from our hostel were also going and we picked up three Swedish guys at another hostel shortly afterwards. We crossed the city to the famous stadium where we waited in a local bar while the guy looking after us went and got our tickets. No alcohol gets served 2 hours before a game and 2 hours after a game so we had to settle for a pint of water or coke. The match was to kick off at 6:15 and we entered the Maracana at about half five. We took our seats near the pitch about 15 metres
to the left of the halfway line. The crowds started to gather but the other side of the stadium was empty. Nearly everyone was on our side of the stadium. Soon the drums, trumpets, trombones and singing started. The locals real get into it and the atmosphere is electric. I can only imagine what it’s like when there are 90,000 passionate fans inside the grounds. The flags were so big I was unsure how only one man could hold them. The home team arrived on to the pitch and the fans went crazy. The hairs were standing on my arm it was that loud. The away team was greeted with a chorus of boo’s and of course we joined in. Everyone was clapping and dancing and getting really behind their team. Trust me, there was no prawn sandwich brigade here!!
The game kicked off and the standard of football was pretty good. I think Michelle was expecting a team full of Ronaldino’s and his tricks! Flamengo took an early lead through a guy called Douglas and the crowd got even more excited. Soon our attention was brought to the tier above us and everyone running away from a certain
section of the stand. We couldn’t see but it was obvious a fight had broken out and it was between Flamengo’s own fans. That occupied everyone in the stadium for a while until everyone realised there was still a match being played. The first half ended with Flamengo in front but there fans were clearly not happy. Cabrofrinese equalised early in the second half and the home supporters became unsettled. People would march from all sides of the stadium to berate the manager at the dug-out. This was as interesting as the match. Every man that went up seemed to be topless and I wondered if the Newcastle fans would get away with it as easy. Police stood by and nearly even joined in!
Subs were introduced an a guy called Kleberson came on who I think played for Man Utd before. The name of the other substitute was Everton! Flamengo soon took the lead again but were under a lot of pressure for the final few minutes. Just before injury time Flamengo broke away and got a third to kill of any hopes that Cabrofrinese might have had. We meet up with our guide again and left the
stadium. Our bus was waiting outside and we were soon back in our Hostel.
Also at half time a really old mad did solo's for the full 15 minutes the whole way from the half way line to the end line and back. He was the spitting image of the priest in Father Ted!
In a bit. DH
ps I have a funny story about a bird and a shoe cleaner in cahoots to make money......Stay tuned!
pps my camera went dead so the photo's are limited. sorry
Advertisement
Tot: 0.049s; Tpl: 0.011s; cc: 10; qc: 26; dbt: 0.0287s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.1mb