Viewing TT football is a "contact" sport

After the crushing loss Trinidad received at the hands of the US a few weeks ago, the much anticipated re-match was at hand.  However, this was not just a rematch, this was kind of a clutch game for TT.  For TT to get back in the running for passing this first round of World Cup qualifiers, we had to beat the US and Guatemala had to lost to Cuba.  That won't seal it for TT to pass through, but makes it much more likely.  I could get into the why's and how's, but anyone who follows sports knows how confusing these different scenarios get, and I will spare us all of that.

The game began on a beautiful, clear evening with an enormous full moon over head.  The TT fans came out in much larger numbers for this game, in comparison to the Guatemala match last month.  We got there a little later than the last time, so we weren't in the midst of the really rowdy section.  This time we were in the equivalent of the "end zone" and across from the party section.  However the crowd in our section was still quite lively.

I won't go through the play by play, because quite honestly, I can't remember when the goals were scored.  I do know that we (we being TT - I was rooting for the underdog tonight) scored and shortly after, the US scored with at 3 on 1, the 1 being the goalie.  As expected, the crowd went wild, throwing beer in the air and down to the field, and the crowd was subsequently silenced.  Later in the 2nd half, there was a penalty by a US player near their own goal, which resulted in a penalty kick for TT.  We scored and were once again in the lead.  The minutes were ticking down and the crowd was going wild anticipating the win.  Over the loud speakers, the announcer announced that Guatemala lost to Cuba, thus nearly ensuring our advancement to the next round of qualifiers.  The Soca Warriors managed to hold off the US as the game ended and there was much celebration.

There is often talk about how crazy people get at football/soccer games outside of the US.  I kind of expected it here, even though we are a smaller country.  But everyone was in good spirits.  So there were no fights or anything of the sort.  I guess the most contact that we had was from the buzz that we all got from everyone smoking marijuana in the stands.  I swear, if there wasn't a slight breeze that night, there would have been a cloud hanging over the stadium.