Last Sunday I was at the Giant Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ watching a game between two of the bigger European clubs, Chelsea and AC Milan. We (Dandekar and me) got amazing seats right behind the goal on the lower tier and we could see some great near the goal action.
AC Milan is an awesome Italian side with even more awesome striker Shevchenko (I proudly own and wore his jersey that day, thanks Challa) and the greatest of them all defenders Paolo Maldini. Sadly enough they decided to leave Sheva out of the tour and not to play Maldini in that game. Though I saw him preparing for the game and then signing some autographs for the fans. To make it worse they did not play Kaka in the midfield. But more than just a saving grace was Pirlo, amazing throughout the game in the midfield and so was Cafu at the back with his deceptive but incisive runs. Later on in the second half, Rui Costa came in and showed some tricks and scored an awesome goal. A delicate chip/shot on the turn looping over the goalie and dipping into the far post. Vieri, their latest signing, on the other hand was completely out of sorts and ineffective.
For Chelsea, they were nice and played almost all their big stars including their latest signing SWP. Jose Mourhino was dressed like a joker in some clumsy tracks and a T-shirt instead of his usual formal suit. Drogba was the only one who provided some spark in the game which was otherwise played with very little competitive spirit what so ever. He scored an impressive solo though he was lucky to have the ball bounce of Nesta onto him and then straight in his path past Nesta with only the goalie to beat. The burst of pace after he collected the long ball from Tiago (I think) to beat Gattuso was impressive to say the least.
The Highs:
1. Some really cool and fast passing moves by AC Milan in front of the goal. The only reason they did not score was because they delayed the shot trying to be too cute in front of the goal.
2. An amazing run by Joe Cole on the break. Though it came to nothing as Damien Duff (or was it Goodjhonson) goofed up a simple pass.
3. The warm up session for Chelsea between Joe Cole, Duff, Lampard, Crespo, Goodjhonson. They played some amazing fakes and one touch passes to warm for the game, even though they were all pre-decided moves, they looked really amazing, particularly because of the pace at which they were doing it.
It was a dream come true. The whole atmosphere at the start was amazing as they played the anthem for the clubs before the game and how they all came out of the tunnel (well it was hardly a tunnel) with the kids from the local soccer clubs leading the way and how they all lined up for the photograph, the exchange of flags, the shake of hands, the feeling is just amazing. Would like to see a Champions League and a Premier League game at least once in my life. I wonder what the players feel as they come out of the tunnel.
On a similar note, I will be doing something similar things though at a very small level. I will be playing football at a semi-professional level this season. The first game being on the 16th of September, though we are playing a practice game this Sunday against the German-American Kickers. I am really excited about it. Its been a long cherished dream.
AC Milan is an awesome Italian side with even more awesome striker Shevchenko (I proudly own and wore his jersey that day, thanks Challa) and the greatest of them all defenders Paolo Maldini. Sadly enough they decided to leave Sheva out of the tour and not to play Maldini in that game. Though I saw him preparing for the game and then signing some autographs for the fans. To make it worse they did not play Kaka in the midfield. But more than just a saving grace was Pirlo, amazing throughout the game in the midfield and so was Cafu at the back with his deceptive but incisive runs. Later on in the second half, Rui Costa came in and showed some tricks and scored an awesome goal. A delicate chip/shot on the turn looping over the goalie and dipping into the far post. Vieri, their latest signing, on the other hand was completely out of sorts and ineffective.
For Chelsea, they were nice and played almost all their big stars including their latest signing SWP. Jose Mourhino was dressed like a joker in some clumsy tracks and a T-shirt instead of his usual formal suit. Drogba was the only one who provided some spark in the game which was otherwise played with very little competitive spirit what so ever. He scored an impressive solo though he was lucky to have the ball bounce of Nesta onto him and then straight in his path past Nesta with only the goalie to beat. The burst of pace after he collected the long ball from Tiago (I think) to beat Gattuso was impressive to say the least.
The Highs:
1. Some really cool and fast passing moves by AC Milan in front of the goal. The only reason they did not score was because they delayed the shot trying to be too cute in front of the goal.
2. An amazing run by Joe Cole on the break. Though it came to nothing as Damien Duff (or was it Goodjhonson) goofed up a simple pass.
3. The warm up session for Chelsea between Joe Cole, Duff, Lampard, Crespo, Goodjhonson. They played some amazing fakes and one touch passes to warm for the game, even though they were all pre-decided moves, they looked really amazing, particularly because of the pace at which they were doing it.
It was a dream come true. The whole atmosphere at the start was amazing as they played the anthem for the clubs before the game and how they all came out of the tunnel (well it was hardly a tunnel) with the kids from the local soccer clubs leading the way and how they all lined up for the photograph, the exchange of flags, the shake of hands, the feeling is just amazing. Would like to see a Champions League and a Premier League game at least once in my life. I wonder what the players feel as they come out of the tunnel.
On a similar note, I will be doing something similar things though at a very small level. I will be playing football at a semi-professional level this season. The first game being on the 16th of September, though we are playing a practice game this Sunday against the German-American Kickers. I am really excited about it. Its been a long cherished dream.
3 comments:
good luck boy!! Hope you score some goals this time ;) unlike your spectacular performances in the quadrangle!!!
lucky bugger, had chance to view my fav team aur bata kya chal raha hain wahan me planning next year to germany for world cup.
mama/kiran
Mama, I hope your fav team is not Chelsea?
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