Recapping USA’s Glorious 1-0 Victory- In Phoenix Landing

The ONEin3 team ventured outside city limits (THE HORROR) to Phoenix Landing to take in the soccer loving scene for USA v. Algeria this week.

I’ve been to bars for lots of sporting events and I’ve seen lots of soccer games on television, but I’ve never been to a bar for a big soccer game. I’ll be doing it again. The American Outlaws brought all kinds of people out to support the good ole US of A and there was chanting, cheering and Guinness drinking starting at 830am. Aside from interviewing people who were just as nervous as I was, I stressed out with the support of my fellow fans for 2 straight hours of no-goal yet electric soccer. The US came so so close to scoring, most notably when Dempsey hit the post and when Dempsey ACTUALLY SCORED and had the goal called back. I guess that’s karmic payback for Mr. Robert Green’s miscue in game 1 v. England. Anyway, all that stressing and hoping and disappointment was paid back in spades when the place erupted for Donovan’s game winner. It was truly crazy. I’ve seen YouTube clips from all over the country, including Lincoln, Nebraska, the home of the American Outlaws. I can tell you that Phoenix Landing was as crazy, if not crazier than ANY of those places. It was nuts.

NIJU Relives the experience

I couldn’t sleep the previous night. I hate that the world cup does this to me- every four years. I am anxious, nervous and if it is not football related I do not DO NOT want to hear it. I reached Phoenix landing a little late and was disappointed that Devin did not bring my Vuvuzela. The previous night my dad had warned me not to jinx the English team by watching them play. It was hard to see anything since I was one of the smallest person there. We had a couple of British people on the side and it was amazing to see as people of different nationalities braced to see their nations play. There I was with my confused identity hoping that both England and USA made it through.  At half time Devin was pretty much like this

I should stress here that I had more faith in the Americans so I wasn’t as stressed as Devin was during half time. I switched to the england side of the pub simply because I couldn’t imagine this team loosing.I mean how could they? i have seen them long enough to know if there is one thing this team knows its is HUSTLE, HUSTLE and HUSTLE. In the 90th second I saw what had happened and went into the background so that nobody saw me cry. There it was one minute after the moment that both the Americans and British rejoiced with their hands in the air and dancing in the streets.

THe video from Phoenix Landing Boston of the 91st minute