A Chicago Evening Of Foreign Diplomacy

By: Chicago Sports Review

Ethnic pride was in full force Wednesday evening as a festive crowd of 54,427 braved Soldier Field’s crisp April air. Those in attendance witnessed a spirited one all draw between the national sides of Mexico and Poland, two countries heavily represented throughout Chicago’s diverse population. Supporters of each were virtually even, proudly displaying partisan colors. Mexico’s die-hards sported a familiar green with Poland lovers clad in Red.For three hours time, fans’ excited chants of “Me-he-co” and “Pol-ska” filled the stadium’s historic grounds, viewing a match played at a prophetic, but choppy pace. Matter not, however, as witnesses came for the event, not the quality of play. Unfortunately, many top-fight players didn’t make the trip, having to fulfill domestic league commitments in matches around the world.

Those who did play gave it their all, nevertheless. After a scoreless first half of action, Mexican forward and captain Ramon Carlos Morales finished a flawless Tricolors build-up in the game’s fifty-first minute with a shot coming from an acute angle just to the right of Poland’s goalkeeper. Morales slotted his effort home from about eight yards out, putting Mexico’s faithful in a frenzy.

Feelings of Mexican superiority lasted for twenty minutes, as Europe’s attendees eagerly awaited a moment to celebrate of their own. Poland fans would be rewarded, gleefully, in the seventy-first minute as Pavel Borzek deftly brought the match level, beating Mexico’s net-minder with a well placed attempt.

Probably, the tie was a best-case scenario for all those involved. Being an international friendly, the result was rather unimportant to the overall landscape soccer. Instead, both teams are focused in their attempt to qualify for next year’s World Cup. Rather, this was a night focused on culture and celebration. No one loses, and everyone goes home happy.

Mexico and Poland wasn’t the only attraction yesterday. The first game of a scheduled double-header event involved the Chicago Fire playing host to New England’s Revolution, a team ironically here last year, also sharing the stage with Poland, who then played the US national side. On this night, the Revolution were clearly a superior, getting goals in the thirty-second, forty-third, and ninety-fourth minutes from Clint Dempsey, Pat Noonan, and Taylor Twellman respectively.

Chicago appeared flat in the first half, making little threat on New England’s goal.

Our locals fared better in the second stanza, however, more spirited, and dominating the run of play, but only to come up empty. Substitute striker Chris Rolfe, who entered in the sixty-ninth minute, had three prime opportunities to put his team on the board but couldn’t finish.

The Fire fell to a 2-2-1 record, sitting on seven points in the leagues Eastern Conference. Their next match will be Saturday evening at Columbus against the Crew.

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