At 9:07 am I topped up my Clipper card at 4th and King. By 9:14 am the SamTrans connector bus departed, with water dripping awkwardly from the fluorescent lights above a row of 3 seats. Water ever so slightly dripping on one seat specifically, next to 3 bros.
The transition from bus to train at Bayshore was seamless. I ran into Julian Cisneros. He had the whole SF UC Davis Alumni group heading for Avaya. The chatter and banter began about youngsters and Gregg Berhalter as soon as the CalTrain inched onwards, amongst the morning beverages. “I think that’s why people are here today. What are we here to see? There’s some hope now.”
Stop after stop, the train feels more like a premier pre-match tailgate, like a good, local, community fundraiser before sporting events in the South Bay. The proximity of its setup induces deep conversation, closeness. Sometimes you are not sure if you want to get off the train or exactly how to.
Dragging your beverage of choice through the mud
Aaron Ritz and Erik Hansen brought Laughing Monk brews with them to the Avaya parking lots since it’s SF beer week so, “Why the hell not?”
Once you wade through the mud of the Avaya lots, just know that it’s ok. It does leave your shoes once you meet the concrete as you go through the turnstiles upon your arrival.
Cheers to you, Mr. Lima
Early on, Nick Lima’s touches were applauded, but that turned into a crescendo. You could feel the love, display of passion, and ultimate happiness for the local lad. The 55th minute produced a sizzling curling effort off the post. He won a corner in the 60th with a roar that any soccer fan in the Bay Area would understand. Lima is living in the moment.
Dress To Impress
Gregg Berhalter dresses well. He’s simple, with a white Oxford shirt and black cashmere, he looks good. He took a small stroll to embrace Costa Rica’s Gustavo Matosas on the hour mark. It was professional, but yet emotional. The respect of each other’s work was there. Why can’t two new-ish managers celebrate with a hug with a half hour left in a 0-0 friendly? Unless Gustavo Matosas’ pocket square was getting in the way.
The U.S. team wore Nike shirts featuring the words “Until We All Win” across their chests to celebrate the beginning of Black History Month. In Nike’s words, they are celebrating “African-American youth leaders who are harnessing the power of sport and making a positive change in their communities.”
Somos El Futuro
Across the stadium, the following two statements appear: “The Future is US” and “Somos El Futuro.” Dogged for years and criticized for not being inclusive, it’s a small step for the Federation to display bilingual signage.
By the Numbers
- 13,656 people saw a new version of the U.S. Men’s National Team.
- At 12:31pm in section 129, a Costa Rica flag waved in the background as a conductor of the orchestra. It brought in the brass, the woodwinds, the drums, allowing all Costa Rican flags across the stadium to rise as one.
- 80th minute, a goal from San Francisco’s own Sebastian Lletget via a wonderful cross from Jonathan Lewis. Lletget injured himself on the same field he played on today in March 2017. Of the triumph, he said, “It’s a sense of relief, I’m a little overwhelmed at the moment, it’s my hometown. Moving forward I can’t wait to keep going.”
- 88th min Paul Arriola beat the goalkeeper, flew up into the air as the ball went spiraling into the back of the net for a 2-0 lead.