Spanish giants, former european champions FC Barcelona came to South Africa on June 20th, 2007 to play a friendly with Mamelodi Sundowns the current champions of South Africa. It was a long drive from Joburg to pretoria. Although on a normal day it should have taken only 20 minutes but it took us around 2 hours to reach the stadium and then finding the parking was another big problem. In the end we had to park outside in open.
We reached there around 2 hours before time. Some local teams were playing already as a curtain raiser. Then about about 7 the event started. By that time the stadium was almost full. We got the best seats, amazing view. They started the event with both teams coming out and warming up before the large crowd. Sundowns came out first, but the pick of things was when Barcelona stepped out lead by Ronaldinho. You couldn't hear the person sitting next to you coz of all the Vuvuzela's. I have to say South African can make noise :)If they are not banned in the WC 2010 then its gonna be a big support to the south african soccer team.
The team started warming up. Good thing barca was warming up on our side of the pitch and you could always see Ronaldinho, Eto & Deco pulling tricks. It was some feeling watching them kick the ball. Imagine if Henry would have been there. Anyways it was my first big soccer game so I really was having a ball & the atmosphere was a big plus.
After they were done with the warm ups there were some other performances by some dancers & singers.
The game started at 8. South African international Surprise Moriri handed the home side an early lead but late goals from substitutes Santiago Ezquerro and Marc Crosas secured the win for the visitors.
Sundowns took the lead after just two minutes when Brent Carelse latched onto Vuyo Mere's low cross before setting up Moriri, who shot past Barca goalkeeper Victor Valdes. Calvin Marlin kept Sundowns lead before the break after making point-blank saves from Samuel Eto'o and Ludovic Giuly. Even though the Spanish giants dominated the first half, Carlese, Josta Dladla and Patrick Apataki also spurned good scoring chances for the South Africans. Barcelona's persistence paid off the in the 74th minute when Ezquerro levelled from a Ronaldinho free kick. Ronaldinho was again the provider with a superb pass to Crosas, who fired past Marlin with six minutes remaining.
When the game ended it was a mess everybody trying to leave the ground. They say it can really get hectic in south africa after big matches. All the hooligans & pick pockets etc. Somebody i knew lost their camera during the game so I was really tied to my camera as I had all the barcelona stars captured in mine :) It all ended well though and we rushed back to joburg but never reached till another 2 hours. It was money and time well spent. I am gonna remember this for a long long time. Its always going to be big unless i see Henry or Delpiero play @ Ashburton Groove or Delle Apli respectively :)
