Y Gana Nacional !!
The whole city of Medellin seemed to come to a standstill as
the sun finally set and the hour of kickoff all too slowly approached. Televisions lined the street leading up to
the CDUC complex, and friendly sidewalk shop owners passed out crates and
stools for arriving fans to sit on. Our
team spread throughout the block as new amigos waved us over to join them for
the long awaited game of the year.
Chants and fireworks seemed to be 100 times magnified as they echoed
between the surrounding mountains.
A game
comparable to Yankees vs Redsox, Nacional (the favorite in Medellin) was
playing their longtime rival Boca Juniors, and were already down one goal on
aggregate. But any doubt of the possibility
for victory was shredded within the first five minutes as the Nacional heroes
managed to clinch an early golaso. The streets erupted with horns, chants,
fireworks and flags. But the celebrating
fans were soon humbled as a Athletico Junior winger connected with a forward to
tie the game 1-1, putting the opposition ahead 2-1 on aggregate.
The
second half was filled with just as much excitement as the game began to open
up and Nacional pushed harder and harder to find an equalizing goal. Gasps and shouts of frustration could be
heard simultaneously throughout the streets as shots were fired just wide or
into the Boca goalkeeper’s hands.
Minutes ticked by like seconds as the green and white team struggled to
find the back of the net. And then, in
the 90th minute of play, Nacional was awarded a corner kick. All of the team, including the keeper, flooded
into the Athletico Juniors eighteen for a final attempt to equalize the game.
All of
Medellin fell silent in anticipation.
The ball was whipped in and SOME DUDE WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT THE NAME OF
headed the ball with the force of the entire city of Medellin behind him. The goalie had no chance, and Nacional had
equalized the game!
Penalties
followed and the Nacional keeper was inches from saving Athletico’s first shot.
Nacional pocketed their first as well.
The second Boca attempt was robbed away as (KEEPERS NAME) managed to get
a hand on the ball to make the save.
Another Nacional goal followed.
Boca stayed in it, making their third, and again Nacional answered
calmly passing yet another into the back of the net. The fourth penalty for Boca was just of
center, and the Nacional goalie was all over it, making the biggest save of the
game. As the fourth Nacional player
approached the penalty spot it seemed the win was all but definite. A few slow steps and then…GOLASOOO! Nacional
had come back from a 2-1 deficit to win the title!
What
followed was one of the purest and strongest celebrations our team has ever
seen. The streets were filled with celebrating
fans. From little children to grandmas
and grandpas everyone had become united in cheers and dancing. Flour rained down from windows and fireworks
lit up the sky. The party lasted long
into the twilight hours of the night but the sky was filled with light and the
people of Medellin lit up the town. We
danced, popped Columbiana, threw flour and hugged amigos. Victory was theirs, and we were along for the
ride.
It was
an incredible experience to be a part of this event that means so much to the
people here, and it meant a lot to us that our new friends here welcomed us and
let us be a part of their victory and celebration. I don’t tend to think that
God influences the outcomes of sporting events, but I couldn’t have prayed for
a more miraculous ending to a game or a more memorable experience.
Thanks for keeping up with what we’ve been up to and for
supporting us with your prayers.
-Lago
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