Tickets and additional information is available at www.worldfootballchallenge.com

The inaugural World Football Challenge saw Club America defeat AC Milan in front of 53,600 fans at the Georgia Dome on July 22nd, 2009.  This was one of the first high profile soccer games to come to Atlanta in recent years.  Organizers hoped the event would help Atlanta’s bid to be a host city if the US was awarded either the 2018 or 2022 World Cup.  Others hoped the game would show Atlanta’s love for soccer and worthiness of a Major League Soccer expansion team.

You may also recall last year’s Aaron’s International Soccer Challenge at the GA Dome in which Club America took on Manchester City. During the lead up the that match Aaron’s signed on as a multi-year sponsor for the event.  David Simmons of International Events Group Operations said during a press conference they “planned to continue to bring this great event to [Atlanta] for many years to come.”

I have yet to receive word back from Mr. Simmons in regards to where the Aaron’s International Soccer Challenge stands.  I’ll update this post if anything changes on that front.

So will you be going to either the Raleigh or Miami game? Frustrated that Atlanta wasn’t part of this year’s challenge?

So for those who missed it, our ladies ended the game 1-1 with Brazil…technically.

So what got it to that point? Well our first goal wasn’t technically our first goal. The USWNT, though in awesome position and at first glance, appeared that they scored, the ball actually was scored by Brazilian defender, Daiane, who was attempting to block the ball.  But that goal set the tone for the game. The women came out strong–they wanted to beat Brazil, and knew that a weak start would lead to a weak ending.

The first half the women proved strong, keeping the Brazilians from scoring anything. Naturally this lead to much crying and dramatics as a result. They ended the first half 1-0 in favor of the U.S. with Brazil frustrated and angry.

The second half, with a few minor chances for both teams, Brazil and the USA came to play. But apparently the refs still weren’t on board, as was seen with the goal that tied the game by Brazil’s Marta.

Marta came charging into the goal with some type of samurai-karate kid kick that ended up with the U.S. getting a red card for Rachel Buehler. Watching the replay, I would have called dangerous play on Marta, but apparently the call is that Buehler took her down from behind. Whatever.

This fabulous call led to a penalty kick which awesome Hope Solo blocked….or so we thought. BUT the ref had some more tricks up her sleeves to go with all the calls she had missed or called incorrectly. Solo ‘moved off the line’ leading to another penalty kick for Brazil, which Marta decided she was going to take this time, leading to a goal for Brazil.

The result of this? The USWNT played a man down–10v11 to Brazil and still held their own. In fact, they played–in my opinion– better than they did previously.

The tie of 1-1 lead to two 15 minute overtimes that saw yet two more goals. Brazil’s goal was scored on a controversial well taken shot by Marta, the team’s all-star. Though it was questioned to be offsides, after replays it apparently was cleared as on. That gains a whatever as well. I still have to give the girl credit for an extremely well placed shot.

2-1, a few minutes left in overtime, the USWNT knew that without a goal, they were exiting Germany. With the majority of the stadium now standing behind the USWNT after the poor calls of the refs, and the Brazilian players faking injuries–you know the whole roll on the ground for five minutes to waste time, hop on a stretcher, then hop off of it to go back and play…MAGICALLY healed–the stadium was radiating. Boo’s for Marta who had just previously horse collared a player or chants of USA USA USA were pretty much the only things being heard.

After a beautiful cross from Rapinoe, Wambach crushes a epic header into the goal making the game 2-2 in overtime.

With the game 2-2 after overtime, Penalty kicks were in order. The Women crushed all five into the net, making room for them to move on to play France next!

So some after thoughts of the game?? I was a bit disappointed in Marta, well Brazil’s showing. Brazil started pulling out sly sneaky tactics that are to me are not sportsman like, especially Marta. For a player that is considered the best in the world, skill wise she was epic, but her attitude deserved a smack in the face.

I have to say as well I’m pretty proud that the ladies won. I felt that they played hard, and worked hard for this win. They didn’t give up or get down that they were one man down against a great team like Brazil, they kept fighting and held their own. And despite the NUMEROUS Cards, some of which were not called for, and the crappy reasons for random free kicks(let’s not forget the obvious hand ball by the side line ref that clearly NO ONE SAW) and the shady attempts to waste time by Brazil, the USWNT prevailed and WON THIS THING!

Upon reaching the house, it had some how escaped me that Mexico was playing Bosnia…in Georgia…at the Georgia Dome. Talk about a fail. I knew they were playing and just planned to find a stream to watch at the house, but it wasn’t until my husband brought it up that the radio announced they were here that I flipped my switch. I quickly threw on some red, black, and green. (Being that I’m a quarter Mexican, I do own some Mexican attire, however to hunt that down in my disorganized closet wasn’t happening in five minutes) and ran out the door to grab a seat at my first international game.

I have to give it to the Mexican fans. They had it packed. I’ve been to soccer games before, but to see a stadium of fans cheering, the atmosphere is absolutely amazing. My husband, who had never been to a soccer game, and is not a fan of the sport, even felt the awesome vibe from the fans and found himself cheering along getting caught in the excitement as well.

Don’t let me forget about the Bosnian fans, though clearly outnumbered by the Mexican fans, I give them props for having full sections covered completely in blue and cheering just as loud as the Mexican fans.

I also have to give Georgia more credit. I expected a lot of people to be at the game, but not as much as I saw. The stadium was packed like it was a Falcons game…maybe a little more

The game was awesomely charged, both sides playing to win, powered by the voices of their fans screaming their support. As the gap between Mexico and Bosnia got wider, the Bosnian fans got more frustrated tossing more streamers and toilet paper at the teams. Bosnian players feeding off of their fans, their frustration was seen as a great deal of pushing and shoving when the ball was or WASN’T in play started to shadow the field.

The first goal for the Mexican side was made by Manchester United striker number 14 Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernandez, [who’s name was chanted through out the night until he was subbed out] on a penalty kick. The second goal for Mexico was scored beautifully from Atlas F.C’s Pacheco making this his first international goal.

Nearing the end of the night, the game took a more cheerful approach as the players came at the game from a more playful attitude. A Bosnian fan that decided to streak the field, was defiantly was a mood lightener for the Bosnian players as he ran up and down the field attempting to hug the goalie, who preceded to chase him away. Eventually the fan was captured and tugged away, and the game resumed on a different lighter note.

The ending score for the night was Mexico 2-0 Bosnia. Big congrats to El Tri on their win.

Upcoming Games: March 26 2011, Bosnia plays Romania and Mexico plays Paraguay!

MEXICO ROSTER

Goalkeepers: Jesús Corona (Cruz Azul/MEX), Alfredo Talavera (Toluca/MEX)

Defenders: Carlos Salcido (Fulham/ENG), Héctor Moreno (AZ Alkmaar/NED), Francisco Javier Rodríguez (PSV Eindhoven/NED), Paúl Aguilar (Pachuca/MEX), Iván Estrada (Santos Laguna/MEX), Edgar Dueñas (Toluca/MEX), Jonny Magallón (CD Guadalajara/MEX), Jorge Torres Nilo (Tigres/MEX).

Midfielders: Gerardo Torrado (Cruz Azul/MEX), Israel Castro (UNAM/MEX), Jesús Zavala (Monterrey/MEX), Antonio Naelson Sinha (Toluca, MEX), Luis Pérez (Monterrey/MEX).

Forwards: Javier Hernández (Manchester United/ENG), Giovanni dos Santos (Racing de Santander/SPA), Pablo Barrera (West Ham United/ENG), Edgar Pacheco (Atlas/MEX), Néstor Calderón (Toluca/MEX), José María Cárdenas (Santos Laguna/MEX), Aldo de Nigris (Monterrey/MEX).

Head Coach: José Manuel de la Torre

After going  back and forth in the first few minutes a defensive lap by the Guyanese goalkeeper left a gift at Montepeque’s feet who shot from the corner of the 18 yard box and found the back of the net.  About 9 minutes later on a breakaway play Ramirez took on two defenders in an incredible piece of individual skill in which he charged toward the goal and would not be denied making the score 2 – 0 Guatemala. That score would hold up for the half.  During the second half Ramirez scored his second on the night  leading Guatemala to the 3 – 0  win.  His efforts were applauded by the crowd when he was substituted off in the 74th minute.

Guyana had a few opportunities but Guatemala was clearly the better team on the night. I hope we can see more matches and crowds like this in the future at KSU Soccer Stadium.  Did you get a chance to make it to the game?  Are you planning on watching any of the upcoming U-20 games at KSU Soccer Stadium?