At This Stage Here

Sorry for the delay, we've been busy driving. Enjoy the recap from yesterday below.

Yesterday we attended a crucial game that determined who would advance out of group A, Uruguay vs. Mexico. A win for either team guaranteed 1st place in the group, and the loser needed to hope to keep the score close. The other pairing in group A was playing at the same time, France vs South Africa. A victory by Bafana Bafana, with a large enough margin, could have put South Africa through to the next round on goal differential, the tie breaker in group play, over the loser of the game we attended. Needless to say, the locals came out in large numbers to cheer on Uruguay to a big win, who was their past chance for SA to advance. Not to diminish the Mexican fanbase that came out in vibrant costumes and face paint as we have all come to expect.

The game took part in Rustenberg which is a bit of a hike from our house. After Gladys made us some delicious breakfast, we got in the cars and 2.5 hours later, we arrived at the Fu...Phokeng Parking Lot. There we enjoyed some lunch that we had prepared: sandwiches, chips, and soda(diet, regular, and frat). Then we hopped on the shuttle and were at the stadium. Rustenberg is smaller in comparison to any other stadiums we have seen, but every seat in the house had a good view of the action on the field.

After being cramped up in the car we were excited to see an exciting game and we weren't disappointed. Uruguay played strong defensively and capitalized on a beautiful cross that Suarez headed home in the first half. Mexico put in a real strong second half and knocked on Uruguays doorstep several times, but unfortunately for them, were unable to put one away. The score ended 1-0 in favor of Uruguay.

But made matters more exciting was that we were surrounded by South African fans who were being updated on the South African score. South Africa went up 2-0, each goal bringing a synchronized blaring of vuvuzelas and exhalting cheers from all over the stadium. They got a third called back on a questionable call and a few others that hit the woodwork. France got one back well into the 2nd half, ending at 2-1. We enjoyed relishing in the potential uproar of the South African fans had the results gone there way. Things did not work out the way we had hoped. While they tied Mexico in points, they lost in goal differential, and Mexico is advancing behind Uruguay to the knockout stages.


This would bring the end of any good time to be had for several hours. We thought driving back from a Bears game was bad!!! From the time we pulled out of the parking lot, we were in the car for nearly 5 hours, bumper to bumper through dark country roads in two packed cars. As you could imagine, we could've done without that. Phokeng perfect.