Wednesday, September 12, 2007

Socceroos vs Argentina

Event: Qantas Socceroos vs Argentina
Location: Melbourne Cricket Ground
Date: September 11th 2007
Time: 7.30pm

This was my first live football match in Australia. Been to the MCG before for AFL matches but not soccer and definitely my first time seeing a star studded international side with the likes of Lionel Messi, Carlos Tevez, Javier Mascherano, Javier Saviola and Gabriel Heinze. The Aussie side had a few big names in their ranks with captain Lucas Neill leading EPL players such as Mark Schwarzer, Josip Skoko and Melbourne Victory's very own Archie Thompson.

70,171 strong crowd packed the MCG for this epic match

WyKeith and myself + cup of Cascade Premium Light

Craig came all the way from his comfy MCC seat to meet up. Close prediction mate.

May, Marcus and Chow Vi

The gang

As for the match, it was nothing really spectacular but nonetheless a close encounter between two teams who made it to the 2006 World Cup. Brilliant saves from both keepers coupled with a combined 3 shots to the crossbar/post by both teams. The highlight of the match has to be Messi's surging runs and a brilliant one touch passing play by Argentina that led to Messi being brought down in the box minus a given penalty. All in all, it was still an entertaining match and being there soaking up the atmosphere sure beats watching a match on the telly.