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There was a big soccer game in Colombia yesterday.A team called Junior out of Barranquilla beat theteam called national out of Medellin.I guess it was for the national championship or aversion of it.Junior wasa big underdog and everybody was rooting for them in Cali it seemed.I just happened to be at a girlfriends mothers house and her brother,uncles and cousins were watching it.They were thrilled with the outcome.
I thought I understood soccer a little,but the team national was winning 6 to 2 and since its such a low scoring game that seemed insurmountable to me.BUT,they went in to a Pena,penalty phase.First everybody laid around on the grass for about 15 miniutes,with trainers working out cramps,ect.Then they went in to this 5 phase kick off,where one player at a time would get a shot at the goal from about 50 ft and the goalie would try to block it.National scored  4 for 5 and Junior scoered 5 for 5 and won the whole thing.It seems it didn't even matter they were behibd 4 points going in to that round.
I didn't want to show my ignorance and probably wouldn't have understood the explanation anyway.Or maybe it was the strait whisky
they were giving me and I dreamed the whole thing.It was like wow,I thought I understood how the scored this game at  least.
AND out of much experience with crazy soccer fans basically destroying the town to celebrate there were some unusual rules put in place by the police.I found out when we went to a brewery type restaurant a little before 10 PM.Apparently the police  rules,explained to me too late to compensate for,was they do not sell drinks at all unless you are having food also,and then you only get one.This was explained by a waiter after a ditzy little waitress did not bother to explain.I got one normal sized beer.Had I known the rule I could have ordered a liter sized one.And they pick that up at 10 PM so They would have taken it away from me anyway.It didn't stop the partiers,who were prepared carrying their own booze,basically arguardente around.And I saw more Chivas than ever before in Cali,Buses with partiers aboard,all with plenty of booze they brought themselves.
My girlfriend is a nurse  and said yes,there are lots more people showing up  in the hospitals and emergency rooms after these  big games.
Whatever.Just another lesson it how they do it down here.Hard to immagine hey could get so excited over someone kicking a ball in to a net.Seems they just take every opportunity to celebrate.
OH,one other thing,any of you driving.I am told around Christmas there are other rules in effect.IF you are driving and the police  just SMELL alcohol on your breath,it could be half a beer,you get a ticket plus they tow your car.Its cost you about 400,000 pesos total.But they do not drag your butt to jail ala the US,where at least they have to show minimal intoxication.
And they call Los Angeles La La land.

Pete

... in response to Police reaction to crazy soccer fans, posted by Pete E on Dec 20, 2004

I don't understand why there would have been a shoot out unless the match were tied.

I was in Cali in August 2001 when Cali beat Mexico 1-0 for the Copa de America.  They scored on a fluke shot which deflected off the head of one of their players on an errant shot by another Colombian player.  The paper the next day had diagrams and explanations of the play which was such a fluke it couldn't have possibly been planned.  It was the type of play that a team attempts to execute on a corner kick.  On a corner kick however that is the only play they have.

That was the first time ever watched a soccer match for all 90+ minutes.  Cali went crazy but I don't think anyone was arrested.

... in response to Police reaction to crazy soccer fans, posted by Pete E on Dec 20, 2004

Yes I got to hear all about it last night... My wife said everyone in Barranquilla
were crazy. I could hear the nieghbors playing music so I would guess the police
would be pretty busy last night...