Gooooooooal!

Yesterday we went to a soccer match at Bishkek’s Spartak stadium, Kyrgyzstan versus Jordan.*  I know you’re probably sick of the coverage of this game, but read on anyway.  Below is a list of what I learned.

*It was a qualifying game for the 2010 World Cup.  They start early, no?  I feel like there are lessons there on not procrastinating.

1. If you can’t pony up the 50 som for an entrance ticket, an alternative is scrambling up a tree behind the stadium and hoisting yourself over the wall.  We watched as the police officer who stands guard there not 15 feet away kept a very deliberate blind back turned toward this.  I am not sure how much it costs to maintain his blindness.  Our guess was 10 som a head.
2. Although they are all great sports, those Jordanians were no match for the Kyrgyz, who are accustomed to the brutality of buzkashi and muscling to the head of queues.  The medics came on the field with a stretcher no less than 8 times throughout the game, and many a Jordanian were left rolling around the field clutching their face, leg, arm, etc after a particularly forceful Kyrgyz interception.
3. I kept waiting for a chance to use the one sports expression I learned when my high school Russian club went to the Russian-US hockey game:  Судья на мыло!  The referee’s on soap! When I heard people yell much more colorful things about the referee at this match though, I thought maybe I’d been sold a very G rated sports slur all those years ago.  But then I heard a little boy holler it himself!  Baby steps with the ref dissing.
4. People were so loving the wave!  As was I!  Stand with me and say WHOOOO!   Even the crowd of like, 30 Jordanians got into it.
5. The most important thing I learned is that it’s better to sit toward the top of the stands, since you’re less likely to be downbleacher of the hail of empty bottles that people chuck when jubilating.
6. The Kyrgyz won, 2-0.   Наша команда was sponsored by наше пиво.   Nashurally.
7. Next time in Amman. 

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