World Cup Day 1: Mexican reality check

i-f02ae768a4105b53d83a8e1571f89855-plazamexico0001.jpgStarted our Los Angeles World Cup experience by heading all of 10 miles from our Torrance home to “the emergent city of Lynwood” to watch the South Africa-Mexico opener.

Chastened to say we had never been to the community before despite it being so close; the mall was your sanitized Mexican-American suburban experience, mom and pop stores interspersed with major chains.

Several thousand were in attendance for the game, a crowd that grew increasingly quiet after Mexico fell behind.

A surprising South African team kept Mexico off balance and the crowd nervous until the equalizer; a far from convincing performance from a fortunate Mexico and a beautifully worked opening goal from South Africa.

But both sides looked far better than the opposing teams in the largely impotent 0-0 Uruguay-France encounter that followed.

We saw that game at Hennessey’s Tavern in Hermosa Beach just steps from the sand across The Strand. Nice mellow low-key SoCal beach vibe; too bad the game was a little too laid back as well.

A walk down the pier was an excellent way to end the first day of the World Cup in Southern California.

A broader view.

Facebook Twitter Plusone Digg Reddit Stumbleupon Tumblr Email
This entry was posted in Mexican Futbol by Nick Green. Bookmark the permalink.

About Nick Green

South Bay-based Los Angeles News Group soccer columnist and blogger Nick Green writes at the 100 Percent Soccer blog at www.insidesocal.com/soccer and craft beer at the Beer Goggles blog at www.insidesocal.com/beer. Cheers!