At last! A football match. A real live football match.

The Ecuadorian national league has not quite begun but the pre-qualification stage of the Copa Libertadores is under way. As luck would have it, El Nacional, a Quito team, were playing at home against a team from Paraguay, with the slightly confusing name of 'Nacional'. I went down to the olympic stadium with my $5 ticket in hand. Sadly Rachel was stuck back at the hotel working. 

The stadium seats 40,000 but there were more like 7000 fans dotted around for this game. El Nacional of Quito were my chosen team. They were stong favourites coming into the match. Also, the news was that the Paraguay team had only flown in 3 hours before the match which is not ideal preparation for a ground at 3000 metres above sea level (the main reason Ecuador have qualified for the last two World Cups).  I was 'merched-up' ready for the match, proudly sporting my $5 knock-off shirt (apologies to Lotto and El Nacional) and holding a large cup of lager.

The boys started well, stroking the ball around, but as the game progressed they were showing a lack of urgency. Just before half time there was a clear warning when the opposition broke through two on one against the keeper only to embarassingly fumble a pass for a certain goal.  The lesson was not heeded. Ten minutes into the second half, my team was 2-0 down to two, admittedly spectacular, strikes.  The team fell to pieces. Where was the backbone? It was just like watching York.  The home fans kept banging the drum and waving flags but to no avail. Two more goals soon followed thanks to some shoddy defensive work. The final whistle was fast approaching.  

Two minutes was still time enough for one final humiliation as the Paraguayan team smashed in a final goal from an improbable angle.  So 5-0 it ended. Oh dear. 

It has since been reported in the local press that most of the board has been sacked.  A miserable start to the 2009 season for my boys, El Nacional of Quito.