By Dylan Butler
Shea Stadium in Flushing may be home to the New York Mets, but last week it was the center of the soccer world for fans of Colombia and Slovakia, when the two nations played a rare international friendly match in Queens.
The Aug. 20 game, which ended in a scoreless draw, was the first international soccer game at Shea Stadium since two years ago, when Colombia played El Salvador.
The match, promoted by Gold Sports Star Entertainment, provided an opportunity for local soccer fans, especially the large Colombian community in Corona and Jackson Heights, to watch their country’s national team.
And Colombian immigrants made up almost all of the estimated 25,000 fans. In fact, with the exception of the normal trappings of a major league baseball stadium — the infield diamond, the outfield wall and dugouts — one could have mistaken Shea for a soccer stadium in Medellin or Cali, at least for one night.
The pubic address announcements were exclusively in Spanish as was much of the pregame and halftime music, which was just fine for the festive crowd, most of whom wore yellow Colombian jerseys and proudly waved the yellow, blue and red Colombian flags.
“It’s great to see the stars of our country being over here,” said Hugo Gutierrez of Flushing. “It’s a great chance being able to see them so close.”
Gutierrez’s friend and classmate at Francis Lewis High School, Jessica Patino, said she could hardly contain her excitement when she heard Colombia would be playing so close to her Flushing home.
“I heard about the game three weeks ago and I was like, ‘whaaaat?’ I had to get tickets right away,” said Patino, 16, who was born in Medellin and attended the match with Gutierrez and her 15-year-old sister, Maryoria Patino.
“It’s the bomb,” she said before the game. “We’re going to win!”
Salsa and meringue music dominated the parking lots two hours before the game, as some Colombian soccer fans kicked around soccer balls while others fired up the grill.
For many, like Vanessa Vanegas, it brought back memories of their homeland.
“It’s great because I feel like I’m back home,” said the 14-year-old from Levittown. “This is the first time ever seeing the national team play.”
Even though many of the regular starters on both teams didn’t make the trip for a variety of reasons, many soccer fans didn’t seem to care. The fact they could see an international soccer match so close to their homes was all that mattered.
“I’m very close around here. Sometimes I go to Giants Stadium, but Giants Stadium is too far away,” said Luis Castrillon from Hicksville. “You need a half-day to go over there. Anytime there can be a game around here it’s good. Many people live around here.”
There was even a small contingent of Slovak fans tailgating in the parking lot behind the picnic area, including three who brought a cello and violins to sing traditional Slovakian songs.
“It’s exciting to meet friends and have a nice time and forget about the score,” said Slovakian superfan Jan Sanislo from Bay Ridge.
But not many Colombian fans echoed Sanislo’s sentiments as many whistled and booed the final scoreless result.
Slovakia had two of the best chances of the game, but Robert Vittek’s shot from 14 yards out was punched away by Colombian starting keeper Fayrd Mondragon in the 54th minute and Rudolf Urban’s open shot in the box in stoppage time sailed over the net and over the right-center field wall.
Colombia’s best scoring chance came in the 70th minute when David Montoya played a through ball to Leider Preciado, but his tough angled shot from six yards out bounced off the right post.
Reach Associate Sports Editor Dylan Butler by e-mail at TimesLedger@aol.com or call 718-229-0300, Ext. 143.
