By Stephanie Miceli - July 12, 2010
Passions ran high in Boston during the final World Cup
match yesterday. A crowd of 2,000 teeming with red and orange gathered to watch
the event in the House of Blues.
Less than an hour after Andrés Iniesta's winning extra-time
goal, fans poured into Landsowne Street, shouting celebratory chants of "España! España!'' and the ubiquitous
soccer anthem, "ole, ole, ole, ole!"
Their chants were accompanied by car-
beeping salutes and
horn melodies at Christian Science Plaza, where fans flung themselves into the plaza's
reflecting pool.
Perhaps they were observing a newly-created tradition
upon a not-so-traditional victory.
After neither team could score in regular game time, Iniesta
scored in the 26th minute of extra-time, marking Spain's 1-0 victory over the Netherlands.
This makes Spain the first team to win the world championship after losing the opening
game of the month-long tournament.
The viewing party was hosted by World Cup Boston, an
organization structured to boost participation in soccer amongst Boston youth
as a means to foster cultural unity.
Supported by Mayor Thomas Menino and local institutions
such as the Boston Children's Museum, The Boston Public Library, and soccer
league New England Revolution, World Cup Boston hopes to see the city host a
world cup in either 2018 or 2012.
