8 Goal Thriller at the Maracana

There were under 20,000 people in a stadium that holds 95,000, neither side meant anything to me, the atmosphere was patchy but what a match!

Fluminense were on top for the whole game but somehow managed to concede 2 in the last 10 minutes to throw away a 4-2 lead and draw 4-4 with Vasco de Gama. The standard was high and passing slick with the game totally spread.

Neither back 4 pushed up when they broke up an attack so this meant the whole pitch was available to pass or run with the ball instead of everyone crammed in the middle third like the Premiership. The other thing I noticed was standard of the final pass, it seemed like there were 6 or 7 people with the ability to thread through balls like Kaka of Milan.

We were with everyone from our truck and of the 8 goals scored the average seen by everyone but me seemed to be 5. I even heard Bec discussing the colour of the sky at one point while I marvelled at the off the ball movement and how Flu´s number 10 dictated the tempo of the game. Bec took the pic of the woman in her bra to show how people watch footie in Brazil; with lots of skin showing while ordering a beer from a man with an ice box.

We even had a dodgy last minute penalty equaliser and a substitue appearance from Romario, yes THE Romario. I loved watching him, he is the only person I´ve ever seen on a football pitch who runs less than me!!