DAY 10: 7 August 2009

Hello Iowa!

After a free day of culture and leisure, the boys were ready to take on another professional Brazilian club, this time Atletico Futbol Club.  The Atletico Complex sits high on the hill and features a large billboard proclaiming GALO, the team chant (rooster in English).  Having gained much experience and knowledge from the match against Cruzeiro, the team enlisted a much more conservative style of play.  We defended primarily in the defensive half of the field and relied on the counter attack and dead ball set pieces to supply goal scoring opportunities.

The tactics were effective, frustrating the Atletico attack and giving our boys more confidence as the game moved forward.  After Atetico took a 2-0 halftime lead, the Iowa team came back with two goals off set pieces.  The game proceeded with our boys on the offensive until the center referee “missed” an offside call, leading to a late and deciding goal for Atletico.  While the boys universally questioned the dodgy non-call, they came away with renewed confidence in their ability to play against very good international competition.

The day ended with a trip to one of Belo Horizonte’s nicest shopping malls, the Diamond Mall.  The boys visited the Atletico store across the street from the mall and stocked up on various Atletico garb.  Then, the team was free to shop and eat in the mall. We met back at the designated spot and returned home with renewed spirit for the last leg of our tour.

– Submitted by Brian Bergstrom