Fans of Italian Soccer gathered to watch the Italy - New Zealand World Cup Match
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Italy 1-1 New Zealand World Cup Match
Soccer in San Diego: In the comfort of a spacious café with the clinking of coffee cups, soccer fans in San Diego gathered at
Caffé Calabria to watch live the
Italy vs
New Zealand World Cup soccer match, June 20, 2010. The match ended in an amazing draw. Another tied game in the World Cup. Congratulations to New Zealand for a surprising performance.
Italy is ranked 5th and New Zealand is ranked 78th in the world, but who could tell watching the first half of the World Cup match? Italy rallied and was more energized in the second half but after repeated attempts at goal, the game ended in a 1-1 draw with New Zealand coming very close to scoring a goal towards the end of the match. New Zealand was committed to doing their best and while Italy is somber, New Zealand celebrates.
A midst the buzz of the Vuvuzelas and Jabulani soccer ball, cappuccino was served with crisp croissants to a packed room of Italian jersey-wearing soccer fans. The 2010 FIFA World Cup has been full of surprises and New Zealand has shocked the world.
New Zealand surprised everyone by scoring the first goal in the 6th minute of the World Cup match world champions Italy but the match was even by halftime with an Italian goal in the 28th minute.
Italy: A penalty was called on Tommy Smith for pulling Danielle De Rossi's jersey inside the penalty box.
Referee Batres saw the infraction and called the penalty. Vincenzo Iaquinta scored a goal to tie the match and made the score 1-1.
At half time there was a pick up soccer game going on in the alley at Caffe Calabria!
New Zealand: Shane Smeltz had scored within minutes of the World Cup match starting, giving New Zealand an early lead.
Technology once again shows that the human referee made another controversial call. Replays televised show the New Zealand forward was offside when scoring, but the referee failed to see this and the goal was allowed.
The second half was only a bit more exciting than the first, with repeated attempts at goal and no change in score. According to FIFA, the Man of the Match is De Rossi with 3 shots on target and no goals.
Italy had possession of the ball more than 70 percent of the time but was unable to break through New Zealand's defense to score.
The crowd at Café Calabria is devoted to Italy and cheers and oohs at every potential goal. Surrounded by red, white and green flags, this is a wonderful place to watch the World Cup, regardless of the early hour required to rise.
Owner Arne Holt of Caffe Calabria says "the tournament has been a blast. This is the first time we have haver done anything like this and the crowd has been great. I just wish Italy would get it going. The best part of me is Italian, my soul and I have been there 20 times in the last 8 years. I was in Italy when the won the World Cup and I wanted to create a bridge from Italy to their front door." And Arne has.
3933 30th Street,
San Diego, CA 92104-3004
(619) 291-1759
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