<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>北京国安 – 上海申花</strong></span>

<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Beijing Guo An vs Shanghai Shen Hua</strong></span>

<img class="alignright size-full wp-image-3577" title="fans-small-150x150" src="http://ltl-chinois.fr/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/fans-small-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" />Friday night started out like any other by meeting up with fellow classmates and friends to grab and quick bite and celebrate the start of the weekend. But this Friday was not like any other I’ve experienced in Beijing because this Friday I was heading to my very first Chinese football match.

After a quick bite to eat and a couple of the usual Qing Daos we were ready to cheer on Guo An. However we were soon informed that beer was not allowed in the stadium so cans were quickly bought at  a near by convenience store and tucked away in places I hoped would not be searched. That said, with a cold beer smuggled away I knew it was going to be a good night.

[hr style=dotted-line margin_top=20 margin_bottom=20]

After living in the UK for 3 years I thought I had seen it all in terms of football fans: the cheers, the jerseys and general rowdiness. However, upon arriving early to the Workers Stadium I quickly realised that Chinese football is in a league of its own. As we walked towards the Stadium the group was quickly approached by local street sellers displaying their best Beijing Guo An merchandise. But if you couldn’t tell from the merchandise that you were in Guo An territory then the thousands of enthusiastic fans dressed head to toe in green quickly gave away the fan favourite.

After successfully passing the security checks and the looming glare of the riot police I soon realised that assigned seating was a myth in the Workers Stadium. Luckily we sent ahead fellow Guo An fans to secure enough seats in our general section. As the players warmed up I could feel the anticipation of the crowd rising and as soon as the game began the crowd erupted in cheers.

To say that Guo An fans are supportive of their team is an understatement, the stadium looked as thought there had been an explosion of green paint and somehow everyone seemed to know all the cheers. Whether they were cheering on their champions or using such colourful insults that even I couldn’t help but blushing. Clearly these fans were serious. Although the first half of the game was relatively uneventful in terms of the actual football, this didn’t stop the fans from yelling at everyone from the Shanghai players to the referee to their own players!

[hr style=dotted-line margin_top=20 margin_bottom=20]

<img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-3578" title="SAM_0044-Optimized-150x150" src="http://ltl-chinois.fr/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/SAM_0044-Optimized-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" />After an admittedly slow first half, I was then further taken by surprise when the ‘half time show’ took to the pitch. A few dozen elderly Chinese then ‘ran’ to pitch and displayed their best dance and kite skills.  At least there was no possibility of a Janet Jackson Superbowl scandal with the performers smartly dressed in matching track suits.

Finally the second half began and the game began to pick up momentum. Soon Guo An scored and the stadium (including myself) erupted into cheers as 50,000 fans jumped up and down and threw streamers and confetti into the air. Then soon after Guo An scored again which demanded a similar response from the excitable crowd. However, Shanghai responded with a goal of their own, given the colourful language earlier I was surprised by the silence of the crowd as the 30 Shanghai fans celebrated in their own protected section. When they then scored again I began to feel as anxious as my fellow Guo An fans.

However, Guo An’s talent pulled through in the end and scored a third and final goal with only minutes left in the game. The crowd of course erupted with cheers and as the final seconds of the match passed scarves were raised over heads and the streaming confetti thrown in the air as the players addressed the fans.

[hr style=dotted-line margin_top=20 margin_bottom=20]

In the end I not only experienced a good match but also learnt several new phrases that would impress any Chinese taxi driver and saw a less serious side to usual hustle and bustle of Beijing.

[This story was contributed by LTL student <strong>Anastasia Lau</strong> from <strong>Bermuda</strong>. (Homestay, Small Group Classes and Survival Kit Standard)]
<strong></strong>

If you want to join LIGAF to watch a match together, please email Andreas at <a href="mailto:andreas@livethelanguage.cn">andreas@livethelanguage.cn</a> and we will get a ticket for you.