RYAN HAGEN & MELISSA GIAIMO
Oversease Columnists
Calcio is the Italian word for “soccer,” but a better description might be Roman death match.
“Take a hockey match and pit it against a lion tamer,” said male Resident Adviser Omid Heidari.
Garbed in purple jerseys, Pepperdine students braved the rabble to support Fiorentina against the invading forces of Roma and quickly learned that rivalries are not only played out on the field but also in the stands. Pouring rain on the open stadium, even the heavens seemed poised for this climactic match as Florence sought to seize Rome’s title as first in the league.
Not letting the rain dampen their new-found pride, students overcame the weather with advanced language skills honed by two weeks of intensive Italian classes.
“Come se dice ‘wet’?” a student asked the man sitting beside her.
And with quintessential Italian affability, he replied by offering his raincoat.
But not all the fans were so inviting.
The snarling Romani demonstrated how the visitor section’s earned its more appropriate title, “the lion’s den.” Fans took their loyalty seriously. Inspired by the innovative spirit of Renaissance greats, spectators are reputed to hurl everything from bottles to babies at the opposition, despite the 20-foot glass barrier separating the visitor’s section.
Seated in the section closest to the Romans, students joined Florentines in heckling the opposition. Although the words to most chants were unfamiliar, some forms of communication need no translation.
“I felt like I was part of Florence as we flipped them off and did other Italian signs that I didn’t know,” said sophomore David Cotton.
Although the Romans scored early in the game, the Florentines did not lose hope in their team. Elation filled the stands when Fiorentina tied the match by scoring on a corner kick. However, their victory was short-lived, as the Romans soon scored again.
Although Fiorentina out-played Roma with nearly twice as many shots-on-goal, the Romans took greater advantage of their time of possession. And after an aggravating series of missed opportunities, Florence was scrambling, down 2-1, in the last quarter of the game. Seizing a rare break, Fiorentina forward Adrian Mutu rushed down the field, only to be fouled in the goalie box – a fatal error that would cost Rome its win, as the penalty kick sailed past the goalie.
Students were propelled forward as fans jumped in glory, and charged the Roman section of the stadium.
After the goal, play turned foul as both teams tried to secure this important win. When Fiorentina was forced to play one man down after losing a player to a red-card, only the team’s spectacular goalie prevented the Romans from further advance.
Although the game ended 2-2, the Florentines were satisfied to tie Roma, a team few expected to defeat. But from the Roman section, screams of primal rage reverberated around the stadium at what they considered a stolen victory.
Although full assimilation in a culture may require more than sporting event survival skills, students left the match more connected to the country they now call home.
10-04-2007