WP, Mineola catch World Cup fever

Richard Tedesco

It was a day of divided loyalties for fans in restaurant bars in Williston Park and Mineola as the U.S. national team played Germany and Portugal played Ghana in the World Cup tournament last Thursday.

The fans were well aware that the results of both matches meant the difference between the teams from the U.S., Portugal and Ghana advancing to the so-called knockout stage of the tournament  – or not – under a complex formula involving goal differential as well as wins and losses. 

The U.S. would advance on Thursday to become one of 16 nations to make the finals despite losing 1-0 to Germany with Portugal falling to make the final 16 despite a 2-1 victory over Ghana in a bracket that was known as the “group of death” because of the strength of all the teams. The United States was eliminated from the tournament on Tuesday in a 2-1 loss to Belgium.

In Williston Park’s “Memories” pub, Williston Park resident Bill Vesely’s rooting interest was evident with the U.S. team jersey he wore last Thursday.

“It’s a patriotic thing. That’s why I like it,” Vesely said.

He said he played CYO soccer when he attended St. Aidan School years ago, but followed the U.S. team “just for the World Cup.”

Like others at Memories watching the early afternoon matches, he said he was taking time off from work to catch the action on the flat screen TVs above the bar. 

Brian Hasher, said he has been following the U.S. team for the past several years and his interest in the team’s fortunes was piqued by its prospects in advancing in the World Cup.

“I’m excited. It’s interesting to be here and watching the U.S.A.,” said Hasher, who said he worked in the neighborhood and played soccer in youth leagues growing up.

Two friends of Hasher’s at the bar, Karina Gendler and Ashka Patwa, said they weren’t soccer fans, but were enjoying the match. They said they watched the U.S.-Portugal match together on the previous Sunday.

“It’s extremely exciting,” Patwa said. “It’s the first time we’re really getting into soccer.”

At the other end of the bar, Xavier Bonilla was taking in a break from his day as a salesman for Manhattan Beer to watch the U.S.-Germany match. Bonilla said he roots for Barcelona in European club play, and the U.S. and Brazil in international competition.

“It’s amazing,” he said of the U.S. performance in the tournament. “What they’re doing right now, they’re everybody wrong. Even if they go home today I’m happy.”

The spirit of the dozen or so fans fixed on the flat screen-TV above the bar seemed to deflate as the German scored a goal to break a scoreless tie late in the second half of the match.

Memories barkeeper Joe Langhran said the two matches had drawn the most business the bar had seen around the tournament.

“This has been the best so far, because it’s Portugal and the U.S.,” he said.

In the dining room, a table full of eight men – most watching too intently to comment – were rooting for either the U.S. or Portugal, or both.

“I’d like to see one of them go through,” Mineola resident Jorge Nunes said.

At the bar in Madeira’s Portuguese restaurant, Mineola Fire Department member Joe Fernandes said he was pulling for both the U.S. and Portugal to advance to the next round of the tournament. 

But he acknowledged Portugal’s chances were “slim” and was hoping they would just play a good game. He was glad to see the U.S. and Portugal play to a 2-2 draw when they met several days earlier. And now he was hoping for much more from the U.S. team.

“I want the U.S. to reach a point where they area contending team. I want soccer to be a big sport here. I’m glad to see the U.S. become a force in soccer,” Fernandes said.

He said his affection for the sport was established when he played soccer in high school while growing up in Queens.

New Hyde Park resident Sean O’Connor said he only follows the U.S. during the World Cup tournaments. He said he was rooting for both teams since his wife’s family is Portuguese, but he was clearly excited about the U.S. team’s performance.

“This is the furthest they’ve gone. Hopefully they advance,” O’Connor said.

O’Connor’s brother-in-law, Paul Barroca, said he is a member of multiple Mineola Portuguese organizations and was rooting for both teams.

“Whoever goes through, I’ll be happy,” he said.

Several men in the packed bar wearing Portugal jerseys said they couldn’t talk about the game while their team was playing.

The crowd erupted into loud cheers and applause as Portugal’s star striker Christiano Ronaldo struck the ball into the net to give his team a 2-1 lead late in the second half.

“I’ll be happy if Portugal scores like five goals,” Mineola Leo Moreira, sitting in the crowded courtyard of the restaurant, said.

The fans of Portugal seemed to be in the majority in the courtyard and their voices rose as one – and fell silent just as quickly – as a Portugal shot on goal went awry.

Madeira’s owner, Vascal Desousa, said business had been brisk during the tournament. He said the Thursday crowd was not as big as the one for the U.S.-Portugal game, but he was still pleased.

“Who wouldn’t be happy?” he asked.

Portugal was eliminated from the tournament last Thursday, despite a 2-1 victory over Ghana. On Tuesday, the U.S. team was eliminated in an extra time 2-1 loss to Belgium. 

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