CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – When Folarin Balogun exploited a one on one opportunity slid a shot into the goal 45 minutes into Wednesday night’s United States versus Bosnia-Herzegovina, fans in the stands in Santa Clara, Calif. erupted. Meanwhile, 2,800 miles across the country, on the Downtown Mall, on the Corner and at bars and restaurants all around Charlottesville and Albemarle County, local U.S. soccer fans had a similar reaction.
All around the area, the knockout round matchup turned what would normally be a sleepy Wednesday evening into a busy night for local businesses, as fans turned out to watch the U.S. advance to the Round of 16 with a 2-0 win.
“The World Cup’s been great for us,” said Hunter Hill, manager at Timberwood Tap House at 5th Street Station. “It’s a good time of the year for us.”
Hill said that, without the U.S. advancing in the World Cup, that might not be the case.
“This is the time of the season for most restaurants, in the summertime, a lot of students are gone, they’re back home, so around town, sometimes it an be a little on the slower side,” Hill said. “Business, for us, has definitely picked up.”
And while traditional international powers like Argentina, Brazil and England also can bring out viewers when they’re playing, nothing matches the draw of Team USA.
The Fox Den, a soccer-focused sports bar, had no available tables by 6 p.m., two hours before the start of the U.S. match. The Paramount Theater on the Downtown Mall, showed the game on a big screen to a packed house. Fans at the Virginian, Kardinal Hall and other spots broke out in cheers and chants went the score went final.
Balogun’s goal gave the U.S. a 1-0 lead at the half. Malik Tillman sealed the win with 82 minutes to play, scoring on a free kick just 18 minutes after Balogun was sent off with a red card.
The Americans, who won a knockout round game for the first time since 2002, will face Belgium in the Round of 16 at 8 p.m. Monday in Seattle. And local businesses can expect another big turnout.
