with the exception of cup finals, the last time i recall seeing fireworks at a football match was when arsenal played wigan five years ago. and that was because it was the final day of the season and we were saying goodbye to our old stadium. these fireworks were set off before cerro porteno played santos in a copa libertadores group match in asuncion. a group match. the quality on the pitch was superior to that of river and boca, the only other south american match i've seen, particularly santos who look like they would be tough to beat. the atmosphere was as i've now come to expect in this continent - whilst never reaching the heights of the superclasico (what could?) - there was still a passion and relentless energy in the support that you'll never see in england.

this is a combination of two photos that i took - here's (one of) the original(s)

with the exception of cup finals, the last time i recall seeing fireworks at a football match was when arsenal played wigan five years ago. and that was because it was the final day of the season and we were saying goodbye to our old stadium. these fireworks were set off before cerro porteno played santos in a copa libertadores group match in asuncion. a group match. the quality on the pitch was superior to that of river and boca, the only other south american match i've seen, particularly santos who look like they would be tough to beat. the atmosphere was as i've now come to expect in this continent - whilst never reaching the heights of the superclasico (what could?) - there was still a passion and relentless energy in the support that you'll never see in england.

this is a combination of two photos that i took - here's (one of) the original(s)