Looking to watch arguably one of the biggest games of the Premier League season, (I mean even the NY Times had a feature on the run-up to the game,) I ventured into the Celtic Pub, an establishment tucked away in a cul-de-sac off Sarajevo’s main pedestrian drag.
In a place loaded with framed Celtic jerseys, team photos, and a wall with Celtic legend/Swedish demigod, Henrik Larsson, I would never have thought to pick a soundtrack consisting of extended James Brown tracks, the Commodores' "She's a Brick House," Wild Cherry's "Play That Funky Music," and other 70s R & B classics, but hey, who am I?
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| Henrik Larsson played for Celtic from 1997-2004, scoring 243 goals. He also played for Feyenoord, Barcelona, and briefly, Manchester United. |
The kilt-clad bartender/waiter had opted for the Manchester derby on the big screen inside, while the Glasgow derby, between Celtic and recently recovered from financial disgrace, Rangers, played on a smaller screen outside. So inside I went.
A thick fog created by chain-smoking patrons clung to the
low ceiling. But I endured, sipping a few pints while my United succumbed to
City. The majority of the dozen-or-so patrons cheered for City, probably due to Bosnian striker Edin Dzeko's former affiliation with the club.
United looked as if they were playing short-handed for much of the game, always waiting for the ball to come to them, while City players demonstrated superior anticipation. Debruyne’s sprinting goal in the 15th minute was a good example, catching a less than flying Dutchman, Daley Blind, ball watching.
United looked as if they were playing short-handed for much of the game, always waiting for the ball to come to them, while City players demonstrated superior anticipation. Debruyne’s sprinting goal in the 15th minute was a good example, catching a less than flying Dutchman, Daley Blind, ball watching.
After a second City goal in the 36th minute,
netted by the suspended Aguero understudy, Ihenacho, the mighty Zlatan scored for
United in the 42nd minute, volleying a rebound into the back of the
net. In first half injury time United should have taken the lead when City’s
keeper Claudio Bravo was outmaneuvered by a United breakaway, but the final
shot only trickled toward the open net, allowing a defender to clear the
danger.
The second half provided no joy, despite a short-lived
uptick in energy for United with the entrance of Andres Herrera and speedy wunderkind Rashford who replaced the
surprisingly ineffective wingers, Lindgaard and Mkitaryan, after the break.
Chic’s “Freak Out” capped off the afternoon’s funk medley,
as I left, determined to return at a later date, to a seat a little closer to
the well-ventilated patio.
...I nearly forgot to mention that the menu lists mead, and obscenely large beers, I remember seeing 3 liter beers called "giraffes". So I just had to investigate further. Nermin, one of the bartenders, gave me a tour of the three floor bar, and brought a "giraffe"' so I could see it. He says the place is much more packed during the winter months, and of course, the line to get in goes down the street for their green beer on St. Patrick's Day.
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| A "giraffe" order of beer is sure to attract a lot of friends. |
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