Soccer Fans Cheer on the Pier

Pier Plaza has been rumbling with roars of "USA! USA!" this week, and will continue until the final World Cup matchup July 11.

Hermosa Beach and the Los Angeles Galaxy hosted a community-wide viewing party on Saturday to kick off the tournament. More than 100 local soccer fans huddled in front of a 20-foot outdoor television on Pier Plaza to watch the  United States play England, which ended in a 1-1 tie.

Mike Conrey, a Hermosa Beach resident who supported Team USA at the viewing party, said he hopes to watch more of the World Cup downtown.

"To be around a lot of fans and people just cheering on the U.S. and all that, it's a very exciting thing to do," he said. "I live pretty close [to the pier], so it's kind of an easy choice."

Watermans, Sharkeez and Patrick Molloys are attracting Hermosa residents to watch the games on the pier. Sharkeez, which has more than 50 high-definition plasma TVs, has been airing the World Cup live and Watermans has been offering 10 percent discounts to large groups wearing Team USA colors.

Soccer fans at Saturday's viewing party not only dressed in red, white and blue garb, but also wore L.A. Galaxy T-shirts and hats in support of the two Galaxy players on Team USA, Edson Buddle and Landon Donovan.

Viewer David Gudino was diappointed a bit in  Donovan's performance.

"He should have showed up a little bit more," Gudino said. "He's the main guy of the team, so what can I say?"

But as the World Cup matchups continue, Hermosa Beach soccer fans plan to keep cheering on Team USA at Pier Plaza, said Rosa Sarmiento, who attended the viewing party.

"I think the U.S. is ready to show that they can take big guys," she said.

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