Yesterday, in the first professional soccer game at Arizona Stadium in over 18 years, fans got to experience the good, the bad, and even the ugly aspects of international soccer.

A colorful atmosphere, top-flight players, some bizarre officiating and a near-brawl - just another day in pro soccer.

FC Linz of Austria and Atlante of Mexico battled to a 1-1 tie in an exhibition match in front of about 7,000 fans at the stadium. The match capped off a day of soccer activities which included a youth clinic and a semi-professional game.

But for futbol afficionados, the score of the game was less important than the opportunity to experience world-class soccer and the atmosphere it creates.

"I think, overall, that this is the most significant soccer event in this community in 20 years," said organizer Dave Sitton of the Enterprise Group.

Sitton said that despite a low turnout (organizers had expected as many as 20,000), he was satisfied with the day.

"The stadium acquitted itself well, the entertainment acquitted itself well, the (semi-pro) game went well. I think it was pretty good day, all in all," he said.

Back to the good, bad, and ugly.

The good? There was plenty of it to go around, especially on the field. Linz, your typical European team with their size and fitness, contrasted with the smaller, quicker, more skillful Mexican squad.

The goals were superb. Barely four minutes in, Linz' Daniel Madlener sent a 30-yard pass down the left sideline to Ronald Brunmayr, whose first-time shot skimmed to the far post past a diving Campos.

Atlante fought back, however, and delighted the largely Hispanic crowd by equalling the score on a 25-yard line drive from left midfielder Francisco Cruz.

And fans got to see some of the world's best players - Mexicans Hugo Sanchez and Campos, foremost - play in person.

The crowd, albeit small, was soccer-savvy and displayed all the characteristics of a great audience: waving flags, booming cheers (or derisive whistles) when appropriate, knowledge of the game and its subtleties. They even started the wave.

Atlante coach Javier Aguirre said he hopes the match can help boost the sport's second-class status in America, especially since the new pro league (Major League Soccer) kicks off in April under heavy pressure to make soccer a viable spectator sport.

"I hope that this helps. You've just seen the players of Mexico. Hugo Sanchez and Jorge Campos are the most popular players in Mexico, so this doesn't happen very often. I hope it's good, not only for the Hispanic community, but for everyone, " he said.

Aguirre said "Now, that the American people are going to have this new league it is very important for the people to see this kind of soccer."

Stephanie Imig, a senior on the UA women's soccer team, agreed that soccer fans - especially kids - need the opportunity to watch the pros play.

"It gives them someone to look up to," she said. "Basketball players have all these pros to look up to all the time, role models. This brings that right to their doorstep," she said.

The bad was courtesy of the center referee, who displayed an eagerness for showing players the yellow card that was only matched by the crowd's intensity in booing his decision.

With no time left in the first half, Madlener - who had already picked up a yellow card for a push from behind-€ refused to give Atlante the full ten-yard buffer required on all free kicks. The referee viewed this as dissent and sent Madlener packing, leaving Linz to play with 10 men for the second half.

The ugliness started late in the game, when Linz sweeper Diddier Frennae was also shown the red card and some shoving and pushing (and lots of yelling) ensued.