Image: Claudio Reyes/AFP/Getty Images
A massive crowd of happy Chileans stormed downtown Santiago's streets on Wednesday, after the national team beat Spain in the first round of the World Cup at Maracana Stadium in Rio, sending the defending champions packing.
The final score, 2-0 to Chile, sent a shock through the soccer world. Spain was widely expected to cruise through the group round and be a major presence in the knockout stage, which they won in 2010.
Back home, thousands of Chileans headed straight for Sanitago's Plaza Baquedano â€" still known to many as Plaza Italia â€" where they donned red, waved flags and sang songs in a massive street party.
Instagram photos taken from points around the plaza show a massive crowd around the center of the square (which is, in fact, more of an oval):
Naturally, many in the crowd wore red â€" the color of Chile's jersey, and one of three colors on the country's flag. Some climbed on the roofs of nearby structures.
Amateur video from people there on the scene shows the nature of the party â€" it's wild.
The teams had faced each other nearly a dozen times before, with Chile falling every time.
Before it gets to the next round, Chile has to determine whether it's exiting the group in first or second place â€" to be decided in its game against the Netherlands, which only just managed to beat Australia 3-2 on Wednesday. After Wednesday's performances, Chile heads into that game the slight favorites.
Chile's fans demonstrated the dark side of their passion in the moments before Wednesday's match when dozens of fans stormed a closed-off media area of the stadium, hoping to gain access to the game. Mashable was there to document the chaotic scene.
FIFA and Brazilian World Cup officials later released a joint statement, saying they "condemn these acts of violence."
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