The opening match of the 2014 FIFA World Cup has come and gone and it was pretty much disaster-free.  Despite problems ranging from a barely-ready stadium to an extreme overreaction to street protests, Sao Paulo partied Thursday night into memory with a victory over Croatia.

Before the match, about 300 or so protesters gathered along a main highway leading to the Corinthians Stadium to press their standard concerns – that preparations for the World Cup cost too much and came at the expense of schools and healthcare.  It was a minor protest that probably wouldn’t have gotten much coverage in the overall scheme of things.

But the police responded indiscriminately, as if they were faced with thousands of hard-core anarchists.  The tear gas was so think, people could see down the street.  Others were hit with stun grenades.  Still others reported being hit with rubber bullets.  Journalists with the Associated Press and CNN (while on the air) were injured.  Soon enough, the Black Bloc protesters appeared, throwing rocks and projectiles at police.

Undaunted by the cop’s response in Sao Paulo, protesters hit the streets in Rio de Janeiro and other cities.

And then there was the opening ceremony.  Jennifer Lopez did perform with Pitbull, contrary to earlier reports.

And then there was the game.  Brazil defeated Croatia, 3-1.  Brazilians may have little love left for FIFA, but they love the team.  Dancing, cheering, vuvuzelas, drums, booze.