Homeless World Cup

yeah, i was being cheeky- that wasn't the homeless team proper but Yellow Fever had the distinction of being the first victory for street football wgtn.

aqnyone else going down there- i'd love to hear what its like from a fans point of view- it looks right proper.  im going to try and convince WCC to bid for it.

Civic Square, Waitangi Park ahoy!

How'd you go at futsal the other night Salmon?

Definately a great event!

I haven't actually been to watch yet. Kinda bad, I know, but I live like an hour and a bit away from the city and I cbf.

half time in NZL's last 2nd round match- losing 6-0 to USA

fark! they scored 6 in the 2nd half to tie it up 6-6! go Marcel COE!!

FAIRPLAY WTF?!?

USA (7)* v New Zealand (6)

By Fiona Crawford

New Zealand came back from a six-goal deficit to force the USA to a penalty shootout in the final Section 2, Group E match played at Federation Square today. Then, in an heroic spirit of fair play, New Zealand conceded the penalty shootout to ensure that the third-placed USA could secure the win and progress to the next stage of the competition.

The USA stacked on six goals in the first half to achieve what appeared to be an unbeatable lead before New Zealand staged a second-half comeback to lock the full-time score at 6-6.

Marcel Coe scored New Zealand's first goal early in the second half and a steadied New Zealand team launched an assault. An uncontained USA backpass gave New Zealand their fifth goal before Wayne Rigg equalised with one minute to go.

Despite desperate efforts by both teams to secure the win, the score remained locked at full time.

Cornelius Cruz slotted home the USA's penalty shot and then, in an incredible spirit of fair play, Marcel Coe allowed the keeper to save his shot to give the USA the win and progress to the quarter finals.

Salmon072008-12-06 15:09:10

Qtr finals:
New Zealand (7) v (8) Sierra Leone

By Andrew Erlanger

Sierra Leone has progressed to the semi-finals of the Community Cup after holding off an inspired New Zealand comeback to record an 8-7 victory.

New Zealand striker John Love was star of the show, finding the back of the net seven times in a man-of-the match performance.

But it wasn't quite enough, as Sierra Leone held its nerve to come away with the memorable win.

The Africans started best in the quarter-final clash.

Precision passing and deadly shooting had opened up a 3-0 lead within the opening two minutes and all signs pointed to a blow-out victory.

But New Zealand had other ideas.

Refusing to have their spirit broken, the Kiwis marched straight back into contention as Love slotted two opportunistic goals in the space of just seconds.

A third Love goal right on the stroke of half time sent New Zealand into the break full of confidence, with the scoreboard reading 3-3.

Play restarted with even more Love heroics, a stunning left foot strike handing his side a slender one goal advantage in the early stages of the half.

But if Sierra Leone was feeling any pressure it certainly didn't show.

With calm forward movements and composed shooting the Africans manufacturing two of the next three goals to level the game at 5-5.

Sierra Leone continued to attack but inspired goalkeeping from New Zealand's Anthony Bradshaw ensured his side remained even.

The final frenetic minutes of play saw teams exchange goals as the crowd watched on in awe.

Holding their nerve under immense pressure, Sierra Leone finally managed to slot back-to-back goals and ensure the tightest of victories.

minor semi final- kiwis obv. very tired, now play off for low ranking:
New Zealand (0) v (8) Namibia

By Eleni Psaltis
 
New Zealand went down to Namibia 8-0 today after Namibia made short work of the Kiwi defence in the first half.

Namibia took charge early in the game scoring two consecutive goals in the second minute.  

Everitt Harry Johnson tried to revive his side but every shot hit the cross bar.

The rebounds allowed Namibia to counter attack with Geil Zenobia Gowases scoring a hat-trick for Namibia.

In the second half the Kiwis looked to close the 5-0 gap and still be in contention for the Community Cup trophy.

New Zealand's John Love took several attempts at goals but his hesitation gave the Namibian goalkeeper time to prepare for the shot.

Namibia stole the ball and slowly built up their attack down the centre. 

A dozen passes between Hans Kasibu and two fellow players down the wings forced New Zealand into defence.

But the Kiwis failed to intercept the triangle formation.

Namibia quickly found an opening and scored their sixth.

New Zealand began to tire � giving cheap balls away to the Namibians across the goal mouth.

Namibia's win strengthens their chance to take home the Community Cup trophy.

Nzl play off for placings with India at 12.55 (nzl time) today

Homeless World Cup Final 2008:

Afghanistan V. Russia
7.15 KO

last street whites game:

India (9) v (6) New ZealandBy Eleni Psaltis

New Zealand lost to India 9-6 after a tight goal-for goal match at the Yarra Pitch.

The match was a battle between 7th and 8th positions for the Community Cup.

The Indians took early position scoring three consecutive goals in the first half.

But The Kiwis never lost sight of goal with Everitt Harry Johnson netting it in out of no where down the right wing.

A substitution brought John Love into the match -scoring two more goals for the Kiwis.

Love has blossomed throughout the tournament - constantly raising the standard bar and taking more risks at goal.

Today he displayed terrific dribbling skills down the centre.

India finished the first half with a 5-3 lead.

Despite the 2 goal deficit the Kiwis continued to fight back - possibly their role model, Gail Denton was there in spirit.

Each player wore a black band around their arms in memory of Mr Denton - whose unflagging efforts at the Aukland City Mission touched the hearts of all the players.

An air-swing in defence allowed Sawan Nigam to seize the moment and score a sixth for India.

Love replied quickly - scoring a hat trick two minutes into the second half.

At 6-6 both sides fought relentlessly to gain possession.

But weak marking in New Zealand's defence forced goalkeeper Anthony Bradshaw to leave his area.

India delivered its penalty with conviction into the far right corner - once again taking the lead.

This revived the Indian side - netting two more in before full time.

Have Scotland won this again yet?

nope- Scotland ousted in qtrs i think
Afghans and russkis battling it right now!

Afghanistan beat Russia 5-4 in HWC final

NZL's best playe John Love was Afghani- must be something in that-

well done Afghanistan- a great tournament

[/QUOTE]

Afghanistan beat Russia 5-4 in HWC final

NZL's best playe John Love was Afghani- must be something in that-

well done Afghanistan- a great tournament
[/QUOTE] bun12008-12-07 21:23:51

HWC Final-Match report

Afghanistan (5) v (4) Russia

By Matthew Price

GOALKEEPER Abdul Orfan was the hero as Afghanistan repelled Russia to win its first ever Homeless World Cup in Melbourne.

Federation Square stadium was packed for the 2008 final, and outside, thousands of fans crammed the square, spilling over onto Flinders Street and Birrarung Marr.

They saw a final worthy of an outstanding competition.

Russia � beaten only by Afghanistan this tournament � scored first. Fan favourite Mikhail Derevyankin, who wears 007, intercepted to set up Aleksandr Khachiyan, who slid the ball beneath Orfan.

Afghanistan took a few minutes to settle, and were guilty of looking too hard for a free man when they could perhaps have taken earlier chances to shoot.

Khachiyan clattered into Sayed Qasem, drawing a free kick from the referee and hoots from the hundred-strong Afghan contingent in the stands.

A bouncing ball fell to striker Sayed Reza for 1-1, before brilliant play by Qasem and Reza in traffic found Mustafa free.

With Afghanistan 2-1 ahead, neither side shirked a challenge, with the referee allowing several crunching exchanges. Reza exacted payback for Khachiyan�s earlier tackle, clattering into Andrey Pletnev and forcing the Russian from the pitch.

Russian keeper Maxim Shesterkov showed lightning reflexes to keep his side one down, and Davtyan rewarded his efforts, firing a left-foot rocket for 2-2.

Reza poached his second goal on the stroke of half-time, forcing the ball through Shesterkov�s legs after a tussle with Khachiyan.

After the prescribed 60-second half-time interval in the Homeless World Cup, the game shifted up another gear in the second stanza.

Derevyankin returned from the bench and found room on the left � his shot looping into the goal after hitting Reza�s hand.

The Afghan striker made much more effective use of his left foot seconds later, restoring a 4-3 lead and completing a fine hat-trick.

Davtyan pounced to poke an opportunist�s equaliser, before Qasem made the score 5-4.

With more than three minutes on the clock, it seemed likely that the goal-fest would continue, but instead began an onslaught from the Russian side, matched by a series of unbelievable stops from Orfan.

Pletnev was put through, but Orfan forced him wide and he shot into the back boards.

Interplay between Khachiyan and Davtyan left Davtyan free, but again Orfan flung himself at the striker and the Russian could only hammer the crossbar with his drive.

Afghanistan should perhaps have sealed the result after Russia passed to a player leaving the pitch. Before the substitution could be effected the ball spilled into promising position, but the Afghans hesitated and the chance was lost. 

The final chance of the game fell to Derevyankin, but there was no miraculous escape for Russia�s international man of mystery as Orfan somehow beat his shot away.

Unbeaten throughout the tournament, the Afghans fell to the ground as the final whistle sounded, kneeling together on the halfway line before the celebrations truly began.

NZl finish 40/56, win best Newbies:

Hi NZ Fans

Just a quick update from the middle of the final party. Team NZ finished 40th after another hard fought match against India - the guys are really tired and their legs have gone. But they finished the tournament with heads held high, no cards for discipline and lots of new friends and fans! At the final award ceremony they were awarded the cup for Best Newcomers - the whole team totally stoked and now partying hard!

Arrive back 3pm NZ time in both Auckland and Wellington - following a 5.30am wake up call. Expect some tired but happy people!

See you soon

Katie

Caber tossing?