Footballing feast as five finals decided in Seoul
|Ireland beat USA 5-2 in the Big Issue Korea Cup (tier 2) to take the title. Image: Anita Milas
On the final day of the Seoul 2024 Homeless World Cup seven trophies were up for grabs in the Korean capital, Craig Williams was in the stands following the action from the first five clashes.
Germany saw off a spirited Japan side to win the Hero Generation Seoul Cup (Tier 5) in the first final of the last day of competition at the 2024 Seoul Homeless World Cup.
Germany dominated the first half and deservedly went in at the break with a 6-0 lead. As Germany sprayed the ball around confidently, Japan found it difficult to get a foothold into the match and engineer any clear cut chances on goal.
A solid defensive performance from Germany meant that their goalkeeper was only called into action on one occasion, producing an impressive diving save to send a Japan shot on target over the bar.
In the second half, Japan finally kicked into gear and brought the game to their opponents, impressing in attack and on the counter as they scored five goals of their own. In the end, despite the chance that a dream comeback may be on the cards for Japan, Germany produced some impressive periods of play of their own to run out eventual winners by 8 goals to 5.
After the match, Germany coach Johan Grasshoff said: “ ‘The last Homeless World Cup, we were in the final for the last place as well, so this is the first time we’ve won it since 2017. It means a lot to the players.”
Germany manager Jiří Pacourek added: “‘It was nice, because the [Japanese] coach thanked us and said it was the best game from the whole tournament. We scored goals too. I think it was very fair play. And now we’ll go and enjoy it.”
|Image: Angelica Ibarra Rodriguez
Meanwhile, Zimbabwe beat Denmark in dramatic fashion via a penalty shoot-out to run out winners in the final of the D’Live Cup (Tier 4).
The Zimbabwe goalkeeper was the hero, producing a fantastic save down to her right-hand side to deny a Denmark player from the spot and give the African side the victory, cueing joyous scenes.
The match itself was every bit a Homeless World Cup classic, with Zimbabwe finding the net with the very last kick of the match to draw level (6-6) and take the game to penalties.
Norway edged out Zimbabwe in an entertaining first half that saw both goalkeepers produce a number of impressive saves to deny their opponents and limit the scoreline to 2-1 in favour of Denmark.
The second half saw some great displays of attacking football as both teams pepper each opposition goal with shots on target, with Denmark moving into a 6-4 lead thanks in part to the actions of their goalkeeper, who denied Zimbabwe on a number of occasions.
With a Denmark victory looking likely, Zimbabwe found the net twice in a matter of moments off the back of some great defensive work to take the game to penalties and earn the victory.
"I would need a thousand words to express how thrilled I am”
After the victory, Zimbabwe goalkeeper Linett Moyo said: "This feels amazing! We've been so patiently waiting for this precious moment and I would need a thousand words to express how thrilled I am. I'm so glad to be part of this winning team."
"It was a tough match then when they went into the lead we had to fight so hard to come back. When we equalised in the last seconds it was an amazing moment."
On the penalties, she added: "The only thing I tell myself is to look straight at the ball, don't look at any faces because they will distract me - just focus on the ball and where it's going to go."
In the Hanyang University Cup (Tier 3), India secured a deserved 6-4 victory over Bulgaria in a breathless, pulsating tie which served up a proper footballing feast for fans.
India’s superiority in possession and some smart finishing saw them go into half-time 3-2 up, with Bulgaria left rueing their luck in front of goal as the India goalkeeper produced a string of sterling saves to deny them the chance to go in ahead.
After a tight start to the second-half, some excellent attacking play and finishing saw India race into a 6-2 lead. Two more Bulgaria goals reduced the deficit, but India were able to limit any further Bulgaria attacks and see out the win amid joyous scenes.
Seconds after the match, India player Nanda Kumar said: “I feel incredible, absolutely incredible!
“From the day we travelled, I always had the belief we could do it. And now we did: we got the trophy!"
And when asked how he experienced the incredible support from the Indian women's team in the stands, he added: "They have been amazing. On the pitch, I did not even hear it as I was so focused on the game. But we knew we were there and the all came running onto the pitch afterwards. We all celebrate together, we are all team India!"
|Ireland beat USA 5-2 to win the Big Issue Korea Cup Image: Anita Milas
Next up, an impressive Ireland performance saw them defeat USA by 5 goals to 2 in the Big Issue Korea Cup (Tier 2).
The match was a physical affair populated by some excellent tackling and defending from both sides in front of a boisterous crowd cheering on their teams.
The star player of the match was undoubtedly the USA goalkeeper, who pulled off a string of fantastic saves to deny Ireland from taking advantage of long spells where they dominated in possession.
Having taken the lead almost from the first whistle, a flying start saw them race into a 3-0 lead, with the pick of the bunch being the third, which saw an Ireland player with time and space in the opposition half to swivel and let rip a sweet strike past the USA goalkeeper.
A one-sided first half saw USA limited to just one clear-cut chance which called on the US goalkeeper to produce a strong save with her feet.
The second-half started like the first, with USA scoring seconds after the restart. However, a quick USA response sparked the side into life, as Ireland attacks were frustrated by some more excellent goalkeeping from the USA goalkeeper.
A shot from close-range that crept under the Ireland goalkeeper took the game to 4-2 before Ireland found the net off the back of a great passing move to move into a 5-2 lead with a minute to go. Some fantastic possession play helped Ireland hold on to the lead and secure the victory.
Speaking after the match, Ireland player Nicola Duffy said: “We went out today believing we could win it.
"We knew the USA would be tough competition, but we dug deep. For the past 12 weeks, we trained four days a week. We even took heat classes back home to get used to playing in these temperatures. We put in the work and it paid off."
And in respect of the green wave of Irish support cheering on from the stands - which included members of a local Irish-Korean GAA team to students, expats and members of the Irish embassy in Korea, she added: "They invited us all to dinner one night and have come out to support us out here. The support has just been amazing.”
|Brazil and South Africa's game went to penalties, and once again - like the semi-finals - Brazil came out on top. Image: Anita Milas
Brazil then defeated South Africa on penalties in the Korea Citizenship Award Partnership Cup (Tier 2) final after a tightly-contested affair that delivered plenty of moments of drama and action.
After Brazil missed the chance to win it from the spot, a South Africa penalty that struck the bar allowed a Brazil player to bury his penalty in off the bar and secure the victory for the South American nation.
South Africa started the match the brighter and found themselves two goals to the good after a sweet strike found the top corner of the net before a misplaced pass put a South Africa clean through on goal to fire a rasping shot under the Brazil goalkeeper.
Brazil got on the scoresheet via a low drive from the half-way line before their goalkeeper pulled off a triple-save to deny South Africa, who then went 3-1 up after a rare headed goal.
A crazy minute-and-a-half saw Brazil score three times and South Africa once, with the first-half ending with Brazil 4-3 up.
The second-half was marked by some impressive displays in goal, with the Brazil goalkeeper denying South Africa on a number of occasions. 5-3 to Brazil soon became 5-4 before sustained South Africa attacks saw them draw level .
A nice dink over the goalkeeper saw Brazil retake the lead, before South Africa got themselves back level via a quick break.
At the death, two saves in quick succession from the South Africa goalkeeper saw Brazil unable to secure the win in normal time. Instead, just like in their Quarter Final encounter against Poland, they were able to do so from the penalty spot.
In the wake of his nation’s victory, Brazil coach Guilherme Araújo said:"Another game going to penalties! It's a very quick game, can be decided in seconds, and when you go to penalties the emotions are so high.
“They deserved all the best. They came from a very complicated situation in Brazil and we told them that we would change their lives at this tournament and we did - they are going home as winners.
"We were not classified for the main trophy and we thought we had lost, so the impact of this victory is huge. We have all enjoyed this tournament and thank the Homeless World Cup for all their efforts."
Words: Craig Williams
Images: Anita Milas / Angelica Ibarra Rodriguez