Mexico win Homeless World Cup in frantic final for the ages
Mexico defeated England 6-5 with a goal in the dying seconds to win the Seoul 2024 Homeless World Cup in a frantic spectacle that will livelong in the memory.
As the game looked like it may be heading to penalties, Mexico player Alan Eduardo Posada Salas earned his side the victory, fainting a shot to skip by an England player on the edge of the box before drilling home the winner past the England goalkeeper.
England were more than a match for their rivals in an encounter that really did have everything. Fantastic goals, impressive saves, brilliant attacking play and two blue cards.
Mexico took the lead with their first chance on goal after a great cross across the box left a player free to slot home, before the England goalkeeper and Mexico goalkeeper produced smart stops as both teams registered shots on target.
Mexico then found themselves 2-0 up, after a powerful right foot shot from distance sailed by into the bottom right corner, leaving the England goalkeeper with no chance.
England went in search for a goal and were rewarded when a right-foot shot down the right wing crept by the Mexico goalkeeper and into the net, before a powerful right foot shot after some intricate play from a free-kick saw England draw level.
Mexico missed the chance to draw level with a shot edging just wide, before England went ahead after a player drilled a right foot shot low into the net after capitalising on the advantage played by the Portuguese referee following a foul on an England player.
Almost instantly, Mexico scored to make it 3-3, with a quick break and pass across goal finding a player in time and space to slot home by the England goalkeeper.
With a minute left in the first-half, a scuffed shot by a Mexico player fooled the England goalkeeper after some good play down the left-hand side to send Mexico into a 4-3 lead.
Right on the half-time whistle, England then found themselves a man down temporarily after a Mexico player was on the receiving end of a stray elbow from an England player.
Into the second half, the England goalkeeper was called on early to produce a good stop, before England, despite being a man down, squandered the chance to draw level after a quick break, with England unable to generate power in his shot when in front of goal.
Mexico had a chance of their own which produced a fine save by the England goalkeeper, before England drew level after a quick freekick caught Mexico napping, with an England player free at the edge of the box to slot home.
With the game stretched, a strong challenge by a Mexico player sent him clean through on goal to bury a shot by the England goalkeeper and put his side 5-4 up.
Moments later, England again drew level, with a fine passing move finding a player in the middle of the pitch near the area to drill home.
With three minutes left, Mexico then found themselves a man down after a player’s dangerous tackle left the referee with no choice but to produce a blue card.
England were unable to capitalise on their one-man advantage, and soon, with their three outfield players back on the park, Mexico went in search for a winner. Twice they went close, with a player twice blasting over the bar from close range, before he found the net at the third time of asking after jinking by an England player to fire home.
Right at the death, England had a chance to draw level, but a shot from the centre of the park edged just wide as the referee blew his whistle to cue ecstatic scenes from the Mexico bench.
Speaking after the match, Mexico coach Heriberto Espejel Cuellar said: “I’m so happy. It was a very difficult match. England proved to be a great rival. We won thanks to our heart and courage. I’m very proud of all our players.”
And the man who scored the winning goal, Mexico player Alan Eduardo Posada Salas, said: “I could never have dreamed that this would happen. It’s a special feeling to win the match but to also score the winning goal made it even more special.
“We faced England in the group stages but we knew it would be a different game today. We gave it our everything and we are very happy to be World Champions.
“I want to give a special mention to everyone back home in Aguascalientes. My mum, my dad and my brother and my girlfriend, who have always been there supporting me. I love them all.”
Words: Craig Williams
Images: Angelica Ibarra Rodriguez