SOCCER THAT’S A SIGHT FOR SORE EYES AS SEMIS SIZZLE IN SACRAMENTO (day 7)
Credit: Anita Milas (Vanessa is on right)
As temperatures turned past 100 Fahrenheit in the Sacramento summer, the 20th anniversary edition of the Homeless World Cup reached the sharp end of proceedings on the penultimate night of action.
At the highest level, sport is all about percentages. A pair of contact lenses to aid eyesight could make all the difference between scoring a goal or saving a penalty. But when your home is uncertain and your life chaotic, paying for an eye test is unlikely to be at the top of your list. This week, over 300 players from 30 nations had the opportunity to take a free eye test- and receive free frames almost instantly- thanks to the VSP Eyes of Hope programme, an initiative that partners with non-profit organisations to hold free eye clinic events across the USA.
Anyone who needed specs would have wanted them polished for the action at Hornet Stadium as the quarter and semi finals played out in front of passionate Californian crowds.
In the men’s tournament, champions Mexico clashed with samba boys Brazil in a semi-final high on action and emotion, if not goals. The sole score came from one of the players of the tournament, Mexican’s sharp shooting striker Rodolfo Valenzuala nicking the ball near half-way and finishing cooly despite the evening heat. Brazil gave it their all, chance after chance hitting the woodwork, goalkeeper or back netting, but Mexico weren’t to be beaten.
Portugal owed their place in the semi stage to an epic quarter final shoot-out win over a gallant Northern Ireland, the teams only split after six rounds of penalties and a 3-3 draw in normal time. The scorer of the winning penalty, Elias, equalised late on to make a topsy turvy last four game with Chile 4-4, but the South Americans pushed on to reach the last game, winning 5-4.
The steel stands were packed with passionate Mexican and Romanian fans for the women’s semi-final. Mexico looked like taking a 2-0 lead into half time before the Romanians pulled one back to flag waving and chants of ‘Ro-man-ia’ from the crowd. Despite strutting around in arguably the tournament’s best looking shirt- a 90s yellow, blue and red dream- Romania couldn’t get the win over the line, losing 4-2 to the reigning champions.
This year is the first time Ireland’s women have taken part in a Homeless World Cup. It’s also the first time their players would have contended with heat this hot: the record temperature ever recorded in Ireland is 33.3 degrees or 91.9 Fahrenheit, a numbers that’s been far surpassed in Sacramento today. Hats off to the nation’s women for making the semi-final stage, where despite leading Chile 1-0, the South Americans ran out 6-2 winners.
So it’s a Mexican Chilean double in the finals tomorrow with the South American rivals facing off in both the women’s and men’s final ties with the winners crowned the Homeless World Cup champion.
Sitting underneath the main trophies are a number of consolation awards which ensure that teams who’ve travelled to California play throughout the week, giving the players who can only represent their nation at one Homeless World Cup a bigger platform for pride and progress.
In the men’s tournament, the Nelsen Way Award sees Poland take on Ukraine, after the Poles beat hosts USA in a dramatic penalty shoot-out. Indonesia made it to the Lassen Peak Award final after a hard fought 5-4 win against Asian neighbours South Korea. They’ll battle Sweden for the title. Germany plays Pakistan for the right to take home the Shasta Award.
In the women’s tournament, hosts USA have warmed hearts this week and they’ll take on Denmark for the Nelsen Way Award, while the Palisades Award sees France play Norway.
The seven finals kick off at 8.00am local time in Sacramento tomorrow. As always at the Homeless World Cup, the teams will be playing for much more than silverware.
Credit: Anita Milas
Words: Dan Tyte