Langsung ke konten utama

Fitting Finale and Beaming Winners

Fitting finale and beaming winners
THE DAY REPLAYED – The last day of the FIFA U-17 World Cup UAE 2013 served up a fitting final treat for the fans. All well as high-scoring matches, fantastic goals and an outpouring of emotion, there was a healthy dose of excitement and drama, and the usual stirring images of beaming winners and inconsolable losers at the end. 

A memorable day opened with the match for third place between Sweden and Argentina. And after 90 absorbing minutes, it was the Scandinavians who were left celebrating. The Swedes crowned their maiden appearance at the U-17 World Cup by building on a string of increasingly convincing performances in the UAE, deservedly winning a fast-paced and high-scoring match against their South American opponents. The Europeans were again indebted to striker Valmir Berisha as the deadly marksman almost single-handedly sealed his side’s podium finish. The player will go home with a bronze medal and the top scorer's award too.

The final was another premium-quality affair in a worthy and pulsating setting. Nigeria snuffed out Mexican dreams of defending the trophy and comfortably sealed a fourth world triumph at this age level. Roared on by their boisterous support and inspired by play-maker Kelechi Iheanacho, the Golden Eaglets imposed their class for an ultimately merited victory.

The results
Match for third place
Sweden 4-1 Argentina

Final
Nigeria 3-0 Mexico

Memorable moments
Taste of Chile whets appetite for 2015
Prior to kick-off, the good crowd at Mohammad Bin Zayed Stadium were thoroughly entertained by a colourful and varied closing ceremony. The highlight involved a female acrobat rising into the skies and floating over the pitch suspended by hundreds of balloons in the colours of the UAE flag. Exactly 24 pearls represented the participating nations, who benefited throughout from the exceptional warmth and hospitality of the Emirati hosts. The grand finale centred on an appearance by a group of Chilean kids. The smiling representatives of the South American country set to host the next FIFA U-17 World Cup unfurled a huge flag and the message “See you at Chile 2015."

Berisha plays through the pain
Valmir Berisha was one of the outstanding players at this edition of the FIFA U-17 World Cup. The on-fire Swedish striker turned in another scintillating display against Argentina and helped himself to a hat-trick, taking him up to seven goals at the tournament and securing the adidas Golden Boot for the top scorer. Remarkably, Berisha has been struggling with a bruised foot throughout and the problem visibly caused him difficulties at times. But the prolific talent simply gritted his teeth and got on with it, although after his third goal of the day even he signalled to be substituted, in visible pain. It was not long before a smile returned to the face of the likeable Scandinavian, as he accepted the prestigious individual award to warm applause and generous cries of "Yes! Yes!" from the large Nigerian contingent in the crowd. In the circumstances, his pain melted away.

Better late than never for delighted debutant
The tournament also ended on a high for Berisha’s team-mate Jakob Bergman. The defender was Sweden’s only outfield player yet to make an appearance in the Emirates, but in the closing stages of the match for third place he too entered the fray for his World Cup debut. And when Bergman took over from Gustav Engvall he made no secret of his delight at finally making it onto the pitch. His broad grin spoke volumes, but despite the fact he only played the last few minutes and his team was already home and dry, Bergman put his back into it, even picking up a yellow card for his troubles.

Mexican motivation artists
The Mexican coaching and support staff came up with an inspired move to motivate their players prior to the final. They plastered the dressing room walls with large posters proclaiming messages such as "Viva Mexico" and "a whole nation is behind you," plus a banner displaying the World Cup trophy and an emotional rallying cry: "Realise your dreams, bring it home!." But for all the creativity, it was not to be on the day and the trophy is heading for Africa.

Explosive emotions and joy unconfined
The second goal that set Nigeria decisively on the way to victory prompted emotional fireworks at the stadium. Scorer Kelechi Iheanacho and his team-mates clustered at the corner flag and spontaneously broke into a dance of celebration, a routine quickly taken up by the crowd, including former Nigeria icon Nwankwo Kanu. When the dancing former Super Eagles striker was picked up on the stadium video screens, the African support broke out into thunderous cheers of delight, although they would ratchet up the decibel levels to new heights at the final whistle.

Komentar

Postingan populer dari blog ini

Barcelona Tekuk Eibar 2-0

Eibar - Barcelona kembali ke jalur kemenangan di La Liga. Blaugrana memetik poin penuh usai menekuk tuan rumah Eibar dengan skor 2-0. Dalam lanjutan La Liga di Ipurua, Eibar, Sabtu (17/2/2018), Barca memimpin 1-0 hingga turun minum. Gol pemecah kebuntuan dicetak Luis Suarez pada menit ke-16. Meski Eibar harus bermain dengan 10 orang usai Fabian Orellana diganjar kartu merah di babak kedua, Barca kesulitan mencetak gol tambahan. Gol kedua mereka baru datang ketika waktu normal tersisa dua menit lewat kaki Jordi Alba. Barca sebelumnya sempat mendapatkan dua hasil seri secara beruntun di La Liga setelah ditahan imbang Espanyol 1-1 dan Getafe 0-0. Berkat kemenangan ini, Barca mengumpulkan 62 poin dari 24 pertandingan dan duduk di puncak klasemen sementara La Liga. Mereka unggul sepuluh poin atas Atletico Madrid yang jadi pesaing terdekat. Eibar menghuni peringkat ketujuh dengan 35 poin. Jalannya Pertandingan Eibar mencoba mengambil inisiatif serangan pada menit-menit awal...

Hasil Liga Spanyol: Suarez Dua Gol, Barcelona Bungkam Eibar 3-0

Barcelona  -  Barcelona  kembali melebarkan jarak di papan atas klasemen Liga Spanyol. Barcelona dapat poin penuh berkat kemenangan 3-0 atas Eibar. Barcelona menjamu Eibar di Camp Nou dalam pertandingan pekan ke-19  Liga Spanyol , Senin (14/1/2019) dini hari WIB. Suarez membuka keunggulan Barcelona pada menit ke-19. Di paruh kedua, Barcelona menambah dua gol. Suarez sekali lagi menjebol gawang Eibar dan Lionel Messi juga tak mau ketinggalan mencatatkan namanya di papan skor. Dengan kemenangan ini, Barcelona kembali menjauh dari Atletico Madrid. Mengumpulkan 43 poin, Barcelona yang ada di puncak klasemen kini unggul lima angka atas Atletico. Sementara Eibar melorot ke peringkat 16 dengan 22 poin. Jalannya Pertandingan Setelah diistirahatkan saat Barcelona kalah dari Levante di Copa del Rey, Lionel Messi dan Luis Suarez kembali masuk ke starting XI Barcelona. Messi kemudian menghasilkan peluang untuk Barcelona pada menit kesembil...

Lorenzo wins as Marquez becomes MotoGP™ World Champion

  Sunday , 10 November 2013 Marc Marquez has finished third in the GP Generali de la Comunitat Valenciana to become the youngest ever MotoGP™ World Champion in his rookie season. The Repsol Honda Team rider, who started from pole position, shared the podium with teammate Dani Pedrosa as race victory went to outgoing title winner Jorge Lorenzo of Yamaha Factory Racing. Having already made himself the youngest premier class race winner and pole-sitter as well as registering numerous other records, Marquez now becomes the youngest ever World Champion and takes the mantle away from Freddie Spencer. At the same time, the 20-year-old from Cervera, Catalunya becomes the first rookie World Champion for 35 years, following in the footsteps of Kenny Roberts from 1978. Lorenzo made his plan clear over the opening laps. Having shot through into the lead, the title winner of 2010 and 2012 attempted to slow the pace as last year’s victor Pedrosa ran second fro...