Day 2: 25.9.06

Day two: Homeless World cup from Cape Town

Light showers in the morning held play up but Day Two eventually gets underway with Lee Sharpe, ex Manchester United and England player,  kicking off the first match.

Ireland (5) v (4) Afghanistan

Afghanistan started well and forced Damian Farrell into an early save.

Simon Canning literally flew a few feet across the pitch trying to get on the end of a cross and ended up sprawled on the floor, but showing great determination Simon carries on and manages to score two blinding goals.

Afghanistan then come back with a goal, but shortly after score an own goal during a period of desperate defending.

Thomas Grimes then scores to leave the score 4-1 Ireland at half time. Ireland make a substitute and Dave Phillips comes on the pitch.

Afghanistan score with a powerful shot and give themselves a chance to get back in the game at 4-2.

Eddie Murray famed for the power of his shot within the Irish team then gets his chance to come on but Afghanistan score again to reduce the deficit to one.

Damien Farrell pulled off some amazing saves keeping Ireland in front, and a very frustrated Afghanistan behind, the frustration results in Afghanistan getting a player sent off for foul play.

Dave Phillips scores a fantastic goal sending the crowd nuts before Damien Farrell again pulls off an incredible save but, with Farrell still on the ground, Afghanistan pull one back on the re-bound.

The goal comes to late, however, and as the whistle blows Ireland’s 5-4 victory sends them to the top of their group.

Kate Wilson

England (3) v (7) Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan get the match going by firing a powerful shot at the England keeper Kevin Garrighan which he manages to save. England get a penalty decision, Paul Smith takes it and the Kazakhstan keeper makes a great save.

Kazakhstan then are awarded a penalty and score a fabulous goal, almost immediately they double their advantage.

A substitution is made and Ricardo Brandao comes on for England.

Paul Smith has a magnificent clean strike at the ball, that hits the crossbar and leaves the goal shaking.

Whilst trying to intercept a pass across goal by Kazakhstan Smith scores an own goal, but England battle on and soon after Elsio Tavares scores to make it 3-1. Nicky Meta comes on at half time followed shortly by Vincent Barton.

Paul Smith comes back on the pitch with a new found determination, and takes on the whole Kazakhstan team making the score 4-2, putting England right back in the game, but Kazakhstan score 2 in quick succession.

The Kazakhstan goalkeeper makes a few brilliant saves as England try in vain to catch up. Then England forge an attack but Kazakhstan score another on the break.

Just before the final whistle Paul Smith scores his second leaving the final score 7-3.

Kate Wilson

Scotland (2) v (2) South Africa Reserves - South Africa Reserves Win on Penalties

The Scottish anthem was finally played after the confusion on day one when the Welsh anthem was continually played by mistake. The absence of Burundi from the opening stages meant Scotland were playing against South Africa's international reserve squad.

After only a few minutes of the game, South Africa were awarded a penalty which was saved by the Scots keeper, Liam Young. Both teams had good early chances, then South Africa were awarded another early penalty, this time scoring after a good finish, making it 1 - 0 to South Africa at half time.

Lindsey Cooper, the Scotland's first female player during this tournament, came on at half time. South Africa doubled their lead with a great strike, making it 2 - 0.

Lindsey started to play well during the game, winning the crowd over. Scotland pulled a goal back after a good finish, then drew level at 2 -2 with a great turn and shot, leading to a penalty shoot out at full time.

South Africa took the first penalty and scored with a convincing strike.

Scotland missed their penalty. South Africa's next penalty was brilliantly saved by Liam Young.

Then Lindsey Cooper stepped up to take Scotland's second penalty, with the crowd madly cheering her on. Unfortunately, the penalty was saved. This meant South Africa had to score their last penalty to win. They duly obliged, knocking Scotland out of the main Homeless World Cup Trophy in the process.

Lee Dixon

South Africa (5) v (6) Brazil

Kaizer Chiefs soccer stars Shaun Bartlett, Siyabonga Nkosi and Ernst Middendorp, the Kaizer's head coach, were on hand to support the South African side before their thrilling battle with Brazil.

The presence of the Chiefs’ however didn’t bring the right result for the home side as they lost out to the 11^th ranked Brazilians in one of the best games of the tournament so far.

The Bafowethu, as the South African have been affectionately nicknamed, got off to a perfect start in the first minute when Gerald Bez found the back of the Brazilian net. A minute later South Africa won a penalty as Brazil’s goalkeeper stepped outside the penalty area.

Bez kept a cool head and put the home side 2-0 in front. Brazil, who only arrived in South Africa this morning, seemed to be suffering from jetlag and South Africa's onslaught but as the first half wore on they responded magnificently with a goal by Mello Martins to make the score 2-1 at half time.

Brazil came out the second half and shocked their opponents with three goals in seconds. Wellington Vieira De Souza was responsible for the first after before a Francisco Rezende double put his side 4-2 in the lead. South Africa however gave their all and leveled the scores at 4-4 after two goals by Nathan Abels. Again Brazil hit back with a quickfire double - the second securing Rexende's hat-trick - that looked to have secured the game.

South Africa however responded and Abel's put them within touching distance again with his third score of the game. Sadly for the partisan crowd time ran out for South Africa and Brazil held on for a high scoring win in one of the games of the day.

By Ruan Bruwer 

Lithuania (3) v (2) Ireland

The first moment of action came when Ireland were awarded a penalty which unfortunately Thomas Grimes missed. Almost straight after the penalty Lithuania scored.

A substitution was made and Mick Murphy came onto the pitch. Thomas Grimes made up for his earlier penalty disappointment and put one in the back of the net.

Ireland made two substitutions in quick succession when Chris Fitzpatrick and Simon Canning came on to play.

Grimes scored again just after Lithuania which made the score 2-2. Damien Farrell put in a great performance making at least two saves that Irish number one Shay Given would have been proud of.

About a minute before the end Lithuania scored again and the final score was 3-2.

Ireland played a great game and it was shame they didn’t win especially after they won over the supporters when throwing goodies into the crowd.

Kate Wilson

Scotland (4) v (5) France

The game kicks off with France going 1 - 0 up after an own goal from the Scots.

Scotland soon went on the attack looking for an equalizer, creating some good chances.   They equalized with good team play and a powerful shot.

Scotland were awarded a penalty - which they missed and a good move from France led to a goal making it 2 - 1.

A French player was then blue carded for serious foul play just before half time. Scotland equalized thirty seconds into the first half but France quickly restored their one goal advantage, making it 3 -2.   

France then went 4 - 2 in front with a great long shot.   Another good team goal for France made it 5 - 2.

The referee had to talk to the Scotland team after some foul play. A good passing move leads to Scots making it 5 - 3.  The Scots were then awarded a penalty, scoring and making it 5 - 4 at the final whistle.

Lee Dixon