Greece (2) v (3) USA

By Claire Varley

Vying for 5th and 6th place in the Big Issue Host Cup, the USA battled their way to a close victory over Greece, 3-2.

A perfect birthday present for the US coach, a last second save by the American keeper rescued the team from a penalty shoot-out with a fiery Greek team.

The US keeper Oscar Grandberry , or 'Chihuahua' if the coaches cries were anything to go by, was quickly put to the test, scrambling across his area after a bombardment of Greek attempts on goal. While the ball predominantly stayed up the Greek attacking end, the Greeks just couldn't find the net despite sending shot after shot.

Halfway through the first half the US found their groove, with Jeremy Wisham scoring a convincing goal. Both teams displayed iron defending and keeping skills, and the ball had no way of finding the net.

Despite a frenzied Greek attack on goals, the combined US teamwork of Johnny Figueroa and keeper Grandberry kept the ball out of the net. The Greeks seemed cursed to fire shot after shot yet narrowly miss every time.

Half time saw a tight score line of 1-0 in favour of the US. The Greek supporters kept up the energy, chanting 'Hellas, Hellas', shirts swirling above their heads, while the US supporters hollered excited, unidentifiable noises of encouragement.

The second half saw a more vocal Greek team take to the field, hustling for the ball, desperate find the scoreboard.

A Greek penalty taken by Fotios Lazarou just missed the goal and the US rubbed salt in the wound by converting this to a goal from Johnny Figueroa.

Finally ridding themselves from their goal scoring curse, Sokratis Fakaros flipped the ball over the US keeper, finding the Greek's first goal of the match. A US ball found the net after bouncing off the cross bar, giving Cornelius Cruz his first goal of the match.

Ioannis Flytzanis booted in another Greek goal, while the superb keeping of Panagiotis Tsalatsanis, self-proclaimed second best keeper in the world, kept the US from raising the score line.

Trailing by one, the last minute saw desperate and frustrated plays from the Greeks, as confusion arose over a Greek no-goal that was converted into a failed attempt at a penalty shot. Despite their best attempts, the Greeks failed to find a levelling goal, and the USA took the match, 3-2.

Photos: Photoworx