Zimbabwe (1) v (3) Austria
Austria play a little like their national anthem; in fits and starts with occasional bursts of fabulous noise. It proved enough against a talented Zimbabwe team that lacks the killer touch in one of the HWC's lowest scoring fixtures. It may not have been the goal-fest that most ties have been, but it seemed enough to attract a swarm of flying ants onto Pitch 1 for the final of the Ombold Cup.The Austrians didn't let the insects bother them though - nor were they put off by the arrival of the Australia team lured to pitchside by an unfortunate typo on www.homelessworldcup.org. They soaked up African pressure in a cagey first few minutes then swatted in the opener against the run of play. An equaliser quickly followed, but the Europeans can call on their hard shooting lanky No.4 when the going gets tough. He first rattled the crossbar then scored under the keeper to close out the first half.
Both keepers were on form in the second, Zimbabwe's elastic No.1 pulling off one save for the cameras with a spiralling - and perhaps unnecessary - swan dive to his left. His efforts went unrewarded though as the headband-wearing No.4 stepped into the breach once more to slap a crashing drive into the top corner and give the Europeans the trophy. It was no surprise; that national anthem signs off in a similar style with a climax of clashing Austrian cymbals.
Joel Dimmock
