So the third CONIFA Football World Cup got underway yesterday with sixteen teams getting their campaigns underway, and it proved a rather entertaining day indeed, so without further ado here is how the Midday games faired:-
Midday
Group A
Ellan Vannin 4 Cascadia 1
Group A begun with Ellan Vannin netting four as they defeated Cascadia at Sutton United’s Gander Green Lane. A fantastic strike by Whitley opened the scoring before Cascadia then levelled just minutes later through Josh Doughty. But Ellan Vannin then retook the lead to end a brilliant half of football from both sides, but Ellan Vannin held that slender lead and then increased it with a fantastic solo goal before another beautifully taken strike, this time a free kick from 25 yards into the top-left corner, saw them make it four. Cascadia did have the ball in the back of the net for what they thought was their second - but it was adjudged to have gone out of play so the goal was disallowed, and it meant Ellan Vannin took a 4-1 win.
Group B
Abkhazia 3 Tibet 0
Holders Abkhazia got their defence of their 2016 win off to a good start after they defeated Tibet. A crisp header from Akhvlediani put Abkhazia although Tibet were holding their own against a strong Abkhazia side however it was 2-0 just past the hour mark with a good run and shot by Dmitri Maskaev before they sealed the points after a neat turn by Shonya and a close-range finish made it three for Abkhazia with thirteen minutes remaining.
Group C
Szekely Land 4 Tuvalu 0
Barna Bajko netted a hat-trick as Szekely Land strolled to a comfortable victory in their opening game against Tuvalu. Bajko rounded the keeper after a swift counter-attack to put his side ahead before he grabbed his second of the game, heading in after a well-worked short corner. And Bajko completed his hat-trick after the ball ricocheted to him in the box, and then it was four when Bajko turns creator this time, with a perfectly weighted through ball for Szilard Magyari, who slotted past the Tuvalu keeper, and complete a comfortable 4-0 win over a battling Tuvalu side at Coles Park, Haringey.
Group D
United Koreans In Japan 0 Western Armenia 0
There were no goals between United Koreans In Japan and Western Armenia in what was a rather poor game by all accounts. A scoreless first half saw chances few and far between, and after a rather similar second period it meant both sides picked up a point in their opening games.
Midday
Group A
Ellan Vannin 4 Cascadia 1
Group A begun with Ellan Vannin netting four as they defeated Cascadia at Sutton United’s Gander Green Lane. A fantastic strike by Whitley opened the scoring before Cascadia then levelled just minutes later through Josh Doughty. But Ellan Vannin then retook the lead to end a brilliant half of football from both sides, but Ellan Vannin held that slender lead and then increased it with a fantastic solo goal before another beautifully taken strike, this time a free kick from 25 yards into the top-left corner, saw them make it four. Cascadia did have the ball in the back of the net for what they thought was their second - but it was adjudged to have gone out of play so the goal was disallowed, and it meant Ellan Vannin took a 4-1 win.
Group B
Abkhazia 3 Tibet 0
Holders Abkhazia got their defence of their 2016 win off to a good start after they defeated Tibet. A crisp header from Akhvlediani put Abkhazia although Tibet were holding their own against a strong Abkhazia side however it was 2-0 just past the hour mark with a good run and shot by Dmitri Maskaev before they sealed the points after a neat turn by Shonya and a close-range finish made it three for Abkhazia with thirteen minutes remaining.
Group C
Szekely Land 4 Tuvalu 0
Barna Bajko netted a hat-trick as Szekely Land strolled to a comfortable victory in their opening game against Tuvalu. Bajko rounded the keeper after a swift counter-attack to put his side ahead before he grabbed his second of the game, heading in after a well-worked short corner. And Bajko completed his hat-trick after the ball ricocheted to him in the box, and then it was four when Bajko turns creator this time, with a perfectly weighted through ball for Szilard Magyari, who slotted past the Tuvalu keeper, and complete a comfortable 4-0 win over a battling Tuvalu side at Coles Park, Haringey.
Group D
United Koreans In Japan 0 Western Armenia 0
There were no goals between United Koreans In Japan and Western Armenia in what was a rather poor game by all accounts. A scoreless first half saw chances few and far between, and after a rather similar second period it meant both sides picked up a point in their opening games.
Here are some photos from the early games, courtesy of @CONIFAOfficial:-
So those were the opening games done and dusted, now for the three games that took place at 3pm:-
Group B
Northern Cyprus 1 Karpatalya 1
The spoils were shared in the second game at Enfield Town’s Queen Elizabeth II Stadium as Karpatalya cancelled out Northern Cyprus half time lead to earn a point. Northern Cyprus scrambled home to go ahead on thirteen mins through Billy Mehmet's first international goal, however Karpatalya levelled in the second period to see both sides take a point.
Group C
Padania 6 Matabeleland 1
Padania 6 Matabeleland 1
Pre-tournament favourites Padania got their campaign off to a flying start, hitting six past Matabeleland. Giacomo Innocenti fired into the roof of the net to give Padania the lead before they doubled their lead when after an excellent save from the Matabeleland goalkeeper, Padania fired in the rebound. Two goals in quick succession, a smart finish off the bar from eight yards out and then Innocenti slotting home, saw the favourites four goals to the good at the break. Padania then got their 5th of the evening when Giulio Valente slotted home from six yards out before Matabeleland grabbed their first goal of the tournament, which the fans loved. However Padania had the final say, adding a sixth late on to cap a fine opening game.
Group D
Panjab 8 Kabylia 0
Another of the front runners for this year’s tournament Panjab got their campaign off to a flyer after hitting eight past Kabylia. Amar Purewal slotted home a square ball to give Panjab the lead before Panjab makes it two as Purewal calmly slots home his second after a great ball out of defence and a lung-bursting run by Amarvir Singh Sandhu down right-hand side. After the break Panjab cut loose and a penalty made it three before a further two goals saw them go five goals to the good, before Kamaljit Singh chested down a cross from the left and volleyed home from eight yards out to make it six. Panjab carried on their attacking intent and saw Gurjit Singh joyously smash the ball home for seven, and it was eight when Kamaljit Singh rounded the keeper and fired the ball home, rounding off a perfect start for Panjab.
Group D
Panjab 8 Kabylia 0
Another of the front runners for this year’s tournament Panjab got their campaign off to a flyer after hitting eight past Kabylia. Amar Purewal slotted home a square ball to give Panjab the lead before Panjab makes it two as Purewal calmly slots home his second after a great ball out of defence and a lung-bursting run by Amarvir Singh Sandhu down right-hand side. After the break Panjab cut loose and a penalty made it three before a further two goals saw them go five goals to the good, before Kamaljit Singh chested down a cross from the left and volleyed home from eight yards out to make it six. Panjab carried on their attacking intent and saw Gurjit Singh joyously smash the ball home for seven, and it was eight when Kamaljit Singh rounded the keeper and fired the ball home, rounding off a perfect start for Panjab.
Here are some photos from the afternoon games, courtesy of @CONIFAOfficial:-
So 29 goals in the seven games so far, not bad at all!!! Unusually this was the followed by the opening ceremony of the tournament at Hayes Lane, Bromley FC, where all sides were present to enjoy the occasion, regardless of their result earlier.
Here are some photos from the Opening Ceremony, courtesy of @CONIFAOfficial:-
Anyway after all that the official opening game of the competition took place at 8pm, and here is how that went:-
Group A
Group A
Barawa 4 Tamil Eelam 0
Another one of the pre-tournament front runners Barawa got their campaign off to a flying start as they put four past Tamil Eelam. A tight opening few minutes made way for a Barawa goal, however in what was an end to end period of play Tamil Eelam struck the bar as they looked to get back on level terms. However a penalty saw Barawa double their advantage, before a third just before the break all but ended the contest. Barawa added a fourth in the second period with another penalty, and it capped a fine evening for them and ended the opening day of the competition.
Another one of the pre-tournament front runners Barawa got their campaign off to a flying start as they put four past Tamil Eelam. A tight opening few minutes made way for a Barawa goal, however in what was an end to end period of play Tamil Eelam struck the bar as they looked to get back on level terms. However a penalty saw Barawa double their advantage, before a third just before the break all but ended the contest. Barawa added a fourth in the second period with another penalty, and it capped a fine evening for them and ended the opening day of the competition.
Here are some photos from that game, courtesy of @CONIFAOfficial:-
So a total of 33 goals in the eight games on the opening day of CONIFA Football World Cup 2018, if the rest of the tournament is like this then we are in for a treat over the next week or so. The competition now takes a rest day today before the teams play twice over the weekend to complete their group schedule.
Here are how the Group Tables look after Day One:-
Group A P W D L F A Pts GD
Barawa 1 1 0 0 4 0 3 4
Ellan Vannin 1 1 0 0 4 1 3 3
Cascadia 1 0 0 1 1 4 0 -3
Tamil Eelam 1 0 0 1 0 4 0 -4
Group B P W D L F A Pts GD
Abkhazia 1 1 0 0 3 0 3 3
Northern Cyprus 1 0 1 0 1 1 1 0
Karpatalya 1 0 1 0 1 1 1 0
Tibet 1 0 0 1 0 3 0 -3
Group C P W D L F A Pts GD
Padania 1 1 0 0 6 1 3 5
Szekely Land 1 1 0 0 4 0 3 4
Tuvalu 1 0 0 1 0 4 0 -4
Matabeleland 1 0 0 1 1 6 0 -5
Group D P W D L F A Pts GD
Panjab 1 1 0 0 8 0 3 8
United Koreans in Japan 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 0
Western Armenia 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 0
Kabylia 1 0 0 1 0 8 0 -8
Barawa 1 1 0 0 4 0 3 4
Ellan Vannin 1 1 0 0 4 1 3 3
Cascadia 1 0 0 1 1 4 0 -3
Tamil Eelam 1 0 0 1 0 4 0 -4
Group B P W D L F A Pts GD
Abkhazia 1 1 0 0 3 0 3 3
Northern Cyprus 1 0 1 0 1 1 1 0
Karpatalya 1 0 1 0 1 1 1 0
Tibet 1 0 0 1 0 3 0 -3
Group C P W D L F A Pts GD
Padania 1 1 0 0 6 1 3 5
Szekely Land 1 1 0 0 4 0 3 4
Tuvalu 1 0 0 1 0 4 0 -4
Matabeleland 1 0 0 1 1 6 0 -5
Group D P W D L F A Pts GD
Panjab 1 1 0 0 8 0 3 8
United Koreans in Japan 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 0
Western Armenia 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 0
Kabylia 1 0 0 1 0 8 0 -8
And here is a reminder of the weekend’s fixtures:-
Saturday 2nd June
2pm
Group A - Barawa vs Cascadia (Colston Avenue Football Stadium, Carshalton Athletic FC)
Group B - Abkhazia vs Karpatalya (Queen Elizabeth II Stadium, Enfield Town FC)
Group C - Szekely Land vs Matabeleland(Coles Park Stadium, Haringey Borough FC)
Group D - United Koreans In Japan vs Kabylia(Larges Lane, Bracknell Town FC)
5pm
Group A - Ellan Vannin vs Tamil Eelam(Colston Avenue Football Stadium, Carshalton Athletic FC)
Group B - Northern Cyprus vs Tibet (Queen Elizabeth II Stadium, Enfield Town FC)
Group C - Padania vs Tuvalu (Coles Park Stadium, Haringey Borough FC)
Group D - Panjab vs Western Armenia(Arbour Park, Slough Town FC)
Sunday 3rd June
3pm
Group A - Barawa vs Ellan Vannin (Coles Park Stadium, Haringey Borough FC)
Tamil Eelam vs Cascadia (St Paul's Sports Ground, Fisher FC)
Group B - Abkhazia vs Northern Cyprus (Queen Elizabeth II Stadium, Enfield Town FC)
Karpatalya vs Tibet (Larges Lane, Bracknell Town FC)
6pm
Group C - Tuvalu vs Matabeleland (Coles Park Stadium, Haringey Borough FC)
Padania vs Szekely Land (Bedfont Recreation Ground, Bedfont Sports FC)
Group D - Western Armenia vs Kabylia(Queen Elizabeth II Stadium, Enfield Town FC)
Panjab vs United Koreans In Japan (Arbour Park, Slough Town FC)
2pm
Group A - Barawa vs Cascadia (Colston Avenue Football Stadium, Carshalton Athletic FC)
Group B - Abkhazia vs Karpatalya (Queen Elizabeth II Stadium, Enfield Town FC)
Group C - Szekely Land vs Matabeleland(Coles Park Stadium, Haringey Borough FC)
Group D - United Koreans In Japan vs Kabylia(Larges Lane, Bracknell Town FC)
5pm
Group A - Ellan Vannin vs Tamil Eelam(Colston Avenue Football Stadium, Carshalton Athletic FC)
Group B - Northern Cyprus vs Tibet (Queen Elizabeth II Stadium, Enfield Town FC)
Group C - Padania vs Tuvalu (Coles Park Stadium, Haringey Borough FC)
Group D - Panjab vs Western Armenia(Arbour Park, Slough Town FC)
Sunday 3rd June
3pm
Group A - Barawa vs Ellan Vannin (Coles Park Stadium, Haringey Borough FC)
Tamil Eelam vs Cascadia (St Paul's Sports Ground, Fisher FC)
Group B - Abkhazia vs Northern Cyprus (Queen Elizabeth II Stadium, Enfield Town FC)
Karpatalya vs Tibet (Larges Lane, Bracknell Town FC)
6pm
Group C - Tuvalu vs Matabeleland (Coles Park Stadium, Haringey Borough FC)
Padania vs Szekely Land (Bedfont Recreation Ground, Bedfont Sports FC)
Group D - Western Armenia vs Kabylia(Queen Elizabeth II Stadium, Enfield Town FC)
Panjab vs United Koreans In Japan (Arbour Park, Slough Town FC)
So the tournament is underway, I’ll be back with a blog after the weekend’s action, so stay tuned!!!
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