St Gabriel’s NS World Cup

Week 4: Match Reports

SEMI FINAL 1:

ESTONIA 2 Kelly Larkin (1 goal), Florin Popa (1 goal) V CHINA 1  John Campion (1 goal)

Estonia edged out china in a hard fought but fair first semi-final. The fans were in good voice- chanting for both teams. Kelly Larkin, who was on loan to Estonia took the first goal but John Campion pulled one back from China. In the end, despite some heroic goalkeeping from Daryl Stokes, a second goal from Florin Popa sealed victory for Estonia and a place in the final.

SEMI FINAL 2:

South Africa 3 Ryan Burke (1 goal) Roy Bradley (2 goal) V Greece 4 Kevin Pavalache (1 goal), Conor Eccles (3 goal)

This was a fierce and hotly contested semi-final with two of the big names in the competition facing each other. Some great link up play between the RAR partnership of Ryan and Roy produced some super football. Selfless play by young Ryan Burke meant roy Bradley bagged two goals. Their hard work almost paid of with a magnificent header from Roy in closing minutes and Ryan slid in for a pass from Roy and almost snatched a late equaliser. In the end Conor Eccles and Greece were far too strong and a hat trick from Conor and a goal from Kevin Pavalache put Greece through to the Final.

FINAL

ESTONIA 3 Kelly Larkin (1 goal) O.G.(2 goal) V Greece 5 Conor Eccles (5 goal)

The final saw two European teams from opposite ends of the continent face each other: Estonia and Greece. Two spectacular OGs kept Estonia in this tough final and Kelly Larkin, on loan to the team, bagged a third for the team. But in the end it was a super partnership between Kevin Pavalache and Conor Eccles win the final and crown Greece Champions for 2014!