2013 World Cup Champions: Northern Ireland!

On Wednesday March 6th the first of our Seattle Celtic small sided World Cup tournaments took place on the Magnuson Sports Meadow. Six teams were formed from our U11 and U12 teams with the seven players on each team selecting a country to represent. Some opted for the more traditional superpowers of the world's game in Brazil, Spain, Italy and Holland while there were also appearances from the Ivory Coast and a rare World Cup outing from Northern Ireland.

The opening round of games saw victories for Italy and Brazil over Spain and Holland respectively, while the Ivory Coast and Northern Ireland shared three goals apiece with two late goals from the Irish.

Northern Ireland held off a late Brazil fightback in round two to emerge with a 2-1 victory, with Aaron R at the center of everything, scoring the first and setting up Jasper K with a defense-splitting pass that George Best would have been proud of. Italy's draw with Holland saw them go joint top while Spain got their first win of the campaign against the Ivory Coast.

The third round of fixtures witnessed an exciting end to end contest between the Italians and the Ivory Coast that eventually finished 3-3. Northern Ireland piled the misery on Holland with a 3-2 victory that saw the Dutch winless in three while Spain surprised Brazil 2-0, the only team to keep a clean sheet against the physically untouchable Brazilians.

Nic J was the match winner for Brazil in round 4 with two excellently taken goals as well as some clever interplay throughout. Complemented by the tough tackling Jake Z and Andrew S Brazil's victory meant Northern Ireland needed a win to clinch the tournament with a round to spare. Despite a gallant effort from the Spanish, Northern Ireland eventually claimed all three points in a 3-2 win, courtesy of a hat-trick from Aaron, reminiscent of when the sides last met in 2006. In the other game, Holland finally displayed the form that had many tipping them as pre-tournament favorites in a comprehensive 4-1 victory.

With first place assured for the Northern Irish, the fifth and final round of games saw four of the remaining five teams still in the hunt for the silver and bronze medals. The Italians raced to a surprising 3-1 lead before being pegged back in the dying embers of the game with Tim B equalizing at the death for the Irish. Spain went into their clash with Holland knowing a win would assure them of the runners-up spot.  With the game locked at 0-0 and time running out Solomon S clinched the victory for the Dutch with the last kick of the game to claim third place for his team. In the final game, despite a spirited display from the Ivory Coast the Brazilian's ensured the runners-up berth with a 2-1 win.

Well done to all the guys for a hard fought competition that was played in great spirit throughout. Next tournament is due for mid-April!

Player of the Tournament: Aaron R

MVPs: Andrew S, Nic J, Jake Z, Alex M, Jack F

Northern Ireland: Champions
[L-R] Tim B, Jasper K, John C
Matteus J, Austin O'F, Aaron R
Not pictured: Preston T

Brazil: Runners Up
[L-R] Nic J, Jake Z, Andrew S, Chris C
Leo D, Aidan L
Not pictured: Theo B

Holland: Third Place
[L-R] Lucas G, Aidan B, Alex W
James M, Barnesy, Solomon S
Not pictured: Alex M

Spain 
[L-R] Jack F, Miles S, Will C
Tyler C, Joe V, Jake L
Not pictured: Pablo B

Italy
[L-R] Oliver P, David S, Levi H
Aaron X, Quinn B, Ben H

Ivory Coast
[L-R] Matt M, Will J, Nicky D, Felipe A
Nick G, Cooper A

Scores

Italy 2-1 Spain

Brazil 3-1 Holland

Ivory Coast 3-3 Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland 2-1 Brazil

Spain 3-1 Ivory Coast

Italy 1-1 Holland

Northern Ireland 3-2 Holland

Italy 3-3 Ivory Coast

Spain 2-0 Brazil

Brazil 3-0 Italy

Spain 2-3 Northern Ireland

Ivory Coast 1-4 Holland

Holland 1-0 Spain

Brazil 2-1 Ivory Coast

Italy 3-3 Northern Ireland