MANILA, Philippines – The RP ‘Miracle’ booters capped their campaign in the Deloitte Street Child World Cup indoor football tournament on a rousing note over the weekend with a riveting 2-1 overtime triumph over host South Africa to bag the Shield trophy in front of a disappointed hometown gallery.
Getting better with each game, the never-say-die Filipinos earned the come-from-behind win Sunday through the heroics of striker Mario Titoy, who scored both their markers, including the marginal goal in the 3rd minute of the extra period.
It marked the 3rd straight win for the inspired charges of coach Jess Landagan and co-manager Craig Burrows, who advanced to face Africa for the Shield trophy after stunning Ukraine, 3-0, in last Saturday’s semis.
The RP squad, whose overseas stint was largely through the support of British charity Amos Lawson Memorial Trust, closed out their drive with a 3-2 win-loss slate after dropping close and hard-fought matches to the United Kingdom (2-4) and Tanzania (0-2) in Group B eliminations.
A highlight of that round was the Pinoy bets’ emphatic 6-2 rout of soccer titan Brazil, now ranked No. 2 in the world, which set off their 3-game roll, and bragging rights as the only Philippine team to ever beat a South American, European and African side.
The Philippines finished 5th overall in the 8-nation tournament aimed to bring the plight of homeless children worldwide and as a build-up to the World Cup finals kicking off in South Africa in June.
Asian countries completed a sweep of honors in the soccerfest featuring street children from 4 continents after India also posted a thrilling 1-0 victory over Tanzania in the championship match.
But for the South African hosts, the game that mattered most was that against the Philippines, which was aired live over DZSR Sports Radio Sunday night and relayed through the help of 20-year-old Enzo Pinga, a Filipino college student in Durban.
Aiming to please their hometown fans, who packed the venue to the rafters, the South Africans drew first blood in the 7th minute.
But the Filipino underdogs, whom Burrow described in an e-mail message as a “displaying incredible form and nerve,” refused to fold and their determination finally paid off when Titoy found the net and scored the equalizer 4 minutes later.
Neither team was able to score rest of regulation, forcing the game to go into overtime.
With the Philippines going all-out on attack, Titoy once again rose to the occasion, seeing an opening to head the winning goal three minutes into the extra period before the Filipinos hung on to fashion the well-deserved victory.
A blogger on the event’s website noted after the match that “ the South Africans, both players and crowd, were incredibly gracious in defeat and the winners given a fantastic ovation.”
“Throughout the tournament the Philippines team has remained very professional and has won everyone’s heart as they are known to be the friendliest team,” Burrows wrote.
And in generous recognition of their gracious hosts, he added, the entire Philippine team went around the pitch carrying the South African flag – a gesture that moved Umthombo director Bullelwa Ngantweni to tears.
“These are the best children I’ve ever seen, they were the first group to every say thank you,” Burrows quoted Ngantweni, who heads the street center where the South African players came from.
The Philippine “Miracle Team” is scheduled to arrive in the country late Wednesday evening.
India, meanwhile, won the championship by defeating Tanzania in the Deloitte Street Child World Cup finals.
from ABS-CBN
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