Source: Manila Times
By Emil C. Noguera
PHILIPPINE Miracle Team survived past host South Africa in overtime, 2-1, to snatch the Shield trophy of the Deloitte Street Child World Cup indoor football tournament held in Durban.
Filipino striker Mario Titoy scored the country’s two goals including the pivotal point in the third minute of the extra period.
The RP booters of coach Jess Landagan and co-manager Craig Burrows, advanced to the Shield finals after stunning Ukraine, 3-0, and Brazil, 6-2.
Overall, the Philippines finished fifth in the eight-nation tournament with a 3-2 win-loss slate after sorry loss to United Kingdom (2-4) and Tanzania (0-2) in the eliminations.
The Shield trophy is a secondary award in the Deloitte Street Child World Cup.
India posted a thrilling 1-0 victory over Tanzania in the championship match of the tournament proper.
“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,” said Burrows.
The South Africans drew first blood in the seventh minute to the delight of the hometown fans but the Filipino underdogs never gave up when Titoy scored the equalizer four minutes later.
In the overtime, Titoy hit the winning goal three minutes into the extra period en route to the victory.
“These are the best children I’ve ever seen, they were the first group to ever say thank you,” Burrows quoted Umthombo Director Bullelwa Ngantweni, who heads the street center where the South African players came from.
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