So near yet so far for SuperSport
JOBURG - It was a case of so near yet so far for SuperSport United who lost to the Italian side, Torino in the most dramatic fashion.
It was a case of so near yet so far for SuperSport United who lost to the Italian side, Torino in the most dramatic fashion.
They were beaten by the Italian side in the 2015 Future Champions Gauteng U17 International Tournament 5-4 in a thrilling penalty shootout at the Nike Football Training Centre in Pimville, Soweto. The teams were deadlocked 0-0 in regulation time and needed 16 penalties before the Italians finally triumphed.
SuperSport had three chances to win it in the shootout, but Torino goalkeeper Fabio Ficco proved to be the hero as he made four saves in a row to hand his side the title. Torino clinched the trophy on their maiden appearance in the tournament, denying SuperSport the chance to become the first home winners.
Torino’s Matteo Tobaldo could not find a goal in the final but finished top-scorer in the tournament with four goals. Orlando Pirates took the bronze medal when they edged out Bidvest Wits 4-2 in a penalty shootout after neither side could find the back of the net in regulation time.
Brazilian side Cruzeiro EC ended in fifth place as they too played to a hard-fought 0-0 draw with English club Sunderland AFC. The South American team held their nerve to win the penalty shootout 5-4.
Jomo Cosmos beat Dutch side ADO Den Haag to the number seven position as they edged their playoff fixture 1-0 thanks to a goal from Goodman Nxumalo while Namibian club, Oryx FC ended their tournament on a high with a 2-0 win over Zambian side K-Stars.
Tournament director Ray Whelan described the event as one of the greatest since the inception of the tournament. “We look forward to yet another brilliant event next year.”
1st – Torino (Italy)
2nd –SuperSport United (South Africa)
3rd – Orlando Pirates (South Africa)
4th – BidVest Wits (South Africa)
5th – Cruzeiro (Brazil)
6th – Sunderland AFC (England)
7th – Jomo Cosmos (South Africa)
8th – ADO Den Haag (Netherlands)
9th – Oryx FC (Namibia)
10th – K-Stars (Zambia)
11th – University of Pretoria (South Africa)
12th – Ferroviario de Maputo (Mozambique)
