Carshalton Athletic played host to two thrilling semi-finals as teams booked their places in the final of the CONIFA World Football Cup tournament.
Northern Cyprus scored late twice to win 3-2 in a tense affair, while Karpatalya’s two penalties helped secure a 4-2 victory in Colston Avenue on June 7.
Now the two teams will compete in the final at the Queen Elizabeth II Stadium this weekend on June 9 as the tournament draws to its conclusion.
Northern Cyprus are through to the final! Amazing scenes here at Carshalton #WFC2018 pic.twitter.com/ov9upTRkU9
— CONIFA (@CONIFAOfficial) June 7, 2018
Billy Mehmet became Northern Cyprus’ hero when he raced onto a cutback cross to slot home against Padania on 83 minutes to complete their comeback.
Minutes earlier, in the 80th minute, goalkeeper Marco Murriero could only keep out one header as Halil Turan pounced on the rebound to score the equaliser.
Padania took hold of the lead through Riccardo Ravasi on the half hour, then Nicolo Pavan shortly into the second-half, but they couldn’t see it through in semi-final A.
The Karpatalya team and coaches go wild as they score their 4th goal! Szekely Land 2-4 Karpatalya #WFC2018 pic.twitter.com/yFJke1GE3B
— CONIFA (@CONIFAOfficial) June 7, 2018
Barna Bajko hit a stunning effort from outside the box on 79 minutes to ignite hopes of a Szekely Land comeback against Karpatalya.
However, Gyorgy Toma’s late penalty from 12 yards out proved too difficult a mountain to climb despite a host of chances to force extra-time – or even a win.
Bence Lizak opened the scoring for the finalists before he doubled that lead when his long-range shot was spilled into the net by goalkeeper Pavel Horvat just before the hour mark.
Former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg was the man in the middle for semi-final B, awarding three penalties and brandishing three yellow cards.
Northern Cyprus, who represent a Turkish minority in Cyprus, have reached the final for the first time ever after securing third place at the last CONIFA World Football Cup in 2016.
Karpatalya, representing a Hungarian minority in Ukraine, have got to the final stage of the tournament in their first-ever appearance.
The CONIFA World Football Cup, hosted by Paddy Power, is being hosted in London this year after expanding from 12 teams to 16.
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