Walsall, England 16 August 2023. IBSA World Games 2023 Partially Sighted Football match between England and Spain (credit Will Cheshire)
It was goals galore in the first round of partially sighted football fixtures which began at the University of Wolverhampton’s Walsall Campus on Wednesday, August 16.
England played out an entertaining draw on home soil against Spain. Doug Pratt hit home in the first 30 seconds, but Spain fought back, showing grit and determination to haul themselves 2-1 ahead, forcing England to twice come from behind to share the spoils in a 3-3 thriller.
Men’s partially sighted football produced two other action-packed games as Italy beat France 3-2, while world number one Ukraine toppled Japan in a convincing 3-0 victory.
Elsewhere, in women’s blind football, Argentina continued their strong start to the tournament as they followed up their 3-0 opening-day victory over Germany with a 4-0 win over India, while Germany and Austria played out a scoreless draw in front of vocal support from the German fans at Bournbrook pitches.
In the men’s blind football, Spain hit three past Columbia with no return – a scoreline matched by Morocco against Mexico – while Brazil edged out Iran in an end-to-end match, with only a penalty separating the two sides as the Brazilians emerged with a 1-0 victory in their first fixture.
RESULTS IN FULL –Wednesday 16th August
Partially sighted football
Italy 3-2 France
Ukraine 3-0 Japan
Spain 3-3 England
Men’s blind football
Columbia 0-3 Spain
Iran 0-1 Brazil
Mexico 0-3 Morocco
Women’s blind football
India 0-4 Argentina
Germany 0-0 Austria
See below for a gallery of the day’s action:
Walsall, England 16 August 2023. IBSA World Games 2023 Partially Sighted Football match between England and Spain (credit Will Cheshire)Walsall, England 16 August 2023. IBSA World Games 2023 Partially Sighted Football match between England and Spain (credit Will Cheshire)Walsall, England 16 August 2023. IBSA World Games 2023 Partially Sighted Football match between France and Italy (credit Will Cheshire)Walsall, England 16 August 2023. IBSA World Games 2023 Partially Sighted Football match between France and Italy (credit Will Cheshire)Walsall, England 16 August 2023. IBSA World Games 2023 Partially Sighted Football match between Japan and Ukraine (credit Will Cheshire)Walsall, England 16 August 2023. IBSA World Games 2023 Partially Sighted Football match between Japan and Ukraine (credit Will Cheshire)Columbia v Spain in men’s blind football (credit Nicola Gordon)Iran v Brazil in men’s blind football (credit Nicola Gordon)Birmingham, England 16 August 2023. IBSA World Games 2023 Womens Blind Football match between Argentina and India (credit Will Cheshire)Birmingham, England 16 August 2023. IBSA World Games 2023 Womens Blind Football match between Argentina and India (credit Will Cheshire)Birmingham, England 16 August 2023. IBSA World Games 2023 Womens Blind Football match between Argentina and India (credit Will Cheshire)
