Billy Mehmet's late strike seals semi win over Padania, before Karpatalya get better of Szekely Land
Friday 8 June 2018 16:14, UK
The CONIFA World Football Cup final at Enfield on Saturday evening will be contested by Northern Cyprus and Karpatalya.
Former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg will take charge of the clash at the Queen Elizabeth II Stadium, which will kick off at 6pm following the third-fourth place play-off.
Northern Cyprus beat Padania 3-2 at Carshalton in Thursday's first semi of the tournament for non-FIFA affiliated international teams, twice coming from behind to equalise against their Italian opponents before former St Mirren striker Billy Mehmet grabbed his second goal of the game in the 84th minute to seal victory.
In the second semi at the same venue, two teams of ethnic Hungarians faced off, with Karpatalya - from a region of south-west Ukraine - taking a three-goal lead against Szekely Land, representing Magyar settlers from an area of central Romania.
The Szekelys pulled two goals back towards the end of the second half, but a stoppage-time strike from Csaba Peres gave Karpatalya a 4-2 win.
Also on Thursday, Liverpool legend Bruce Grobbelaar pulled on his gloves to play international football again at the age of 60 as he started in goal for Matabeleland in their 1-0 'friendly' win over the Chagos Islands.
Matabeleland, representing people from western Zimbabwe, had been due to play Ellan Vannin in the placement-round fixture but their opponents from the Isle of Man had earlier pulled out of the tournament in a dispute over player eligibility.
The CONIFA World Football Cup concludes on Saturday, with both the third-fourth place play-off and the final to be played at Enfield Town's Queen Elizabeth II Stadium, and placement round matches taking place at Bedfont, Aveley, Rotherhithe and Haringey. Tickets cost £11 for adults, and £5.50 for Under-18s.
