Report: Turkiye 0-0 England (1-2 penalties)
Para Lions have now set up a clash with Mexico on Thursday at the 2023 IBSA World Championship in Birmingham
England Blind Men beat Türkiye on penalties to secure their place in the 13th-place play-off at the IBSA World Championships in Birmingham.
The Para Lions had high hopes heading into the tournament, having won bronze at the IBSA EURO last summer, but 1-0 defeats to Germany and China, either side of a 0-0 with Argentina, meant they finished bottom of group B.
That set up today’s match with Turkiye on Monday afternoon and after another goalless draw, where both Efe Shimwell and Brandon Coleman went agonisingly close for the Para Lions, the game went to penalties.
Impressive spot-kicks Coleman and Azeem Amir, plus a trademark save from Dylan Malpas, meant England would win 2-1, with a penalty to spare, to book a spot in the 13th-place play-off against Mexico on Thursday (6.30pm kick-off).
England: 1 Dylan Malpas, 3 Owen Bainbridge, 7 Brandon Coleman, 8 Efe Shimwell, 9 Roy Turnham
Substitutes: 13 Sam Marsden, 4 Azeem Amir, 10 Eesa Amjid
Head coach: Adam Bendam
Turkey: 1 Husyin Saygili, 2 Recep Aydeniz, 11 Hasan Satay, 16 Semih Deniz, 17 Emre Aslan
Substitutes: Kerem Yildirir, Emrah Ocal, Muhammed Ali Oktem, Celal Coban, Oguzhan Yokus
Head coach: Mehmet Mustafa Erdogan