Well this was the biggest event held in Australia since the 1954
Olympics, or so we were told by the media. Personally I think it was bigger
because I have no memory of that event. Perhaps I'll get to see the 2000
Olympics in Sydney. They put up two hoardings at either end of the ground
just to identify the full house, high profile final with the 2000 bid.
I was impressed. The players filed out onto the field, anthems were played,
that bloody marching band finally left and things got under way to a loud
cheer.

Brazil	: 1. Dida, 2. Bruno, 3. Gelson, 4. Juarez, 5. Marcelinho, 7. Cate,
	  8. Pereira, 9. Gian, 10. Adriano, 11. Yan, 15. Hermes

Ghana	: 1. Ben Owu, 3. Kofi Nimo, 5. Isaac Asare, 6. Mohammed Gargo,
	  8. Nii Odartey Lamptey, 9. Augustine Ahinful, 11. Emmanuel Duah,
	  13. C.K. Akonnor, 14 Ossei Kuffour, 15 Ransford Banini,
	  18 Daniel Addo.

Referee	: Ahmet Cakar (Turkey)

	This is the match the 40015 crowd had come for and the Brazilian
drums kept beat with the clanging noises coming from Ghana's supporters.
The kick off came and the 150 countries which I'm told were taking a feed
would be in for a great match. Undoubtedly these teams were the best two
of the tournament, soon there would be the best and second best.
	Ransford Banini got a little carried away early on and got a yellow
card for going in from behind and missing the ball. Ghanainan ball control 
was superb and were matching Brazil step for step. Both sides tried their
luck against the opposing goal, usually from too far out. Gian had a glimpse
of an oppertunity in the first five minutes but was soon closed down by
the Ghanaian defence and the best Gian could do was fall awkwardly and
claim a penalty. Thankfully that didn't happen.
	At the other end Ghana performed something I will probably never 
forget. CK Akonnor, running down the left, stopped, held the ball with his
left foot, pulled it back to wrong foot the defenders and crossed the ball
into the area with his right foot. Ahinful was too close to reach the ball
but it landed neatly on Emmanuel Duah's head and was headed across the 
goalkeeper in a neat arc and landed in the far corner of the goal. Dida's
diving attempt was in vain and there was an enourmous roar and Ghana were
in raptures. 1-0 against Brazil in the WYC final. Brazil were shaken but
attempts by Cate and a free kick by Adriano proved that Brazil had plenty
of time to torment Ben Owu. This was a match of the highest calibre and I feel
proud to have seen it.
	Ben Owu was having a good time but at one stage was dicing with death
when he ran from his own goal line after gatering a weak shot from Pereira.
He took more than four steps I would say. Hermes switched play across the
ground to Cate and Cate shot at goal once more. Again he was off target,
the ball over the crossbar.
	Both sides were exhibiting superb skills and control. Movement on and
off the ball verged on the sublime, do yourself a favour and see this match
if you have any means of doing so.
	Ghana was threatening the Brazilian goal again from a corner. The
ball was nodded on to Lamptey who used a hand to control the ball and was
closed down before he could release his shot. When Lamptey went on a run
every so often you could almost feel his value go up. 7 million, 7.5 million,
8 million...it really is too bad for Liverpool that they can't afford him
because he very much wants to play there. Ghana had beaten Brazil 2-1 in the
U17's, it was looking like history could repeat itself.
	Brazil were getting a bit flustered. The usually sound Dida dropped
a ball from another Ghanaian cross but was judged to have been fouled. One
of those defenders privillege calls. At the other end Ghana were getting a
little too relaxed and a bad pass from defence ended up in Pereira having
a shot from the edge of the area. If the top right corner of the goal was
the third quadrant then the ball passed through the first, but not by
much. Addo, apparently something of a singer in the team bus, was orchestrating
much of the play on the field also.
	The FIFA official was spending a lot of time telling both benches to
sit down and shut up while out on the field the tight battle for control 
continued. Just before the half time whistle Brazil were foiled by some
great goalkeeping by Ben Owu. Bruno lobbed the ball into Ghana's penalty
area where Gian headed the ball down to Juarez who kicked the ball straight
into the fast reacting Owu. The ball went back into the field of play but Yan
was unable to make anything of it. This brought the half to an end.
	Brazil began the second half well and had a dubious free kick awarded
to them when Banini got the ball but the man went down with the challenge.
Right in front of goal and just outside the area, the kick was taken by
Gian but the wall did its job. Soon afterwards, however, Brazil got its
equaliser. Bruno in the centre circle passed to Yan who took the ball towards
goal and passed to Adriano. Yan continued on his run and Adriano timed and
placed a through ball perfectly for Yan. Before any of the defenders or the
keeper managed to get the ball Yan poked his toe at it and sent it under 
the keeper and into goal. He tripped over the keeper who was sprawled on the 
ground but got up in a real hurry to celebrate along with most of the crowd.
I wonder if he'd have spent more time on the ground had the ball missed. Ah,
I'm such a nasty person aren't I. Well Brazil did deserve a goal for all the
effort they put in and the celebrations they went into gave an indication
of the sort of relief they felt.
	The pace of the match after the equaliser went into overdrive. It
was unfathomable how anyone could step up the pace that existed before the
goal but it happened. A free kick from Adriano sailed across the goalmouth
and Juarez was unable to get a telling touch on the ball to get a second goal
for Brazil.
	Ghana was getting a little frayed and when a free kick was given
centimetres outside the Ghanaian penalty area the players began to remonstrate
with the referee and I think Addo got a yellow card. When Adriano took the kick
while the referee was still speaking with a Ghana player, and Owu had to leap
acrobatically to touch the ball over the bar, more arguments arose and another
Ghanaian was booked. It almost looked like Ghana was going to capitulate under
the enourmous pressure the Brazilians were exerting. It may have been a turning
point but Ghana, to their credit, held firm.
	The chances they created at the other end and a yellow card to Cate
spoke volumes of Ghana's recovery and at 1-1 there really wasn't a split
hair in it. Caico replaced Pereira for Brazil, Julio Leal opting for a more
attacking player.
	Back and forth across the field, contests between individual players
and the coaching instructions the match swung more than the hippest party 
I've ever been to. Cate crossed the ball back to the waiting Hermes who
missed the ball completely with his attempt at the second Brazilian goal, he
wasn't helped with Gian wanting a piece of the action, at the Ghanaian goal.
Previously a desperate clearance was all that stopped Duah putting a shot
at Dida's goal with no-one but the keeper to beat from 12 metres out.
	It is a pity Ghana couldn't afford to send any journalists to cover
their team at this event. Brazil apparently only managed two.
	Duah was injured on the field at one stage, but the referee called
play to go on. Ghana wanting to put the ball out as far away from their
goal as possible failed to find the sideline and the crowd booed when Brazil
kept playing. Ghana eventually did put the ball out and Brazil duly threw it
back to Ghana after Duah had recovered. It was a tight match but generally
very clean.
	With barely 4 minutes to go Boateng replaced Akonnor, Ghana looking
to inject some pace into their side, Akonnor, like Adriano, were tiring
quickly after having been so involved. Yan pulled Lamptey's shirt as he
tried to charge the Brazilian goal. Yan was booked and Gargo and a teammate
both came close to scoring from a free kick and a header respectively.
	As the game wore on and messages regarding extra time arrangements
were announced it seemed Brazil were finishing the better of the two and
that was which caused the winner. A tired Ghana team slowed up considerably
and allowed Marcelinho to pass the ball to Gian who had made a run just
left of the centre of the field. Gian was being closed down fast and had to
take a shot quickly. He did and it was well struck and Ben Owu was beaten
to his left and the crowd went mad. The Brazilians, in an unusual gesture,
slid to the touchline on their stomachs before the celebrations got 
seriously under way. The Referee had an awful time of getting the players
to return for the kick off. There were celebrations all around the Stadium,
Ghana had played valiantly but they were sunk now.
	Argel replaced Adriano with seconds to go, no doubt to waste time.
Brazil erupted when the final whistle went, there was very little time added
on for some fairly lengthy breaks for injury. The Ghanains complained to
the Referee but it was all over.
	The ecstatic Brazilians were overjoyed, the presentations were made.
Ghana went first, many were inconsolable. It is often said but always true
that it is sad that there must be a loser in such a match. To lose in such
a heart breaking fashion must have been doubly painful. Brazil took possession
of the Cup and made their lap of honour. Ghana also thanked their fans.
As Brazil came by me I saw their happy faces, Caico was having his turn in
holding the Cup and passed right in front of me. Most had a Brazilian flag
draped around them. Adriano was also sporting an Australian flag. The two
mascots for the tournament, Strike-r-roo and Ref-r-ree were hugged by the
Brazilian players. Gian getting a little carried away and had his photo taken
as he straddled the tail of the Kangaroo mascot. Both the Koala and the 
Kangaroo had been causing me great embarassment since I first saw them, but
the Brazilians had great fun with them and moved on. I went home feeling
just a little empty inside. This was the last of the WYC matches I was going
to see for a while. I can't see myself in Nigeria in two years time. Perhaps
I will make it to the USA in '94.
	I hope it's been as much fun for you guys as it has for me. Thank you.

	Brazil 2 (Yan 48, Gian 89) - Ghana 1 (E Duah 13)