Clubs For Nations Crowns Germany
March 8th, 2015 - St. Augustine, FL
Jacksonville, Fla. — The Florida Cup 2015 International Club Soccer Tournament wrapped up its two city tour that included Orlando and wrapped up at Jacksonville’s EverBank Field on Saturday, January 17 before a charged up crowd of 7,242.
The event created by Brazilian-based 2SV Sports with partners Orlando City FC, Disney Sports, JaxSports and Jacksonville University was billed as a “clubs for nations” tournament that pitted two teams from Germany and two teams from Brazil in a points total, winner take all format. The tournament was broadcast around the world to 125 countries and an estimated audience of more than 215 million viewers.
The teams participating in the tournament were:
Three-time German Champion FC Koln (Germany)
Current Champions League Club Bayer Leverkusen (Germany)
Two-time FIFA World-Champion Corinthians (Brazil)
Four-time Brazilian Champion Fluminense (Brazil)
The first match between Corinthians and Bayer Leverkusen saw the first goal scored in minute 13 by Bayer’s Vladlen Yurchenko against Corinthians goalkeeper Cassio Ramos. The match would remain in the favor of Bayer until minute 28, when Tournament MVP, Paolo Guerrero and his Corinthians teammates would storm back and tie the score at 1-1 on a Guerrero header sailing past goalkeeper Bernd Leno. Corinthians fans banged drums, cheered and chanted throughout the match and their team delivered. Guerrero would strike again scoring the go ahead winning goal in the 59th minute giving Corinthians a 2-1 victory over Bayer.
The second match had Germany’s FC Koln facing Brazil’s Fluminense. With an equally enthusiastic crowd, FC Koln and Fluminense gave the crowd plenty of goals and tons of excitement as the points added up. The match was tied 1-1 at halftime and FC Koln’s Bard Finne would score on an unattended net, giving FC Koln the 2-1 lead. FC Koln’s Daniel Halfar would add a goal which gave the German team a 3-1 lead. Fluminense would answer with a late goal, but it was not enough as FC Koln wins the match 3-2.
With the total tournament points added up, the Championship Trophy went to Germany and Jacksonville’s first tournament of this kind was over. Throughout the matches Jacksonville University President Tim Cost could be seen enjoying the game among the line of photographers behind the goal line area. Cost is reportedly a huge soccer fan and one of those most responsible for this event coming to Jacksonville. From the looks of how the day went, soccer sure appears to be a hit with everyone in attendance.