RP Homeless booters bow to Indians

The Philippines absorbed a heart-breaking 4-3 defeat to India at the start of the 2008 Homeless World Cup at the Federation Square stadium in Melbourne, Australia Monday.

It was a sorry loss for the seven-man RP street children who battled it out with their Indian rivals in a spirited bid to break through each other’s defensive lines and score a goal.

The Pinoy booters, backed by Danny Moran, Nonong Araneta, Eric Gutierres, Monchu Garcia, Pocholo Borromeo, Charlie Cojuangco, Jeff Long, Mike Camahort, Patxi Elizalde, Bito Mantecon and Miguel Celdran, appeared unstoppable in their assault but the Indians proved steadier, sneaking in a couple of goals to snatch the one-point victory.

The team is also supported by Accel Sports, Solar Sports, Amici Pizza Pasta, Jeepney Magazine, Mariposa Travel International, Gatorade, Ybarra Olive Oil, SR Metals Inc, 2Go, Rider/Ipanema Sandals, GNC, Nike Park, Kid’s International Ministries, Carlos Cojuangco Foundation Inc, Negros Occidental Football Association, Pagcor, Dept of Tourism, Herbalife Phils, Boehringer Ingelheim, ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation, Kublai’s Rock Mongolian Bar and Grill, Lotto Soccer, NU 107, Football Connection/Sports Radio 918, www.pinoysoccer.com, www.pffmanila.org and Kublai’s.

In other results, Austria blanked Australia, 3-0; Nigeria and Finland nipped Italy and Norway in a pair of shootouts, and Kyrgyzstan routed Australia, 8-2, in the women’s side.