Romania came out on top in the final of the 2nd IBSA Euro Challenge Cup in Blind Football, which concluded last Saturday in Thessaloniki, Greece.

The competition featured five emerging national teams from the IBSA Blind Football Development Project Europe, including new countries Albania and Georgia, and a special entry from an under 18 Russian national team.

Romania overcame Georgia 3-2 on penalties to take the title following a hard-fought nil-nil draw in the final.

Caption: Romanian players dance in a circle on the pitch after the final.

The result shows a tremendous improvement by the Romanian squad, which finished the 1st Euro Challenge Cup, held in the Czech Republic in 2014, in 6th place.

Moldova came third, defeating Hungary 2-0 on penalties in the third and fourth place play-off. The match had finished 1-1.

Newcomers Albania, playing in their very first international tournament, finished fifth and the Russian U-18 team concluded the competition in sixth place.

István Szabó from Hungary took the trophy for top scorer, Georgia number 7 Bachana Margvelashvivi was voted player of the tournament, and Albania number 2 Laert Sejdini won the fair play award.  

The 2nd IBSA Euro Challenge Cup was held as part of the IBSA Blind Football Development Project Europe, which is funded by UEFA.

IBSA is happy to acknowledge support from Goalfix Sports, which donated a number of sets of eyeshades to the tournament.

Full results from the tournament will be made available on this web site shortly.

Caption: all participants in the two tournaments pose for a family photo on the pitch.

In the 20th Thessaloniki International Blind Football Tournament, which was run at the same time, Girondins de Bordeaux beat Turkey 1-0 in the final to take the title. Local club Pirsos came third and Russia concluded the event in fourth place.

Caption: Girondins de Bordeaux pose with the IBSA flag.