October 16, 2007 > First World Power Football Championships First World Power Football Championships By Biff Jones Tokyo, Japan was the site for the First World Power Soccer Championships held last week, October 9-13, 2007. This is soccer, as we call it in the U.S., which is played by disabled adults and teenagers in motorized wheelchairs on a basketball court. Seven teams, including Team USA, participated in the tournament. In the first or round robin portion of the championships, Team USA went undefeated. They beat England, 3-0, in their first match, then Portugal, 8-0, Belgium, 4-0, host Japan, 2-0, tied France, 1-1, and won 6-0 over Denmark in the final game of the first round. The 5-0-1 first round record sent the U.S. into the semi-finals of the second or playoff round. In the semis, Team USA defeated Belgium a second time, 3-0, while France was victorious over the hosts, Japan, 1-0, in overtime. The Championship Match was now set between the favorites, France, and a young Team USA. The final turned out to be a classic. After the U.S. and France played to another 1-1 tie after regulation, the game was sent into overtime. It took three overtimes before Team USA was able sit on top of the world of Power Football (Soccer) in a dramatic 6-5 victory by way of penalty kicks (PKs). Congratulations young Eagles! More on this story in next week's edition of TCV.