On TUE 15 FEB 2005, the World won, figuratively as well as literally. RONALDINHO's World XI defeated Andriy SHEVCHENKO's European XI by a 6-3 scoreline at the Camp Nou in Barcelona, Spain. The match's most important number, of course, was the US$10,000,000 it was expected to pull in for the FIFA/AFC Tsunami Solidarity Fund, going toward efforts to rebuild football infrastructure in Sri Lanka, the Maldives, and other nations struck by the tsunamis of SUN 26 DEC 2004. In the match, hometown hero Samuel ETO'O of Cameroon scored twice to put the World up 3-1 by halftime. Gianfranco ZOLA of Italy and David SUAZO of Honduras, a special European guest, then scored early in the second half to equalise. But Henri CAMARA of Senegal was quick to respond, with two goals in just five minutes.

A quick summary of action around the AFC second round on WED 17 NOV 2004. more...