USA 12 Spain 20
The DAC Panthers came within a touchdown of equaling unbeaten group leaders Spain as the second day of competition resumed at the NFL Flag Football World Championship in Cologne, Germany. Time expired on the youngsters from Queens and Long Island as they tried to halt the Pere Vives Vich team from Cataluña in order to mount one last offensive drive late in the game.
Spain, crowned European champions in May, were held by a determined US defensive stand on the opening possession, then took a 7-0 lead. Pau Golamo intercepted Yanni Gavalas and with the first play in reply Josep Cuadras found his brother Antonio Cuadras for a touchdown despite an aggressive US pass rush.
Dropped catches and tough defense dictated the first half and with 41 seconds remaining Nicky Athanasopoulos came up with an interception at his goal line. Two Gavalas passes to Anthony Libroia took the ball to the three-yard line where the same combination punched in a touchdown with 17 seconds on the clock. An extra point pass attempt fell incomplete, leaving the Panthers down by a point.
US hopes were dashed on the first play after halftime when Bas Nelemans caught a pass lofted over the Panthers defense for a 13-6 lead. Eddie Roscigno denied the Spaniards an extra point with a timely tackle a yard from pay dirt. Spain extended the lead to 20-6 when quarterback Cuadras hit Nil Vidal in the end zone for another touchdown.
The New York youngsters were far from finished and a clinical no huddle drive inside the two-minute warning produced four completions, the last a short toss from Gavalas to Roscigno for a touchdown and a 20-12 result.