England have captured the Cerebral Palsy World Cup for the first time in their history after securing a dramatic 2-1 victory over the United States. In a thrilling final played in Atlanta, the Para Lions battled past the tournament hosts to claim the coveted international prize at the conclusion of extra time.
The title decider produced immense late excitement when the American hosts broke through to take the lead directly from a corner kick with just three minutes remaining on the clock. England answered back swiftly through Sam Dewhirst, whose crucial equaliser sent the contest into extra time. Dewhirst then played a central role in the decisive moment of the clash, having a shot saved before David Porcher fired home the rebound to score England's tournament-winning goal.
Following the final whistle, England cerebral palsy head coach Jack Rutter hailed the momentous triumph as a historic occasion for the sport. Rutter praised the commitment of his group, stating: "It feels unbelievable. The amount of sacrifice these players and staff have put in to achieve this goal is incredible. We were coming here with hope of maybe winning a medal and I can't believe we actually won the World Cup for the first time. I'm very, very proud of all the staff and all the players."
The landmark championship brings celebratory success to English disability sport following disappointment earlier in the week. On Friday, England's powerchair squad were beaten by France in their own World Cup final, but the Para Lions ensured they capped off their tournament run in Atlanta with an unforgettable and historic world title.