The afternoon knock-out phase of the 2011 Algarve Open began with the Plate Quarter-Finals. First up was FCB Helles versus Dynamo Fucdarest on Pitch A. FCB Helles had started the day in superb style winning their first two fixtures but since then had gone two games without victory. Dynamo Fucdarest had proved unpredictable thus far scoring own goals, producing great comebacks and all with a vociferous supporting cast.

It was to be the Dynamo supporters who were to get the chance to cheer first in this game when Suniel Makh gave his side a first-half lead. FCB Helles were staring down the barrel of a third defeat after a campaign that promised so much early on. Suniel Makh made things worse for the Biermeisters when he made it 2-0.

There was still time for him to make it 3-0 and complete his hat-trick and earn his team a Plate Semi-Final place. Dynamo Fucdarest had potentially two more games to play but FCB Helles's day was over – on the pitch at least.

The second quarter-final was an intriguing affair as Eagles Athletic met Eagles UnAthletic. The game was a derby match between the two New Milton Eagles squads. It is not often teams from the same club meet in eurofootballfives competition but when they do it often has a strange atmosphere – sometimes the games can lack a little intensity or sometimes the games can have a bit too much intensity with players determined not to lose to their tour-mates.

One thing was for sure that New Milton Eagles would have a team in the Semi-Finals and that bragging rights were at stake for the rest of the Algarve tour and beyond. The Eagles Athletic squad had the better of the two group records and could justifiably consider themselves favourites but as with most derbies the form book went out the window and Eagles UnAthletic raised their game.

In the end there would be just the one goal to decide it and the goalscorer that became a hero to half his mates and a scourge to the others was Steve Collins. His goal meant Eagles UnAthletic would play Dynamo Fucdarest in the first Plate Semi-Final.

Mar Olhao were Portugal's sole representatives in the Plate competition and sole hopes of local glory at this level. Their continued presence in the tournament was looking good against Pimp My Side FC as they took a 1-0 lead into the break thanks to a strike from Cristiano Santos.

Pimp My Side were no pushovers though and were arguably the favourites for the Plate tournament overall. It's not often you get a former Cup finalist in a Plate competition and so they were expected to be strong. Pimp My Side FC had also found their form towards the end of the group phase and were unbeaten in two games including a great draw against Athletico Do Hollande.

The English team put in a great second half performance and leveled things up when Gary Lowery found the net. Mark Halling then struck to put them 2-1 up and with that Portugal's last Plate representatives were out. Pimp My Side were into the semi-finals.

The final Plate Quarter-Final would be contested by the second Biermeisters squad, FCB Dunkles, and Hebden Bridge. Like Pimp My Side FC, FCB Dunkles had enjoyed a stronger second half to their group performances. They were on a run of two wins out of two and eager to make it three in a row.

It would not be easy against Hebden Bridge and was likely to be a close game. There had been just one goal in four Hebden Bridge games so far and we could quite easily see a scenario where Hebden Bridge secured three more 0-0 draws and collected the Plate trophy with 3 penalty shoot-out wins. Where's our imaginary bookie – let's get a price on that.

One team that certainly didn't want that was FCB Dunkles who were looking for a place in the semi-finals and looking for some inter-Biermeisters bragging rights by going further in the tournament than their sister FCB Helles squad.

It was a perfect start for FCB Dunkles as Dom Bouloux put them 1-0 up and then Neil Donovan made it 2-0 all before half-time. For each player it was their third goal of the tournament and goals that looked to secure them their third win on the bounce.

Hebden Bridge were unable to find the goals they needed and we had to say goodbye to them for this year despite boasting one of the tournament's best defences. We look forward to seeing them in action against next season.