The afternoon knock-out phase of the 2013 Algarve Open began with the Plate Quarter-Finals. First up was Parry St Germain versus Hangover 96 on Pitch A. The special thing about this game was that it was a Parry St Germain derby with both teams from the Parry-Connolly axis of football coming face to face.

We take you all the way back to the 2007 Prague Trophy Plate Semi-Final (see this link) where England Lions and Brazil United met. The Lions were largely the Parry St Germain team, Brazil United were largely the Hangover 96 team.

Back in 2007 Kevin Connolly was on the scoresheet for Brazil United and he was on the scoresheet again for Hangover 96 in 2013. 6 years on and still an eye for goal! His goal was not enough for victory though (as it wasn't in 2007) as Marvin Topping scored for Parry St Germain. Connolly's goal was enough to earn a 1-1 draw though which was a great result. Hangover 96 had finished 6th in their group and Parry St Germain had finished 3rd in theirs so you would have thought Parry St Germain would be the winners here.

Extra time could not separate the two teams and we had a penalty shoot-out to look forward to. Parry St Germain may not relish these as they went out on penalties in the Cup Quarter-Finals to Water Boy in the 2012 Algarve Open. History was to repeat itself for Parry St Germain as penalties were their undoing in 2013 – they missed their first two, Hangover 96 scored their first two and it was all over. Hangover '96 were through.

Quarter-Final 3 would be contested by Water Boy and Sapadores. The one thing that was guaranteed here was that a team from Portugal would be in the Semi-Finals in this Portuguese derby.

Water Boy had to be considered one of the favourites for the Plate competition. They had previously reached two Cup Quarter-Finals in 2011 and 2012. They had dropped down a level here so would be expected to do well. Like West Central FC, a lack of goals had prevented them doing better in Group B although they had been tight at the back.

Water Boy's last two games had finished 0-0 and they had gone 3 games without scoring….until now. Pedro Vilhena supplied the finish that ended the goal drought and put Water Boy in charge of this game. They continued to be solid at the back and kept their third consecutive clean sheet to see off Sapadores, 1-0.

The final Plate Quarter-Final would be contested by Chateau Bravado Old Boys and Let Us Win or Elsie. Both teams had played well this morning and both could consider their points tally under par for their efforts. Chateau Bravado Old Boys had arguably showed the better form with 2 wins and 1 draw under their belts but comparing Groups is always a little tricky.

Let Us Win or Elsie had suffered bad luck in at least their 3 opening games so it was maybe a bit of karma that they were the beneficiaries of some good luck in this game as Chateau Bravado Old Boys were the masters of their own downfall. They gifted Let Us Win or Elsie an own goal when there really was no danger around – it was to be a hammer blow and ended their tournament and such a shame to go out in this way.

They were unable to find the goal they needed to get back into it and Let Us Win or Elsie took full advantage of the gift and defended their lead well enough to qualify for the Plate Semi-Finals where Water Boy awaited them.