So, for just the fourth time in 77 tournaments we would have a Cup and a Plate group to decide the winners and runners-up medals. It had proved a popular format at the 2009 Valencia Fives, 2010 Prague Trophy and 2011 Krakow Trophy and we were very much looking forward to how the 2016 Algarve Open would pan out in this format.

We kicked off with the Plate group with all fixtures being played on Group B. We would begin with two teams who had emerged from Pitch A and Group A this morning – The Funky Shepherds versus The Avengers.

These two teams had met in the final fixture of Group A and so they did not have to wait too long to renew rivalries. In the morning, it was The Avengers who had won 4-0. Could The Funky Shepherds put in a performance that would reverse the fortunes in their previous encounter?

Sadly for them the answer is no. The Avengers continued from where they left off as Miguel Pereira put them 1-0 up. Pereira was the top goalscorer at the 2015 Algarve Open but amazingly this was his first of today. Jose Miguel was also in the goals last year (4 in total) and he added 2 to his tally today before Joao Fernandes scored to make it 4-0 at half-time.

Joao Fernandes went on to complete a hat-trick in the second half as The Avengers ran out 6-1 victors. There was some consolation for Aidan O'Reilly scored his third of the tournament.

The next teams to kick-off their challenge for the Plate were Water boy and NVA. Water Boy had competed in 5 previous tournaments and qualified for the Cup on 4 of those previous occasions. In their only Plate appearance to date they went on to win it in 2013.

These two teams were looking for their first victory of the day and if they could get that vital win under their belts now maybe it could change their fortunes and see them go on to glory. It wouldn't be the first team we have seen a successful Plate challenge come after a winless morning. At half-time we were locked at 0-0 with both teams still battling for the victory.

In the second half it was Water Boy who made the crucial breakthrough as Bruno Befinha struck the killer blow. NVA had started off with a narrow one goal defeat in the morning and it was to be a repeat this afternoon. Could this be déjà vu?

Trilution had been the final team to see action in Group B this morning and they were to be the final team to get onto the field in the Plate Group this afternoon. Could the fact they had a slightly longer lunch break hold them in good stead against The Funky Shepherds who'd already got a game under their belts this afternoon.

It may well have played a part against a Funky Shepherds team who, without the luxury of substitutes, were beginning to wilt under the Algarve sun. The hot conditions would naturally play into the local teams' hands compared to those teams travelling from cooler climates in the North of Europe and Trilution took full advantage.

William Garcia and Marco Rufino (2) both scored in the first half to put Trilution in full control. Three goals in the first half were followed by three more in the second half as Vitor Silva made it 4-0 before William Garcia went on to complete a hat-trick. The 6-0 win was to be the biggest win of the tournament. Trilution had begun the afternoon in style.

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The Avengers versus Water Boy was a fixture we had already seen today. In Game #3 of Group A the two teams had been involved in a very close contest which had seen The Avengers emerge victorious, 1-0. A repeat would do them just fine here.

Following their Cup win in 2015, The Avengers were bidding to become the 7th team in eurofootballfives.com history to win both a Cup and a Plate tournament. Of the 6 teams who had already achieved this, Saipan FC were also here today in the Algarve but playing in the Cup group.

Water Boy were also bidding to become part of a select group of teams to win more than one Plate title. CSF had won 4, New Milton Eagles had won 3 and there was a group of 5 teams with 2 Plate wins to their name. Having won the 2013 Algarve Open Plate, Water Boy could join that list.

On the field it was The Avengers who struck first to lead 1-0 at half-time thanks to Joao Fernandes's 7th goal of the day – a key contender for the Top Goalscorer award. After the break Water Boy hit back with an equalizer from Luis Salguero. Final score, 1-1.

Completing the round of second fixtures would be NVA v Trilution. With the draw between The Avengers and Water Boy in the previous game there was an opportunity for Trilution to go two points clear at the top with victory here.

NVA were seeking out their first win of the day and if they could secure victory here they would be just 1 point off top with 2 games to go and a chance of European glory. It can often just take 1 win to spark a change in fortune on the wave of a confidence boost. Things started well in this one as Lee Kenneally put NVA ahead for the first time today. Could they keep the lead? At half-time they still held the advantage.

When these two teams met earlier in the day it was Trilution emerged victorious 1-0 but there would be no mirror image of that scoreline as the Portuguese team hit back after the break. Fresh from a hat-trick in his previous game, William Garcia levelled for Trilution. Miguel Cima completed the turnaround when he put Trilution 2-1 up and complete the double over NVA.

What could NVA do to catch a break? This was their 4th defeat in 6 games by just the 1 goal. They were competitive in this tournament on the pitch but the cold harsh stats would not show that.