The first set of fixtures had been completed so it was quickly on to Round 2. The opening game of the round saw Men Behaving Chadli taking on AC Motxo International.

The two teams were both on debut but now each had a game under their belts to see what this eurofootballfives.com malarkey was all about. Both teams had suffered defeat in those opening games but with a bit of experience behind them (and a little more time to recover from last night's hangovers) they would each hope to pick up their first points here in Round 2.

The first goal of the game is often pivotal in our tournaments and so it was certainly advantage AC Motxo International when Pedro Valiente Tejeda put the Madrid team ahead. When 1-0 became 2-0 thanks to Juan Carlos Canizares Ortega it looked like the points were safe. Isaac Barriguete Franco in goal for AC Motxo was able to keep a clean sheet and so it was a first eurofootballfives.com victory for the Spanish. Well done to them.

Cruz Del Sur had looked good in their opening game against Men Behaving Chadli and topped the embryonic Group B table on 3 points with a +2 goal difference. Just behind them were Lacey Green FC who were level on points with their opponents but currently in second with a +1 goal difference.

Lacey Green were putting in a second appearance at the Algarve Open having appeared here 3 years at the 2015 edition of the event. On that occasion, they made a steady start with 2 draws. After that they finished up with loss – win – loss to finish in third position on 6 points. It meant qualification for the Plate competition. A resounding 4-0 win over Club Tropicana Drinks FC meant they faced AFC Shooters A in the Semi-Finals. The teams played out a 0-0 draw but Lacey Green exited the competition after penalties.

Performances so far this morning suggested Lacey Green (and Cruz Del Sur) might be aiming for higher than the Plate. This game finished 0-0 but you felt it was probably a good point in the context of the overall group seeing this was probably a game not to lose rather than a must win.

On Pitch B we had two teams who picked up draws in their first game coming head to head. Wealdstone Raiders had picked up a good 0-0 draw with Portugal's FC Gymnasium whilst AFC Chorltonian Vets had collected a point after a 1-1 draw with Spain's AC Motxo International.

With that good opening point behind them, could either of these teams pick up a first win of the day? If they could a share of the lead at the top of Group B was on offer.

Wealdstone Raiders were making appearance #3 in eurofootballfives.com competition. They made their debut at the 2015 Barcelona Fives where they finished third in Group C. They qualified for the Plate competition and met ABCDE FC in the Quarter-Finals. A 3-1 defeat saw them depart the competition.

They then played at the 2017 Vilnius Tournament where they competed well in their first 3 games – suffering narrow 0-1 and 1-2 losses and picking up a 0-0 draw against the eventual Plate winners. A heavy loss in their final game consigned them to the Wooden Spoon match. They drew 2-2 with The Crazy Gang and then won the match 4-3 on penalties.

Back to 2018, here in the Algarve both teams would go on to pick-up their second draw of the day – goals were conspicuous by their absence as the match finished 0-0.

To complete Round 2 we had FC Gymnasium versus Elbersiktas on Pitch B. This was another game between two teams who had secured opening game draws. Chorltonians and Wealdstone Raiders in the previous game were unable to use that opening draw as a springboard for a first win – could the Portuguese or Dutch do so here?

Given FC Gymnasium's credentials (they were champions here in 2015 playing as Futeboladas) you would have felt they would have been particularly disappointed with a draw first time out and Elbersiktas might face a backlash. Elbersiktas were able to compete well with FC Gymnasium though in what was another close game in Group B.

Just the one goal would settle this match and it was Joao Pereira who would prove to be the match-winner. It was an important goal as it sent his team to the top of the table. They shared the lead with Cruz Del Sur and Lacey Green FC.