In Game 2, we had AC Motxo International versus The Blackouts.

The Blackouts (Ire) made their eurofootballfives.com debut at the 2014 Mallorca Tournament and it was some debut. They began well with a 4-0 win over Son Veri Vets before a 0-0 draw against Palmesanos. They then finished the group in style with 4-0 and 2-0 wins over Dickie Dogs and Norton Old Boys to finish as group winners. A 5-1 win over Westfield Wanderers in the Cup Semi-Finals lead to a debut Cup Final. Sadly for them they narrowly missed out on the ultimate glory (1-0) to Palmesanos.

The 2015 Algarve Veterans Tournament was a similar story. The Irish were sublime in the group phase with 5 wins from 5 games and conceding just the 1 goal along the way. A 2-1 win in the Cup Semi-Final over Northern Ireland's Belfast Space Monkeys saw a second successive Cup Final. They got even closer this time as they drew 1-1 with Mini FC. A penalty shoot-out would decide the title but it was Mini FC who took the shoot-out 3-2. Third time lucky in Alicante?

It certainly started off well with a 1-0 win thanks to an Eoin McCormack goal.

The last team to get their campaign underway was Esparta as they took on Salv's Ancient Army.

Both teams were on debut and this would be our first glimpse of Esparta in action. Salv's Ancient Army had already played their first game and it was a decent enough showing. The narrowly lost 1-0 to The Mavericks and now had a chance to get their first goals and points on the board.

Esparta had other ideas though. The Spanish team were looking impressive in their first showing. Juan Gomez Garcia gave them a 1-0 lead and they never looked back. Aitor Esteban made it 2-0 before Raul Salor got on the score-sheet. They were sharing the goals around with German Gutierrez making it 4-0 before a second of the game for Juan Gomez Garcia. David Hernandez made it 6-0 as Esparta announced themselves onto the eurofootballfives.com scene in style.

In a change to the advertised schedule, The Blackouts were next in action on Pitch D as they entertained Esparta. This is because AC Motxo International in action in the Open Age category and so we had to tinker with the schedule to accommodate them in the Veterans section (they were stepping in for Leyendas Sport who cancelled last minute).

Both Esparta and The Blackouts had started off with victories from their opening games. Esparta lead the way on goal difference. The winner here would have at least a share of the lead at the halfway stage of Group B.

The Blackouts had a hugely impressive record in the group stage of our tournaments. Including their game today they had played 10 group games in our tournaments – they had won 9 of them and drawn just 1. They had a combined goal difference of 20 goals scored and just 1 conceded. Having seen Esparta in action in the previous game you felt this might be their toughest opponent yet!

So it proved to be. Esparta raced into a 3-0 lead by the break. Raul Salor, Salvador Carpentoe and Juan Garcia Gomez were all on target. Aitor Esteban added another for good measure in the second half as Esparta made it 6 points from 6.

The game that took us to the halfway stage of Group C was to be Mavericks versus AC Motxo International.

As well as Mavericks two previous Veterans appearances they had two impressive appearances in the Open Age section. They made their debut at the 2012 Valencia Fives. They were impressive in the group phase but a series of draws (3 out of 4 games) hindered their progress but they qualified for the Plate competition. They sailed through the Quarter-Finals 4-0 before a penalty shoot-out exit at the hands of Club Tropicana Drinks FC. Fast forward 12 months and they competed at the 2013 Barcelona Fives. This time they had 3 wins out of 4 games as they won Group C to qualify for the elite Cup competition. They then met the eventual winners, Los Swallacticos of Northern Ireland, in the Quarter-Finals and went out 3-1.

They started off well here in Alicante with a 1-0 win but they fell behind in this game. AC Motxo International went ahead through Alfonso Martin Ruiz to give his team a 1-0 lead at the break. In the second half that lead was extended to 2-0 thanks to Ruben Torres Mejias.

Mavericks then sparked a comeback! Antony Youselli reduced the deficit to 2-1 before Ani Kyriacou scored an equalizer. Neither team could find a winner and we finished with a 2-2 draw.