We were at the 2023 Amsterdam Fives Cup Semi-Final stage and from the 12 teams who started the day we were down to the final 4. We had an all-French Semi-Final and an all-Dutch Semi-Final so were guaranteed France v Netherlands in the Cup Final but which teams would represent their country was still to be decided.

Up first was Foot 130 versus Les Collegues. Foot 130 came into the game unbeaten as Group A Winners with the joint highest points haul, the most goals scored and the best goal difference in the group phase. Les Collegues had the joint best defence of all teams in the group phase.

The match began with Foot 130 taking an early lead, as Natan de Carriere found the back of the net, putting his team ahead by 1-0. However, their lead was short-lived, as Steven Buoyer of Les Collegues swiftly responded with an equalizer, leveling the score at 1-1.

Undeterred by the setback, Foot 130 regained control of the game and unleashed a series of attacking moves. Their efforts paid off when Antoine Botrel put Foot 130 in the lead once again at 2-1. The momentum was firmly in their favour as Boris Laguerre extended Foot 130's advantage to 3-1. Foot 130's attacking prowess was relentless, and Antoine Botrel capitalized on an opportunity to score his second goal of the match, widening the gap to 4-1 just before half-time.

The second half saw Foot 130 successfully defend their lead as the two teams shared four goals. Jules Cicurel claimed a double but his goals would not be enough to salvage the game for Les Collegues. Frederic Bost and Antoine Botrel were on target again for Foot 130. The latter saw Botrel complete his hat-trick and took his tournament tally to an impressive 10 goals.

It was sadly all over for Les Collegues and they were a joy to host in Amsterdam. Foot 130 would now eagerly await the Cup Final, where they would aim to replicate this impressive performance and claim the coveted Amsterdam Fives title.

So, who would take their place in the Cup Final from the second Semi-Final? The two teams set to do battle were Shab-Tilburg and The Zlatan Show. This game on paper looked like a close call. Shab Tilburg claimed the Group B title with 13 points (4 wins, 1 draw) with 17 goals scored and 8 conceded. The Zlatan Show were also unbeaten with 11 points (3 wins, 2 draws) with 12 goals scored and also 8 conceded.

The first half remained goalless as both teams displayed solid defensive performances, denying their opponents any chance to break the deadlock. As the half-time whistle blew, the stage was set for an intense second half.

The Zlatan Show came out firing in the second half. Their efforts paid off as Brian Flaco found the back of the net and giving his team a crucial 1-0 lead. Building on their momentum, The Zlatan Show extended their advantage when Johannes Henkel added a second goal, putting them comfortably ahead at 2-0.

However, Shab-Tilburg showed great resilience and fighting spirit, refusing to be deterred. They quickly responded to the deficit with two goals of their own from the talented Walid Maruan. Maruan's impressive performance not only brought the scoreline level at 2-2 but also took his personal tournament tally to eight goals.

With the match tied at full time we would need a penalty shoot-out to decide this. Both teams displayed nerves of steel and impeccable accuracy, converting all of their regulation penalties flawlessly. The scoreline stood at an intense 3-3, with neither team showing signs of cracking under pressure.

It was in the fourth round of penalties that the decisive moment arrived. Shab-Tilburg struck the post while The Zlatan Show remained composed and converted their penalty successfully, giving them a 4-3 victory.

It was a tough exit for Shab-Tilburg who exited the tournament unbeaten in normal time and on another day they could easily be contesting the title in the final. It was The Zlatan Show though who marched on and would take on Foot 130 for glory.