The 2023 Amsterdam Fives knockout phase was upon us and we began with the Plate Semi-Finals. This was for the teams who finished third and fourth in each group. The first semi-final would be contested by Ball Sports Reds and W London in an all-English tie.

Ball Sports Reds had played well this morning to finish in third position behind strong Foot 130 (Fra) and The Zlatan Show (Ned) teams. They were up against a W London team who were competing in the Plate stage for the first time having qualified for the Cup at the 2022 Barcelona Fives. They would be a dangerous opponent for Ball Sports Reds.

The first half began with both teams displaying their attacking intent, but it was W London who quickly gained the upper hand. Maxime Roche demonstrated his prowess in front of goal by netting twice. Roche's clinical finishing put W London in a commanding position, granting them a comfortable 2-0 lead heading into the halftime break.

W London had been the joint third top scorers with 12 goals in the group phase, and they continued their attacking onslaught in the second half. The floodgates opened as they went goal crazy, leaving the Ball Sports Reds defense struggling to contain their relentless attacks. Darius Plummer showcased his immense talent by securing a fantastic hat-trick. Maxime Roche, not content with his first-half brace, added two more goals to his tally.

Despite being on the receiving end of a relentless attacking display, Ball Sports Reds managed to find the back of the net on two occasions. Charlie Norris, who had been in fine form throughout the tournament, added to his goal tally with a well-taken strike. Tom Harrison, another key figure for Ball Sports Reds, also got on the scoresheet to end as his team's top scorer with 5 for the day. Final score 7-2 and Ball Sports Reds were out but they were a very welcome addition to our events and we look forward to seeing them on tour again soon. W London had a European final to prepare for.

So who would meet W London meet in the Plate Final? The two teams set to do battle were Elstead Reds and BK Manskomplex.

Elstead Reds were looking to successfully defend the Plate title they won here 12 months ago with a 3-1 penalty shoot-out win over Columbia's Finest FC. They were two games away from glory and faced the only non-English team in the Plate, BK Manskomplex of Sweden.

Elstead Reds would no doubt start as favourites giving their higher points haul in the group phase and a positive goal difference of +1 compared to BK Manskomplex who were -6. The teams' defensive records were similar but Elstead Reds had shown a greater eye for goal in the group phase. Could that prove the difference here.

The first half saw both teams displaying their defensive resilience in a stalemate at the break. The second half commenced with increased intensity, as both teams sought to seize control and secure victory. It was Elstead Reds who drew first blood, with Harry Brown making a significant impact on the game. Brown found the back of the net, netting his first goal of the day and giving Elstead Reds a crucial 1-0 lead.

However, BK Manskomplex was not to be deterred, and they responded swiftly to level the scoreline. Edvin Jonsson also bagged his first of the day as he capitalized on a scoring opportunity to bring BK Manskomplex back into the game at 1-1. The goal set the stage for a thrilling conclusion. With the match evenly poised and both teams searching for a winner, it was BK Manskomplex who ultimately found the decisive goal. Mehdi Mohammadi proved to be the hero of the hour, delivering a crucial strike that put BK Manskomplex ahead for the first time in the game.

As the clock ticked down, Elstead Reds battled fiercely to find an equalizer, throwing everything they had into their attacking endeavors. However, the resilient defense of BK Manskomplex held firm, thwarting Elstead Reds' efforts and denying them the opportunity to salvage a result. Though Elstead Reds may feel disappointed with the outcome, they can take pride in their performance and the resilience they displayed throughout the match and the tournament.