| |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| Results |
| |
| Retainers
Stoned (Eng) |
0
|
V
|
0
|
Habemus
Papam (Ned) |
| Shush
IF (Swe) |
2
|
V
|
0
|
6Guys
(Ned) |
| Victory
United (Ned) |
3
|
V
|
0
|
FC
NoeNoe (Ned) |
|
| |
Retainers
Stoned and Habemus Papam opened the third round
of Group A fixtures knowing the importance of
the occasion. Their campaigns had followed remarkably
similar paths. Both had lost their opening matches
before responding with encouraging draws in round
two, leaving them fourth and fifth respectively
in the standings. With the leading trio beginning
to pull away, victory here would not only close
the gap but also provide a significant boost in
the battle for the Plate qualification places.
Conversely, defeat would have left the losing
side with a mountain to climb.
The
match reflected the evenly matched nature of the
two teams. Both sides were organised defensively
and committed in the challenge, with neither willing
to take unnecessary risks. Chances were limited
throughout the opening period as the defences
remained firmly on top, and it came as little
surprise when the teams reached the interval still
locked together at 0–0. The second half continued
in the same vein, with both teams showing determination
but lacking the cutting edge needed to break the
deadlock. Retainers Stoned looked to build on
the confidence gained from their draw against
Shush IF, while Habemus Papam continued to demonstrate
the resilience that had earned them a point against
FC NoeNoe. Despite some promising moments at either
end, neither goalkeeper was beaten and the contest
ended as it had begun, with honours even.
The
goalless draw meant both teams extended their
unbeaten runs to two matches, but it also left
them still searching for that elusive first victory.
As the group stage approached its decisive phase,
both sides could take pride in their defensive
solidity, yet they would know that turning draws
into wins would be essential if they were to keep
their knockout hopes alive.
|
| |
| |
| |
The
spotlight in Group A fell firmly on the clash
between the top two teams as 6Guys took on Shush
IF in a match with significant implications
at the summit of the table. 6Guys had made a
perfect start to life in eurofootballfives with
back-to-back 1–0 victories, giving them six
points from six and top spot in the standings.
Shush IF sat just two points behind after a
win and a draw, meaning victory for the Swedes
would see them overtake their Dutch rivals.
Both teams had also developed a reputation as
second-half specialists, with all four of their
previous matches having been goalless at the
interval.
This
time, however, the pattern was broken. Shush
IF made a bright start and found the breakthrough
before half-time through the influential Oscar
To Minh. His well-taken finish not only gave
the Swedish side a deserved 1–0 advantage at
the break but also represented the first goal
6Guys had conceded in the tournament. It was
a significant moment, forcing the Group A leaders
to chase a game for the first time. 6Guys searched
for a response after the restart, but Shush
IF continued to impress at both ends of the
pitch. Oscar To Minh proved to be the match
winner, striking again in the second half to
double the advantage and put the Swedes firmly
in control. The Dutch side pressed for a route
back into the contest, but the disciplined Swedish
defence stood resolute, preserving another clean
sheet and ensuring there would be no late comeback.
The
2–0 victory was a statement result from Shush
IF. It extended their unbeaten start to the
tournament, lifted them onto seven points, and
saw them leapfrog 6Guys to move to the top of
Group A. It also underlined their credentials
as genuine contenders for the Cup places, with
another assured defensive display complementing
their growing attacking confidence. For 6Guys,
it was a first defeat and the end of their perfect
start, but with six points already on the board
they remained firmly in the hunt as the race
for qualification gathered momentum.
|
| |
| |
| |
The
final fixture of the third round looked, on paper,
to be a mismatch. Victory United entered the contest
without a point after defeats in their opening
two matches and were still searching for their
first goal of the tournament. Their opponents,
FC NoeNoe, were one of the competition's most
decorated teams and had stretched their unbeaten
run in normal time at the Amsterdam Sixes to an
incredible 16 matches. They had never lost in
the Amsterdam Sixes other than via a penalty shoot-out.
With four points from their opening two games,
FC NoeNoe were well placed in the race for the
Cup, while Victory United desperately needed a
result to reignite their campaign.
Football,
however, has a habit of ignoring reputations.
Victory United produced a superb first-half performance,
full of energy, discipline and belief, and they
stunned the former champions by taking the lead.
Faisal Baddih became the first Victory United
player to score in eurofootballfives competition,
and what an important goal it proved to be. FC
NoeNoe searched for an immediate response but
found themselves frustrated by a determined Dutch
defence, leaving Victory United deservedly 1–0
ahead at the interval.
Many
expected FC NoeNoe to mount a second-half recovery,
but it was Victory United who continued to impress.
Faisal Baddih struck again to double the advantage,
leaving the tournament favourites with a mountain
to climb. As FC NoeNoe committed players forward
in search of a route back into the contest, Victory
United punished them once more. Amin Bial added
a third goal to complete a sensational 3–0 victory,
sealing one of the biggest upsets the Amsterdam
Sixes has witnessed.
The
result sent shockwaves through Group A. Victory
United not only claimed their first points and
first goals of the tournament, but they did so
with an emphatic victory over one of the pre-tournament
favourites. The win lifted them from sixth to
fourth in the standings and breathed new life
into their hopes of reaching the Plate competition
(and maybe higher). For FC NoeNoe, it was a stunning
and unexpected end to their 16-match unbeaten
run
|
| |
| |
| Table |
| |
| Team |
Pld |
Won |
Drawn |
Lost |
For |
Agst |
Pts |
| Shush
IF (Swe) |
3
|
2
|
1
|
0
|
6
|
1
|
7
|
| 6Guys
(Ned) |
3
|
2
|
0
|
1
|
2
|
2
|
6
|
| FC
NoeNoe (Ned) |
3
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
9
|
5
|
4
|
| Victory
United (Ned) |
3
|
1
|
0
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
3
|
| Habemus
Papam (Ned) |
3
|
0
|
2
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
2
|
| Retainers
Stoned (Eng) |
3
|
0
|
2
|
1
|
1
|
8
|
2
|
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