Tsunami
FC had the chance to put opening game disappointment
behind them when they met
Hawks. Hawks must have been buoyant coming
off the back of their stunning first game victory
and they continued their form by taking a first
half lead through Daniel Cooke who scored his
second goal in as many games. After 3 goal-less
halves Tsunami FC found their shooting boots in
the second half of this game when Jamie Palmer
opened their account. Hawks had enough in the
tank to cancel this out though as Daniel Beccles
goal earned a 2-1 victory. The win saw them pull
out a 3 point lead at the top of Group B.
The
next game for Tsunami
FC was against Lozenetz
City. Both teams had a chance of Cup qualification
(at least mathematically) proving just how tight
this group was. If Tsunami FC won and Rapid Bosco
Navas lost with a 2-goal swing in goal difference
then they would progress. Lozenetz City knew that
a win would be enough if Rapid Bosco Navas failed
to beat Hawks. If Rapid Bosco Navas and Lozenetz
City both won there would be a 3-way tie at the
top and goal difference would decide which two
of the three teams would make it through.
When
Tsunami FC and Lozenetz City kicked off it was
Lozenetz City who would provide wave after wave
of attack on the Tsunami goal. The Bulgarians
wanted to win and win big to take the goal difference
issue out of the equation for them. Tsunami FC
were hit for 5 in a belligerent first-half with
Alexander Kyulev the main threat scoring a hat-trick.
Another hat-trick (Bozhidar Gorchev) and another
5 goals followed in the second half although Ian
Madgett did spoil a clean sheet for the Bulgarian
goalkeeper. 10-1 was the final score and Lozenetz
City were through.
The
only game left was Rapid
Bosco Navas versus Hawks.
The Spanish team and defending champions had to
win and keep their hopes alive whilst Hawks just
needed to avoid defeat. Rapid Bosco Navas showed
why they were champions and pulled out a great
performance just when it was required. The early
exchanges could not provide a goal and the longer
the game remained at 0-0 the more important the
first goal would be. Half-time came and went with
both defences on top. We were to see goals though
and Oscar Fuster swung the game in Rapid Bosco
Navas's favour and changed the whole dynamic of
the game. Suddenly the impetus and initiative
to find a goal was now on Hawks who needed to
score to go through. As they pushed forward inevitably
gaps would appear at the back. When Jaume Camprubi
Sannicolor extended the lead to 2-0 it was game
over. Rapid Bosco Navas had qualified for the
Cup but it was the Plate for Hawks who would enter
that competition arguably as favourites. It was
rough justice for them as you have to be very
unlucky to gain 6 points in such a tough group
and still fail to make the Cup.
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