DHL
Prague Red were looking to get their tournament
up and running when they faced Equipo
A. Equipo A could guarantee qualification
by making it two wins out of two. When the Spanish
broke the deadlock through Xavi Moya it looked
on the the cards. In their opening game DHL Prague
Red had proven to be a stronger second half team
and this was showing to be the case again in this
fixture. Josef Kovac scored DHL Prague Red's first
goal of the tournament to bring the team's level.
When the referee blew for full time it was honours
even and one point each. Equipo A were on course
for the Cup but with their last match against
Goldsmith Williams they would be looking over
their shoulders as DHL Prague Red's fightback
in this game could jeopardize their progress into
the Cup.
Equipo
A just needed a point to make the Cup when
they faced 2008 Prague Masters champions Goldsmith
Williams. When they fell behind early on
their task became more difficult and it got increasingly
tough as the game progressed. Goldsmith were 2-0
up at the break and in no mood to relax in the
second half when 2-0 became 6-1 at full-time.
Jack Foorde scored the goal for Equipo A but his
strike was outgunned by John Lowry (2), Liam Currie,
Kevin Smith, Chris Williams and David Lowry. It
was a comprehensive win and a win that heaped
a whole load of trouble on Equipo A's chances
to make the Cup. If DHL Prague Red beat Kameeeeene
it would be goal difference that decide which
of the two teams would progress. The size of the
defeat meant Equipo A's healthy +4 was now a vulnerable
-1.
The
task for DHL Prague Red
was to win against
Kameeeeene and do so by 3 goals. As the
games were being played simultaneously the Czechs
could have no way of knowing what was necessary
as goals flew in on Pitches A and B. They purely
had to win, win well and hope they (and Goldsmith
Williams) had done enough. The final part of the
equation, winning, was looking good as they opened
up a 3-1 lead at half-time. Checking the other
half-time score of Equipo A two goals down meant
more was needed. In the second half they found
the net on two further occasions. Ajaz Budi scored
again for Kameeeeene to improve his personal tally
for the day. Adeogun Aluwatosin and Rupert Baltrock
both scored twice along with Jan Boula's opening
goal of the competition.
With
both results now in it was over to the scoreboard
to see how the results effected the group. Once
the league table was updated it was DHL Prague
Red to make the Cup as they leapfrogged Equipo
A. This achievement meant that there would be
brand new Barca Fives Plate winners as the 2008
holders DHL Prague Red would no longer be in the
Plate due to their promotion to the elite 8 competition.
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