At
the start of Round 4 we had two teams with 100%
records – one wanted, one very much unwanted.
It was Club Esportiu Llefia with 3 wins out
of 3 versus TomTom United with 3 defeats out
of 3. On paper, this looked to be a very comfortable
home win for the 2015 title holders.
TomTom
United can consider themselves a touch unlucky
so far today. Despite defeats of 3-1, 2-1 and
2-0 they had been competitive throughout. So,
whilst we expected Club Esportiu Llefia to take
the 3 points we knew they would have to work
for the win.
There
was one man largely responsible for this win
– Alfred Jimenez de Andres. This man was the
top scorer at the 2015 tournament with 9 in
7 games. He was also the top scorer at the 2016
tournament with 12 goals in 10 games. He took
his tally today to 6 goals in 4 games with a
hat-trick in this fixture. His three goals earned
a 3-0 victory.
We
should also congratulate goalkeeper Ramon Batet
in goal for Club Esportiu Llefia as he kept
his third clean sheet in four games today.
Black
Magic AFC were up next and were up against Retainers
Academy. Black Magic AFC had games in hand over
the rest of the teams in Group A. If they could
win those games in hand they would move up to
joint second position. So, although they currently
sat in fourth place they were still very much
in the mix (Little Mix?) for a place in the Cup
competition.
Retainers
Academy had looked like they had enjoyed their
morning's football today despite results not exactly
being rosy. They had collected 7-0, 5-0 and 6-0
defeats so far but had experienced a little break
since their last game and maybe had the chance
to regroup.
Retainers
Academy managed to reduce the bleeding in this
game as they restricted their opponents to 3 goals
but still found their first goal of the tournament
elusive. From a Black Magic AFC perspective, this
was the first of 3 quickfire encounters that would
decide which knockout competition they would qualify
for. For them, it was collect the 3 points and
move on to Round 5 where they would play twice.
Game
12 of Group A was a massive one for Argon'ze.
Having won their first two games they had just
tasted defeat for the first time. Could they get
back to winning ways? With Black Magic AFC gaining
on them and Pass To Russ FC ahead of them, Argon'ze
needed a result here. It would not be easy though
– they would play the league leaders.
Club
Esportiu Llefia were to play their fifth and final
game of Group A. They needed just the 1 point
to secure the Group A title. If they were to do
so it would be their second group win in our tournaments.
The first was in 2015 when they went on to win
the entire tournament – an omen perhaps? If Club
Esportiu Llefia could win this game then they
will have completed a group with a 100% record
for the first time.
The
two teams played out a very even contest and,
in the end, it was honours even. Both defences
were on top as the game finished 0-0. Ramon Betat
kept his fourth clean sheet in five games. Argon'ze
kept their third clean sheet in four games but
they were changing goalkeepers from game to game.
Quoc Binh Dang kept his clean sheet versus Retainers
Academy. Alexandre Duivon kept clean sheets against
TomTom United and now Club Esportiu Llefia.
It
was a good result for Argon'ze and a well-earned
point – but would the point be enough? They currently
occupied third position in the table.
Congratulations
to Club Esportiu Llefia – today's Group A winners.
