2018 Barcelona Fives 5-a-side Football Tour Report Group A, Round 5

Results

Pass To Russ FC (Eng)	0	v	3	Black Magic AFC (Eng)
TomTom United (Spa)	6	V	1	Retainers Academy (Eng)
Argon'ze (Fra)	3	V	2	Black Magic AFC (Eng)

12 games down, 3 to go. We now knew that Club Esportiu Llefia were the winners of Group A and that Retainers Academy & TomTom United would progress to the Trophy competition for the knock-out phase. We needed to settle the places second through to fourth with all three teams very much in contention for that second Cup place. Next up was Pass To Russ FC and Black Magic AFC – two of the main protagonists in that chase.

Both teams had lost just the once today and that was to the group winners. This could therefore be a hotly contested match. Pass To Russ FC had their fate in their own hands – win this game and finish second. If this game was a draw then Argon'ze could catch them with a win in their final game. Alternatively, if this game was a draw then Black Magic AFC could catch them if they won their final game. Pass To Russ FC had a significantly better goal difference than their opponents +9 (Argon'ze +4, Black Magic AFC +2) so a draw may well be enough. A defeat would most likely see the men from Bournemouth slip into the Plate competition.

Black Magic AFC ideally needed a win here and therefore only need a draw in their final game. A draw would probably not be enough unless they won their final game by 7. Defeat would certainly end their Cup hopes.

It was Ben Farrell who opened the scoring for Black Magic AFC before two goals for Ivan Da Cruz made it 3-0. The game was not without controversy with one late challenge not seeing red. Could that have made a difference to the final score here?

The final game on Campo A in Grupo A was TomTom United hosting Retainers Academy. This game in one sense was a free hit for the two teams. They both knew they were going through to the Trophy competition – we just didn't know in which order. The order could be important as a fifth place finish would mean a quarter-final against the team in sixth from Group B – theoretically, an easier game than playing the 5th placed team from Group B.

TomTom United currently occupied fifth position courtesy of their superior goal difference. They were -8 compared with -21. It was perhaps no surprise then that TomTom United moved ahead in this one – Jack Coles with the goal. Retainers Academy were level though with what was their first goal of the day. Hew Twizel providing the crucial touch and generously crediting the goal to their 62 year old party animal Qasim Al'Akayshee.

TomTom United moved a head again thanks to 2 goals from Alexander Etz before a hat-trick from Jack Coles. Final score, 6-1 to TomTom United.

The final game of Group A was switched to Campo B to keep the tournament on time so Argon'ze and Black Magic AFC would have new surroundings for their final fixture. They would have to travel a full 5 yards to their new pitch. What was at stake for the two teams in the battle for second:

Pass To Russ FC: 9 Points (3-0-2) with +6 GD (14-8)

Black Magic AFC: 9 points (3-0-1) with +5 GD (8-3)

Argon'ze: 7 points (2-1-1) with +5 GD (9-4).

Should Black Magic AFC win this game then they would qualify for the Cup in second with Pass To Russ FC and Argon'ze progressing to the Plate (in that order).

Should this game end in a draw then Black Magic AFC would qualify for the Cup in second with Pass To Russ FC and Argon'ze progressing to the Plate (in that order).

Should Argon'ze win this game then they would qualify for the Cup in second with Pass To Russ FC and Black Magic AFC progressing to the Plate (in that order).

The equation was relatively simple especially for Argon'ze who had to win and that looked a mere formality after the early exchanges of this game. Nicolas Laharque had scored three so far this morning but his fourth was arguably the most important as he put his team 1-0 up. Benjamin Cahart then doubled the lead to put them in control. Nicolas Laharque's second of the game looked to have earned all three points.

Black Magic AFC staged a comeback though. Alex Costello made it 3-1 to give his side hope. When Costello added a second to make it 3-2 the nerves must have been jangling in the Argon'ze camp. As it stood, Black Magic AFC just needed one more goal to earn a draw and go through to the Cup at the expense of their opponents.

The English team had just left it too late though as Argon'ze had enough in the tank to see the game out. Final score 3-2 and what a way to finish Group A.

Table

Team	Pld	Won	Drawn	Lost	For	Agst	Pts
Club Esportiu Llefia (Spa)	5	4	1	0	14	1	13
Argon'ze (Fra)	5	3	1	1	12	6	10
Pass To Russ FC (Eng)	5	3	0	2	14	8	9
Black Magic AFC (Eng)	5	3	0	2	10	6	9
TomTom United (Spa)	5	1	0	4	8	11	3
Retainers Academy (Eng)	5	0	0	5	1	27	0

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