Barcelona Fives 5-a-side Football Tour Report Cup Semi Finals

Results

Maresmex (Spa)	0	V	2	CE Llefia (Spa)
Sharks (Spa)	3	v	2	FC Tpaktop (USSR)

We were at the 2021 Barcelona Fives Cup Semi-Final stage and from the 10 teams who started the day we were down to the final 4 – already an achievement for those who were still in the hunt for glory. The first Cup Semi-Final would see Maresmex versus Club Esportiu Llefia.

This was going to be a hard game to call on paper as both teams had played superbly this morning. Maresmex were unbeaten with 2 wins and 2 draws and had looked technically very good. Club Esportiu Llefia had three big wins in the group phase (5-1, 6-0 and 3-0) but had suffered the one defeat.

This was Club Esportiu Llefia's 6 th tournament and their knock-out record so far read:

2015: Cup Winners

2016: Plate Winners

2017: Did not qualify

2018: Cup Semi-Final

2019: Cup Quarter-Finals

In the 15 previous Barcelona Fives we have seen 15 different winners. At the business end of the tournament, CE Llefia made a fast start in a bid for a second title. Benjamin Salas Jardon and Sergi Garcia Arguile each scored their third goal of the tournament to put them 2-0 ahead by half-time. Maresmex were unable to penetrate the CE Llefia defence as their bid for a title on debut came to an end. We'd like to thank Maresmex for their attendance and hope to see them next year.

So, who would take their place in the Final from the second Semi-Final? The two teams set to do battle were Sharks (Spa) against FC Tpaktop (USSR).

Sharks were hoping to make it an all-Spanish final which would result in a 6th Spanish winner in 16 editions of the tournament. FC Tpaktop were the last hopes of the travelling contingent. Over the years travelling teams from France, England, Northern Ireland, Ukraine and Greece had taken home the winning trophy. Could the USSR be added to that list?

Sharks would no doubt be favourites as they were now the only unbeaten team left in the tournament. FC Tpaktop could never be written off. At half-time in their final group game they were 2-0 down and looked like missing out on the Cup but a storming period of 3 goals in a short space of time turned their fortunes in that game and that tournament around.

FC Tpaktop were a team with momentum on their side and that momentum continued into this game. Petr Tolmanov was one of the heroes against AFC Basemen and he was again here as he gave his team a vital lead. We all got to witness the somersault celebration not once but twice as he put his team in command. Sharks needed to respond and they did at just the right time. Michiel Geens pulled a goal back just before half-time to keep Sharks in the hunt.

The tide was turning in this game and Sean Fagan equalized for Sharks. Michiel Geens then completed the comeback as he put Sharks 3-2 up and until the Cup Final.

Commiserations to FC Tpaktop but their Barcelona appearance showed they are a team in touching distance of a Cup Final and could well see a eurofootballfives.com title within their grasp in the coming years.

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