Barcelona 2023 Tour Report Plate Final

Results

Mitre FC A (Eng)

John Arne Riise's Pieces (Eng)

The second final of the day in the Open Age section would see Mitre FC A versus John Arne Riise's Pieces. With eight games of football already under their belt the two teams would need to summon one last burst of energy to ensure they would be collecting winners medals and not runners-up medals in the presentation.

Let's have a look at the two teams' credentials for the Plate title:

Mitre FC A (Eng)

Previous best: Debut

Record today: Played 8, Won 5, Drawn 2, Lost 1.

Goal difference today: 17-5

Current unbeaten run: 2 games.

Today's top goalscorer: Samuele Pagano (10)

Clean sheets: 5

John Arne Riise's Pieces (Eng)

Previous best: 2022 Lisbon Tournament Cup SF & Runners-Up, 2018 Lisbon Tournament Plate Runners-Up

Record today: Played 8, Won 4, Drawn 1, Lost 3.

Goal difference today: 11-8

Current unbeaten run: 3 games.

Today's top goalscorer: Charles Warmsley, Chris Maydom (3)

Clean sheets: 4

There was a bit of symmetry to this game as these two sides played earlier in the day. When they met earlier it was Mitre FC A who emerged victorious 3-0 but a lot of football had been played since then.

The stage was set, let's get the action underway. It was first blood to Mitre FC A as Samuele Pagano applied the finish for his eleventh goal of the tournament. It looked like history may well be repeating itself from this morning's tie which would obviously be just what the doctor ordered from a Mitre FC A perspective.

Samuele Pagano had been nothing short of brilliant today. He scored again to increase Mitre FC A's lead to 2-0. It was his 12 th goal of the day and put him joint top of the top scorer charts. When we have 2 players level on goals we use two tie-breakers (1) the number of games played and (2) the knockout competition played. Sadly for Samuele he was up against Joe Sames of Norfolk N Chance who was in the Cup and played 1 game less (no Quarter-Final in the Cup). Still, it was a fantastic achievement and a fantastic goal return in 9 games of football.

John Arne Riise's Pieces had lost two Plate Finals in the past and would desperately hope to avoid a repeat here in Barcelona. The next goal was always going to be crucial – if they could get it then it would be game on. Time was short but they needed to score twice to take this game to penalties. However, if the next goal went to Mitre FC A it would be game over. The next man on the scoresheet was Rowen Mensah and he made it 3-0 to Mitre FC A and the 2023 Barcelona Fives Plate title was in the bag.

First of all we offer our consolations to John Arne Riise's Pieces on a fine campaign – as always it was great to see them on tour.

Huge congratulations go to our 2023 Barcelona Fives Plate champions though – Mitre FC A.

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For the 2023 Veterans Barcelona Fives report click here.