The afternoon knock-out phase of the 2011 Budapest Fives began with the Plate Quarter-Finals. First up was Al Kaloida against Whiteley FC. Both teams came into the game rightly thinking they could win it. Al Kaloida bounced back from two defeats to storm into the Plate with two consecutive wins. Whiteley FC had progressed from a tough group where they were unfortunate to finish 4th .

What ensued was a close encounter with neither team being able to find their way to goal in normal time. The defences proved inpenetrable and we arrived at our first penalty shoot-out of the day.

It would be Whiteley FC who had the honour of taking the first spot-kick which Dale Matthews calmly put away. Marci Markovits quickly put the Hungarians level at 1-1. We'll spare the blushes of the next Whiteley FC penalty taker as the Al Kaloida goalkeeper saved to give them the advantage. It was an advantage they were not to relinquish as they went 2-1 up and then saved the 3rd Whiteley FC penalty. Al Kaloida were through to the semi-finals but Whiteley FC's day was over on the pitch. We were pleased to hear they had a great tour despite 5 tough games in the Hungarian capital.

The second quarter-final was to prove as equally close when MacBengals met DHL Prague Red. We've touched on DHL Prague Red's record in Plate competitions as they were bidding to make their 4th successive Plate Final. MacBengals were in unfamiliar territory as they had made the Cup in Valencia 6 months ago.

DHL Prague Red had probably proved the most obdurate team in the tournament so far with all of their games proving close – scoring 3, conceding 3. This match was just as tight and at full-time we were level at 1-1. A 4th David Asamoah goal of the day for the Czech team cancelled out Olly Gardner's goal for the English team and we had another game go to penalties.

DHL Prague Red would take the first penalty but Tomas Jerabek failed to convert. Toby Gardner made no mistake and MacBengals had a 1-0 advantage. Scott Clifford was up next but he also could not find the net. Olly Gardner had the chance to put his team through but we had our third miss in four penalties. Up stepped David Asamoah for DHL Prague Red to keep his teams hopes alive – he powered his penalty home and we were level at 1-1. All eyes were now on Matthew Elder as he took on Donald in the DHL goal. Elder prevailed and MacBengals were through 2-1 on penalties. DHL Prague Red were out in the tightest of situations.

So far we had seen two quarter-finals go to penalties – would we see a third in the Real So So Bad versus DHL Prague Blue match? Having seen the ‘Red' squad go out the ‘Blue' squad were the Czech Republic's last hope of glory in Budapest 2011.

They would have some work to do to force a penalty shoot-out as they found themselves 3-0 down by half-time. Goals from Diego Moreira (2) and Jonny Wray put Real So So Bad in an enviable position. They would have to implode like Arsenal v Newcastle to lose from here – they didn't. The second half proved much closer but the damage was already done. Jonny Wray added his second of the game, third of the tournament for Real So So Bad. Rupert Baltrock scored a consolation for DHL Prague Blue but his team was out.

The two DHL Prague squads retired to the bar where they could watch the rest of the tournament from salubrious surroundings. Real So So Bad had a semi-final to prepare for.

The final Plate Quarter-Final would be contested by Johns Boys and Deportivo Lack of Talent. The prize at stake was a semi-final place against Real So So Bad. Johns Boys would be favourites having two wins under their belts compared to Deportivo's one but we were now in a knock-out situation where anything could happen.

The first strike in this game went to Joe Rees of Deportivo Lack of Talent and that's how it stayed until half-time. The first goal of these games often prove crucial as it forces the opposition on to the front foot, take risks and inevitably leave gaps at the back.

This is how it proved in this game as Deportivo Lack of Talent mustered the talent to find two more goals (both through James Smith) to outgun a solitary Chris Hope strike. The lead proved unassailable and Deportivo Lack of Talent had their second win of the day and made safe passage to the semi-finals. For Johns Boys, alas, their footballing day was over and they could take a well-earned rest under the Budapest sun.