So,
with 42 games under our belts we had just one
more to go to decide the winners of the 2015 Budapest
Fives. We had a great final in store and a fantastic
crowd assembled by Pitch A to watch the game and
see who would be crowned champions.
The
Final would be contested by CIS Committee of Belarus
(100% record with 6 wins) and Csabagyongye of
Hungary (4 wins, 2 draws). The general feeling
was that the team from Belarus were the ones to
beat. History was in the making for these two
teams.
CIS
Committee were looking to win their 3rd eurofootballfives.com
title which would put them joint 2nd in the all-time
list behind Olympic Phil Babb of England (4 titles)
and level with Athletico Do Hollande of Holland
(3 titles). CIS Committee were looking to become
only the second team to successfully defend a
title after Athletico Do Hollande's wins at the
2010 and 2011 Algarve Opens.
Csabagyongye
could be the fifth team to record both a Cup victory
and a Plate victory in eurofootballfives.com history
after this feat had also been achieved by FC Radbroke,
Rigford Seahawks (both England), Equipo A (Spain)
and GSF Drunkerz (Slovakia).
With
the game underway the pattern in the early stages
was one of CIS possession with Csabagyongye sitting
back to defend. Anton Galay forced a saved for
CIS and Koczka hit one over from a tight angle
but there was little in the way of clear cut chances.
Then came the first telling moment of the game
as Sergey Polyakov blocked a clearance from the
home goalkeeper and the block rebounded into the
net for 1-0. Csabagyongye had looked comfortable
until that point and it was such a shame to concede
in that way – we hoped it didn't spoil the final
as a spectacle.
CIS
Committee then looked to turn the screw and the
Hungarian goalkeeper redeemed himself with blocks/saves
from Anton Galay and three times from Polyakov.
For much of the first half Koczka had been too
isolated up front with little support as Csabagyongye
sat deep. That was until late in the half when
Csabagyongye won the ball and broke quickly. A
ball laid off to Koczka was hit first time and
curled past the Belarus goalkeeper for 1-1. It
proved to be the last kick of the half and it
was game on.
The
second half started in similar fashion to the
first half with Aliaksandr Lisouski heading over
and Anton Galay forcing another save – which the
goalkeeper saved with his face from close range.
Ouch! Csabagyongye had a couple of ‘almost' moments
on the break but the final ball was lacking.
Lisouski
came close as his shot was deflected wide and
from the corner the ball was fired wide. The next
big moment of the game came from the restart.
The ball found Koczka in the middle of a triangle
between goalkeeper and two defenders. Lovely control
on his chest and on the turn took him through
on goal and as he took it past Gerasimovich, Ihar
Shcherbich lunged in and a penalty was given.
The Fritzl Palace players behind the goal at the
end appealed for a penalty although most of the
spectators were on the blind-side of the incident.
There were no protests from the CIS Committee
team.
Gergo
Koczka scored his penalty in the Semi-Final penalty
shoot-out and he stepped up again here. Alexander
Gerasimovich went the right way but the penalty
was well struck and found the bottom corner. 2-1
to Csabagyongye.
CIS
Committee pressed for the equalizer with Aliaksander
Lisouski having a snap shot well saved before
Shcherbich fired wide from distance. Koczka could
have had a hat-trick and sealed the game but headed
wide. With time running out Gerasimovich moved
up from the back as all players were camped in
the Csabagyongye half. There was one final chance
for Anton Galay but the Csabagyongye goalkeeper
made another fine save – he'd more than made up
for his first half error. It was touch and go
whether he or Koczka would be man of the match.
It
was all over. There was a massive release of pressure
as Csabagyongye were jubilant in celebration.
They had won it with a great comeback and committeed
display - Congratulations to the 2015 Budapest
Fives champions.
Our
commiserations to CIS Committee who had made it
a superb Cup Final for the spectators to watch
but fell to the curse of the defending champions.
It was now 6 teams who had got to the Cup Final
to defend their trophy only to fall at the final
hurdle. CIS Committee join the following teams
in this infamous list – Goldsmith Williams (Eng),
Lozenetz City (Bul), Deportivo (Cze) and Los Swallacticos
(Nir).
There
was consolation for CIS Committee as Sergey Polyakov
claimed the day's Top Goalscorer award with 8
goals. Well done to you Mr Polyakov.
We
send our congratulations to all the teams who
participated in what was a great day's competition.
The tournament had everything we hoped it would
(and more). We look forward to seeing you all
again very soon.
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