Results
 

JNJ Russia A

1

V

3

JNJ High Wycombe (Eng)

JNJ Belgium A Team

2

v

1

GBS Reds C (Cze)

JNJ Wuppertal A (Ger)

1

v

5

JNJ Russia B

JNJ Croatia

5

V

1

JNJ Serbia

 

As the 2012 JNJ Euro Soccer Tournament Cup Quarter-Finals were about to get underway we were down to the elite 8 teams in the tournament representing Belgium, Croatia, the Czech Republic, England, Germany, Russia and Serbia. We had 7 different nations in what was a very cosmopolitan and multicultural Cup competition.

 

We started on Pitch B with the first of two Russian teams in the Quarter-Final draw, JNJ Russia A, taking on JNJ High Wycombe Warriors. Whilst the two teams had not yet met, JNJ High Wycombe Warriors had encountered the JNJ Russia B team in the group stages and lost 2-0. It was a reasonable assumption that the Russia A team was stronger than the B team and therefore the English team had a tough task ahead of them.

 

Against the B team, JNJ High Wycombe Warriors reached half-time level at 0-0. Against the Russia A team they were level again at the break, 1-1, thanks to goals from Valery Melnikov's fourth of the tournament (JNJ Russia A) and Alex Woodger's fourth of the tournament also (JNJ High Wycombe).

 

After the break the team from England took the lead courtesy of a Rob Buckland goal and the winners of Group A who had 5 wins out of 5 were suddenly staring at defeat when it really mattered. A Delroy Howell goal made it 3-1 and it was game, set and match to JNJ High Wycombe Warriors.

 

It was tournament over for JNJ Russia and you have to feel for them that with just one defeat in six games they were out. We would like to thank JNJ Russia for taking part in the tournament and making the journey all the way from Moscow in such great numbers. It was a pleasure to meet you all.

 
 
 

So, who would meet JNJ High Wycombe Warriors in the Semi-Final? It was JNJ Belgium A Team against GBS Reds C of the Czech Republic. JNJ Belgium A Team had been mightily impressive so far as they won Group B with four victories and one draw. GBS Reds C were going to be dangerous opposition though as they were the Best 3 rd placed team in the group stages.

 

With the predetermined draw it was a quirk of fate that these two teams had met earlier in the day in the group when JNJ Belgium A Team recorded a slender 1-0 win. In the Group phased the two teams were all square 0-0 at half-time before the Belgians clinched victory in the second half. This game started in a similar fashion with the two teams again reaching half-time level at 0-0. We had more goals in the second period this time but still the same result as JNJ Belgium A Team edged it by the odd goal in three 2-1.

 

The goal scoring heroes for the Belgians were Kris Wauters who scored for the fourth successive game and Klaas Gavaert with Petr Jelinek scoring the goal for the Czechs. It was the end of the road for GBS Reds in the Cup competition although they were still going in the Plate competition. JNJ Belgium A team continued their unbeaten run as the marched on to the Semi-Finals.
 
 
 

Quarter-Final three was JNJ Wuppertal A versus JNJ Russia B. JNJ Wuppertal A had won Group C and were on a fine run of form with 4 wins and 1 draw behind them. They would meet the 2nd best 3rd placed team which was JNJ Russia B. JNJ Russia B had also emerged from Group C and they did it in style beating JNJ High Wycombe in their last group game…it was perhaps a tough blow to draw the impressive JNJ Wuppertal A.

 

When the two teams met earlier in the day it resulted in a 2-1 win for the German team. JNJ Russia B must have learned a lot from that game as they came storming out of the gates in this match and surged to a 3-1 lead by half-time. The main architect of the lead was Rustan Kechernikov who scored twice. Stefan Pohl scored for JNJ Wuppertal A to give his team hope in the second period.

 

What hope they did have must have disappeared when Kechernikov completed his hat-trick to make it 4-1. There was still time for an Alexey Gomer goal to put the icing on the cake for an outstanding 5-1 win.

 

JNJ Russia A were out but JNJ Russia B were through – all Russian hopes now lay with them. It was tournament over for JNJ Wuppertal A and, similarly to JNJ Russia A, you had to feel for them that with just one defeat in six games they were out. The German challenge for the day was over in both the Cup and the Plate – we were both surprised as their standard of play deserved more. We were honoured to have you participate in the tournament.

 
 
 

The final Quarter-Final was to be played by JNJ Croatia and JNJ Serbia. It was a game between the second placed teams in Group A and Group B. The Croatian team were the team to watch in the opening four games with four victories, scoring 19 goals and conceding just two until they were beaten by JNJ Russia B. How would they respond to that defeat against JNJ Serbia?

 

Pretty well was the answer as they opened up a 2-1 lead at half-time in their Quarter-Final. Josep Grilec and Patrik Godec scored the goals but they still had work to do as Nemanja Beatovic's goal kept them in striking distance. JNJ Serbia were on a 3-game unbeaten run and could not be discounted but a comeback looked more difficult when at the start of the second periodBerislav Paic made it 3-1.

 

JNJ Croatia were back to their free scoring best and two further goals from Hrvoje Glavas made it 5-1 and it was game over for JNJ Serbia. The Serbian team had played well today but were unable to overcome their Croatian opposition and we had to say goodbye to them. We wished them a safe drive back to Belgrade and, before that, a great stay in Prague to enjoy the city. JNJ Croatia had a Semi-Final to look forward to.

 
 
Click on links below to proceed to
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
©Copyright 2006 | eurofootballfives.com
site disclaimer | contact us