5-a-side Corporate Football Tournament Prague 2012 Tour Report Plate Semi Finals

Results

JNJ Pinewood (Eng)	2	V	1	GTSC (Bel)
GBS Reds A (Cze)	0	V	0*	Slavoj Consumer (Cze)
* Slavoj Consumer won 2-1 on penalties.

We were down to our final 4 teams in the Plate competition with 3 nations represented – Belgium, Czech Republic and England.

The first Semi-Final would see the best ranked of the Plate teams and arguably the favourites JNJ Pinewood take on GTSC. Both teams were on a fine run of form with the former 4 matches unbeaten and the latter 3 matches unbeaten. They were both finding form at the right time. The two teams had met before in the group stage and on that occasion they fought out a 1-1 draw.

If it was a close game this morning we expected another close game this afternoon. In the Group A game it was JNJ Pinewood who struck first in the opening period and lead 1-0 at half-time. History repeated itself in this Semi-Final with the only difference being a change of goalscorer as it was Ellis Benn who scored on this occasion.

If history continued to repeat itself we could expect a GTSC equalizer but it was not to be as JNJ Pinewood doubled their advantage through Roshan Ramdharry's first goal of the day. GTSC had proved they could come back earlier but the task was twice as difficult this time round. Bram Vercauteren's 5 th goal of the day reduced the arrears to 2-1 but he would not get a chance to add to his tally as the referee blew for full time.

JNJ Pinewood had won and claimed their place in the Plate Final. It was sadly game over for GTSC who after a slow start had played well and missed out on a European Final by a slim margin. It was our pleasure to host GTSC at the 2012 JNJ Euro Soccer Tournament.

The second Semi-Final was an encounter between two Czech teams who had already met in Group C with GBS Reds A meeting Slavoj Consumer. Up until the 2012 Berlin Fives GBS Reds A had lost 3 out of 3 Plate Semi-Finals but they overcame this hurdle in Berlin on their way to overall victory (note, their other Plate victory was in a 4-team round robin group). Could they repeat their change of fortunes in Semi-Finals?

The previous encounter between these two teams had finished 1-1 and this contest was equally as close. Goals were conspicuous by their absence though as the teams arrived at half-time and then at full-time still all square at 0-0. With the final result a draw we went into Golden Goal extra time and if we still failed to see a goal we would go down to penalties.

Could either team step up and give it one final push to grab the goal that would see them qualify for the next stage. No was the answer and all focus would be on the goalkeepers as a penalty shoot-out awaited us. After the first round of penalties it was advantage GBS Reds A as they lead 1-0. GBS Reds A could not take full advantage though as they missed their second penalty and Slavoj Consumer leveled at 1-1. Another miss for GBS Reds A meant Slavoj Consumer had the chance to put themselves in the Final and they made no mistake….a 2-1 penalty win.

It was a tough way for GBS Reds A to go out but they could take a well-earned rest and we look forward to seeing them again on their next European adventure. Slavoj Consumer would progress and they would meet JNJ Pinewood in the Plate Final.

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