Results
 

JNJ High Wycombe B (Eng)

2

V

1

GBS Reds A (Cze)

JNJ Middle East (UAE)

1

V

1*

Cilag Team 2 (Swi)

* Cilag Team 2 (Swi) won 3-2 on penalties
 

We were down to our final 4 teams in the Plate competition with teams representing four different nations – Czech Repulic, England, Switzerland and the UAE.

The first Semi-Final would see JNJ High Wycombe B take on GBS Reds A. Both teams had were pretty even in the group phase picking up 7 points each and both had breezed into the Semis – the English team with a walkover and the Czechs with a 5-0 win. JNJ High Wycombe B had already defeated GBS Reds B 3-0 earlier in Group C. The GBS Reds A team would surely prove tougher opposition.

GBS Reds A had reached the Plate Semi-Final once before at the JNJ Euro Soccer Tournament. It was at Prague 2012 and they drew 0-0 with Slavoj Consumer before bowing out 2-1 on penalties. This was an equally close game and at half-time goals from Jan Cermak (GBS Reds) and Shaun Feeley (JNJ High Wycombe B) meant we were locked at 0-0. In the second half we were to have a winner and just one more goal in the fixture would win it. Cometh the hour, cometh the man and that man was Paul Lynch with his fourth goal and his most important yet.

We had to say farewell to GBS Reds A – they finished the tournament with the joint third best defence of the day and the best goal difference of all the teams in the Plate. The crucial statistic though was JNJ High Wycombe B 2, GBS Reds A 1. The former had a European final to prepare for.

 
 
 

The second Semi-Final was JNJ Middle East versus Cilag Team 2. With the exception of their game against Cilag Team 1, JNJ Middle East had been very competitive all day – their record would've read 2 wins, 2 draws, 1 defeat with 7 scored and just 2 conceded. The 6-0 loss to Cilag Team 1 was a blemish but there was no shame in that as they'd blemished most records today. Could Cilag Team 2 inflict the same sort of damage.

Coming into the Quarter-Finals, Cilag Team 2 were on a run of 3 successive defeats but a sensational 6-5 win over Leeds One saw them rejuvenated. If we're looking for a benchmark, JNJ Middle East drew 1-1 with Leeds One in the group. With the game under starter's orders it was JNJ Middle East who struck the first blow. Matt Tominey was slid through one-on-one with the goalkeeper and as the defender closed his down he coolly side-footed the finish into the bottom corner. Advantage Dubai!

In the second-half Cilag Team 2 hit back when Ivica Kusanic claimed his ninth goal of the day – a great achievement. The goal meant we finished 1-1 and would need a penalty shoot-out to decide matters. JNJ Middle East had the honour of shooting first and it was 4-goal Matt Tominey to strike first but his well hit shot was over the bar and it was Cilag Team 2 who took the initiative. Nazmir Ajvazi capitalized full as he placed it in the bottom corner to make it 1-0 to the Swiss.

The pressure was on Nick Yuill to keep JNJ Middle East in it and he duly obliged to level things at 1-1. Fabian Mark was up next and he put it to the goalkeeper's right – Francesco Azzena went the right way but agonizingly couldn't quite reach it, 2-1 to Cilag Team 2. Ross McAnlis simply had to score to keep the shoot-out going and he did. He thumped it just to the left of centre and although Giuseppe Fedele stretched an arm out he couldn't prevent the power beating him for 2-2. It meant that Ivica Kusanic, prolific today, had the chance to send his team to the final. He powered it low and hard down the middle – again it was agonizingly close to Francesco Azzena who couldn't quite reach it with foot or hand as the ball blazed past him at shin height. Cilag Team 2 were through 3-2 on penalties!

Please spare a thought for JNJ Middle East who had exited at the same stage two years in a row – they had lost neither game in normal time. Golden Goal defeated them in Bratislava 2014 and it was penalties in Prague 2015. Third time lucky next year?

 
 
 
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