JNJ Corporate 5-a-side Football Tournament Krakow 2016 Tour Report Cup Final

Results

JNJ Medical Russia (Rus)

Synthes UK 1 (Eng)

After 53 games of football all eyes were on Pitch B for the climax of The 2016 JNJ Euro Soccer Tournament Cup Final. The two teams set to do battle for the honour and glory of victory were JNJ Russia (Russia) versus Synthes UK 1 (England).

At the Prague 2015 event, JNJ Russia were only the second team in the history of the JNJ Euro Soccer Tournament to reach multiple Cup Finals (after JNJ High Wycombe with 3 Cup Finals). Today, they equaled JNJ High Wycombe's record of 3 Cup Finals. They won the Budapest 2013 Final against JNJ High Wycombe but were Runners-Up last year to Switzerland's Cilag Team 1. If they were to win today they would become the first team to win two JNJ Euro Soccer Tournaments.

Synthes UK 1 became the third team to reach multiple Cup Finals after their appearance in the Cup Final at the Bratislava 2014 event. They missed out on that occasion to JNJ High Wycombe – could 2016 be their year?

I don't think there was any doubt that we had the correct two teams in the Cup Final – the statistics supported the fact. These teams were the top 2 scoring teams in the tournament and had the best goal differences in the tournament. JNJ Medical Russia also boasted the best defence in the tournament.

If we were looking for a winner today the two team's results today read:

JNJ Medical Russia: Played 8, Won 7, Drew 1, Goals Scored 25, Conceded 5.

Synthes UK 1: Played 8, Won 7, Drew 1, Goals Scored 23, Conceded 6.

As you can see there was very little to choose between the two teams. In the early stages of the game the matched proved to be very even. The first goal can be pivotal and the first big moment of the game went the way of JNJ Russia who won a penalty for handball. Rustam Kecherukov stepped forward and smashed the ball in off the bar, 1-0 JNJ Medical Russia.

JNJ Medical Russia were not ahead for long as Synthes UK 1 won a free-kick in shooting distance. Liam Robinson took it and scored with a stunning strike. A powerful hit dissected the two defenders in the wall at head height and crashed into the back of the net off the inside of the post. Power and placement – game on at 1-1.

The start of the second half was as tight as the early stages in the first half. Despite attacking intent there was little in the way of goalmouth action. The first goal of the second half came after Vladimir Doroshenkov did superbly to hold off his defender and sweep home for 2-1. It was his 8 th goal of the day and his most important.

Andrey Sheremetyev then had a free-kick for Russia which produced a good save from Andy Preece in the Synthes UK 1. There was still time for Synthes UK 1 to get back into the Cup Final but they needed to weather the current storm as JNJ Medical Russia were on top after they went ahead. Just as it looked like they were getting a foot-hold back into the game, a Russian break saw Vladimir Doroshenkov draw the goalkeeper and defender which left Rustam Kecherukov free to fire home for 3-1.

The game was killed off when Sergey Vovk struck a shot from mid-range which was heading straight at the goalkeeper until a deflection off a defender for 4-1. It was the final nail in the coffin for Synthes UK 1's hopes of glory.

We don't think anyone could be in any doubt that the best team on the day won. JNJ Medical were the top-scoring team in the tournament with 29 goals and they had the best defence with just 6 conceded and 3 clean sheets in 9 games. They had 3 different goalscorers in the top 10 for the tournament and were fully deserving of their victory. Many, many congratulations to JNJ Medical Russia – 2016 JNJ Euro Soccer Tournament Champions!

We offer our consolations to Synthes UK 1 who had another strong day in the tournament but it was one game too far for them today. We are sure there is a tournament win for them soon. We very much hope they will come back to join us in the future to have another crack at winning the JNJ Euro Soccer Tournament.

Our congratulations for the personal honours go to Jacek Banas of JNJ Poland with 13.

Thank you to all the teams who competed and we look forward to seeing you in 2017….wherever that may be!