Results
 

JNJ Pinewood (Eng)

1

V

2

GBS Reds (Cze)

Janssen Portugal (Por)

2

V

1

JNJ High Wycombe (Eng)

 

We were down to our final 4 teams in the Plate competition with teams representing the Czech Repulic, England (2) and Portugal.

The first Semi-Final would see JNJ Pinewood take on GBS Reds. JNJ Pinewood had earned a bye courtesy of their 5th placed finish in Group B. Would that give them time to rest weary legs or give them time to seize up. GBS Reds, having won their Quarter-Final 5-1, had already warmed up.

GBS Reds had reached the Plate Semi-Final twice before at the JNJ Euro Soccer Tournament and on both occasions had exited the tournament. It was at Prague 2012 when they drew 0-0 with Slavoj Consumer before bowing out 2-1 on penalties. Then at Prague 2015 they lost narrowly (2-1) to JNJ High Wycombe B. JNJ Pinewood in contrast had won their only Plate Semi-Final at Prague 2012 with a 2-1 win over Belgium's GTSC.

So, this could have been a Plate Final in 2012 – it wasn't. It was a Plate Semi-Final in 2016. It was GBS Reds who drew first blood when David Alonso, hat-trick in the Quarter-Final, continued his form to make it 1-0. GBS Reds were bidding to reach their first JNJ Euro Soccer Tournament Plate Final and they advanced their claim when Laszlo Paczelt doubled their lead to 2-0. JNJ Pinewood hit back through Michael Gill (who was in the JNJ High Wycombe B team that lifted the Plate in Prague 2015) and at 2-1 it was game on again. The sands of time eventually ran out on JNJ Pinewood though

It was third time lucky in a Plate Semi-Final for GBS Reds though and they had a European final to prepare for.

 
 
 

The second Semi-Final was Janssen Portugal versus JNJ High Wycombe B. Janssen Portugal came into the game with 2 wins out of their last 3 games and momentum building.

JNJ High Wycombe were the 2014 Cup Winners (their A team) and the 2015 Plate winners (their B team). JNJ High Wycombe had played in 4 JNJ Euro Soccer Tournament Semi-Finals and won all 4 of them. In the Cup their A team had won 5-2 v Belgium A Team (Prague 2012), 4-1 and 3-1 v Serbia (Budapest 2013, Bratislava 2014) and their B Team won 2-1 v GBS Reds in Prague 2015. A fifth win would set-up a re-match with GBS Reds in the Plate Final.

JNJ High Wycombe had history on their side and also today's form. In the group phase they had 2 wins and 1 draw in the group phase compared to Janssen Portugal's 1 win. JNJ High Wycombe had scored 9 compared to Janssen Portugal's 5 in the group phase. Both teams had conceded 11 this morning.

If the stats favoured JNJ High Wycombe there was very little between the two teams on the pitch – certainly in terms of the score. We reached half-time level at 1-1. JNJ High Wycombe took the lead through Alex Parkinson – his 8 th of the day and 80% of his team's goals. Rodrigo Martins was almost as valuable for his team in terms of goals as he equalised to make it 1-1. It was Martins 4th of the day which accounted for 50% of his team's total thus far.

In the second half there was to be a winner – who would be the hero? Step forward Tiago Santos. He scored the winning goal for Janssen Portugal that would ensure their team would continue their participation in this tournament. For JNJ High Wycombe it was an unusually early exit this year. We are sure they will bounce back stronger next year.

 
 
 
 
 
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