Results
 

Klopp & Co (Bel)

-

V

-

BYE

Nordic Vikings (Scand)

1

v

0

EDC 2 (Ire)

Maidenhead (Eng)

2

V

1

EDC 1 (Ire)

DePuy Blackpool (Eng)

-

V

-

BYE

 

We arrived at the Plate Quarter-Final stage with 6 teams still in action. Due to there being 6 teams two of the teams would earn a bye to the Semi-Final. Those two teams would be the 5th placed finishers in the group – Klopp & Co from Group A, DePuy Blackpool from Group B.

 

The first Quarter-Final saw Nordic Vikings taking on EDC2 as Scandanavia met Ireland for the second time today. In the group phase Nordic Vikings met EDC1 which resulted in a 2-1 victory for the Nordic team. A repeat would put them 2 victories away from European glory.

 

From an Irish perspective, there was a chance of an EDC1 versus EDC2 Plate Final if the two teams could put behind their group form and get some results going in the knock-out phase. A look at these two teams record in the group phase showed Nordic Vikings outscored their opponents 5-0 but also had a slightly more porous defence, 19 conceded compared to 17.

 

Without wishing to be too obvious, that greater ability to put the ball in the net and finishing prowess could prove to be the difference here. The two teams played out a 0-0 first half. As time went on the first goal would be increasingly important when it arrived. Ultimately, 1 goal would decide this tie and that goal came from Payraw Farhad – his third of the tournament. Final score, 1-0 to Nordic Vikings.

 
 
 

 

We moved to Pitch B for the other Plate Quarter-Final which saw Maidenhead take on EDC1. Having previously been a “Cup” team (as opposed to a “Plate” team) Maidenhead would surely start as favourites for this tie and one of the overall contenders to take the Plate title.

 

EDC1 had previously played in one Plate Quarter-Final before today and that was last year against Cilag Team 2 of Switzerland. The game finished 3-3 in normal time but the Swiss won the penalty shoot-out, 1-0, to progress. Could EDC1 go one step further in Budapest?

 

The first half was perhaps closer than anticipated given that Maidenhead brought a -3 goal difference to the game compared with EDC1's -15. The Irish remained very much in the contest at the break as they trailed 2-1. Goals from Richard Parkinson and Alvaro Gonzalez outgunned Evan Dimopoulos's strike for EDC1.

 

In the second half EDC1 remained at striking distance right up until the final whistle. Sadly for them, they were unable to find that elusive equalizer that would take them into a penalty shoot-out. Maidenhead were through to the Semi-Finals.

 
 
 
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