JNJ Riga Tournament 5-a-side Football Tour Report Cup Semi Finals

Results

Beeston Operation Leeds (Eng)	0	V	3	Klopp ‘N Co (Bel)
Janssen Portugal (Por)	1	v	2	JNJ Turkey (Tur)

We were at the 2019 JNJ Euro Tournament Cup Semi-Final stage and from 17 teams who started the day we had lost another 4 teams. We were now down to the final 4. We had Belgium, England, Portugal and Turkey still in the hunt for glory.

Up first was Beeston Operation Leeds versus Klopp ‘N Co and what a game this promised to be. Both of these had appeared in the Cup Semi-Finals on this tournament before. Klopp ‘N Co featured at this stage in the 2017 event in Bratislava but went out to eventual champions Cilag Team 1 (Swi). Beeston Operation Leeds reached this stage 12 months ago in Budapest where they lost to the eventual champions, JNJ Turkey, by a narrow 2-1 margin. Both teams were looking to reach their first Cup Final.

This was the third meeting between the two teams in recent years. Beeston Operation Leeds won in the group phase 1-0 last year. Klopp ‘N Co got their revenge this year with a 6-1 in the group phase that would surely make the Belgians favourites for this one.

This game was much tighter than the first meeting today and the teams changed ends with the scores level at 0-0. The deadlock was eventually broken mid-way through the second half and it took some individual brilliance. Guy Hoskens picked the ball up around the half-way line, skipped between two Beeston players and unleashed a thunderous shot into the top right hand corner. It was a fantastic strike.

Klopp ‘N Co then went through a purple patch that took the game away from Beeston Operation Leeds. Jeroen Vos scored his 11 th of the tournament to make it 2-0 before Christophe Van Den Bogaert put the cherry on a 3-0 cake.

Beeston Operation Leeds were out but could be hugely proud again of their efforts today. A great performance over the last two years.

So, who would take their place in the Final from the second Semi-Final? The two teams set to do battle were Janssen Portugal and JNJ Turkey.

Janssen Portugal had previously reached two European finals in these tournaments – both in the Plate. They had a 100% record in Semi-Finals but this would be their most difficult challenge yet. It was in the Cup and it was against the defending champions, JNJ Turkey. Janssen Portugal were unbeaten with 4 wins and 2 draws. JNJ Turkey had a slightly better record with 5 wins and 1 draw.

It was Janssen Portugal who took an early lead in this one as Bernardo Rodrigues hit goal #12 for him. It was fantastic news for Janssen Portugal but the only problem was there was a lot of time for their opponents to recover. It was the first time today that JNJ Turkey had fallen behind – how would they respond? With urgency is the question. They deployed their subs as emergency ball boys even though it was early. There was a steely determination about JNJ Turkey today.

JNJ Turkey were on the front foot but they had not created any clear cut chances but all of a sudden they were level. From a corner, the goalkeeper's view was obstructed by a defender. Serkan Kardesler's corner was heading in at the near post and Joao Mendes couldn't quite prevent it from crossing the line. It was a strange way for JNJ Turkey to draw level but 1-1 it was. Then before half-time JNJ Turkey moved ahead with Edip Efe providing the goal.

2-1 at half-time and both teams were still very much in this tie. JNJ Turkey were masterful in defence though. Although JNJ Turkey could not add to their lead at one end they were keeping Janssen Portugal at the other. All the time it remained at 2-1 there was the chance that Janssen Portugal could grab the goal that would earn them a penalty shoot-out. It was not to be though as time ran out on Portugal as JNJ Turkey advanced to a third successive Cup Final.

The tournament was now over for Janssen Portugal but they had enjoyed a great day. It was their best performance to date.

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