JNJ Riga Tournament 5-a-side Football Tour Report Group A Round 5

Results

JNJ Turkey (Tur)	1	V	1	Klopp ‘N Co (Bel)
Nordic Vikings (Scand)	8	V	0	Baltic Team (Lat)
Beeston Operation Leeds (Eng)	5	V	2	DePuy Blackpool (Eng)

So, onto Round 5 we go and the last attempts for the teams to stake their claim for the Cup qualification or for Plate qualification depending on their situation. First up was JNJ Turkey versus Klopp ‘N Co. Both teams had 100% winning records so far – for one of these teams (or maybe both), this 100% run would end.

Both teams had already qualified for the Cup but there was still a lot riding on this game. Pride, honour and the sport of winning of course. Also, the chance to win the Group A title and with it secure a (theoretically) easier Quarter-Final tie. The winners would play the third placed team from Group B. The losers would face the Group B winners.

With almost identical records in the table we expected a close game and that is exactly what we got. In the first half there was nothing to choose between the two teams as we were locked together at 0-0. In the second half it was JNJ Turkey who moved ahead. Edip Efe scored the crucial goal for his team.

At this moment JNJ Turkey were winning Group A but this was all to change courtesy of a Yoram Bobon goal. His equalizer meant the Klopp ‘N Co would go to the top on goal difference.

The match finished 1-1 and huge congratulations to Klopp ‘N Co for winning the group above the defending champions. Well done to both for unbeaten campaigns so far and both qualifying for the Cup.

On Pitch B we had Nordic Vikings versus Baltic Team. Both teams were looking for their first points of the day. At stake was potentially Plate qualification. Whoever finished 5th in the table would automatically secure this. The 6th placed team would have to hope they had a better record than the other 6th placed team (Group B) to qualify.

This was a winner takes all game for fifth position. Should the game finish in a draw then Nordic Vikings would take fifth due to superior goal difference. The point would also help Baltic Team as the best sixth placed team as their equivalent in Group B was currently pointless.

Once the game got going it was clear this game would not end in a draw. Nordic Vikings had performed well against JNJ Turkey last time out and they were to continue that performance here with a thumping 8-0 win – four goals in each half. Markus Johansson was the chief architect of victory with 5 goals to his name. Markus Korhonen and Mikael Lindholm (x2) were also on target.

The 15th and final game of Group A was Beeston Operation Leeds versus DePuy Blackpool. This was a straight out battle for the Cup or Plate. The winner would qualify for the elite Cup competition. The loser would have to settle for the Plate. Should the game finish in a draw then Beeston Operation Leeds would take third place and the Cup qualification berth via goal difference.

DePuy Blackpool had the form coming into the game with two successive victories and it was they who took the lead thanks to Craig Johnston. The goal stung Beeston Operation Leeds into action as Harry Jones equalized and Lewis Butler turned the game on its head for 2-1. Will Bedford and Lewis Butler extended that lead to 4-1 at half-time.

In the second half the teams exchanged a goal apiece. Lewis Butler scored for Beeston Operation Leeds which secured his third hat-trick of the tournament. Ben Jones had the final say with a goal for DePuy Blackpool.

Final score was 5-2 as Beeston Operation Leeds would qualify for the Cup – just as they did in Budapest 2018. DePuy Blackpool would qualify for the Plate – just as they did in Budapest 2018.

Table

Team	Pld	Won	Drawn	Lost	For	Agst	Pts
Klopp ‘N Co (Bel)	5	4	1	0	31	5	13
JNJ Turkey (Tur)	5	4	1	0	27	3	13
Beeston Operation Leeds (Eng)	5	3	0	2	20	16	9
DePuy Blackpool (Eng)	5	2	0	3	17	24	6
Nordic Vikings (Scand)	5	1	0	4	16	22	3
Baltic Team (Lat)	5	0	0	5	4	45	0

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