As
we entered the final Round of games there was
much to play for and the main talking point at
the top was who would win the Group B title? Cracow
United and Paris Expats were level on 12 points
– both were unbeaten with 100% records. Cracow
United lead the group with superior goal difference
and on that basis they were favourites to be group
champions. It also meant that a draw would be
good enough for them to take the title.
With
both teams having qualified they could enjoy the
game and play with a bit of freedom. However,
the title was at stake and, not only that, but
the winners would secure a theoretically easier
Cup Quarter-Final and give them an advantage in
their quest for the 2013 Krakow Trophy title.
Cracow
United hit the ground running though and they
lead 3-1 at half-time. A repeat of that score
in the second half meant they wrapped up a 6-2
win and the Group B title in emphatic fashion.
There were goals from Eric Gerrardin (2), Dean
Roney (2) and Florian Colas (2) for the Polish
team. Lukasz Meisner and Maciej Pojda bagged the
goals for the French team.
Cracow
United were looking in sensational form and were
one of the favourites to win this tournament now
– most goals scored, least conceded and therefore
the best goal difference. Paris Expats rightly
earned their place too in the final 8.
Team
Karma had finished their Group B action as the
3 points for their 3-0 walkover win were chalked
up. We did not quite know where they would finish
as this was subject to the final group game
which was due to kick-off shortly.
The
final game of Group B was Contejus Hurricanes
versus Hardly Athletic. For the former it was
a last opportunity to qualify for the Cup competition.
They could yet become one of the two best 3rd
placed finishers and qualify but to have any chance
of this they would have to win…even then it was
not guaranteed. For Hardly Athletic, they currently
sat in 5th position. A win for them would mean
a three-team tie on 6 points and it come down
to goal difference to settle positions 3rd, 4th
and 5th. 6 points would not be enough for the
Cup though.
The
opening goal of the game was bagged by Christopher
Agathangelou and when Martin Weltman made it 2-0
a third win was on the cards for the Hurricanes.
Christopher Agathangelou started the scoring in
the second half to seal the destination of the
points and Joe Latimer wrapped up the victory
at 4-0. The result meant Contejus Hurricanes finished
3 rd with Hardly Athletic in 5 th place.
Other
results would prove to go against Contejus Hurricanes
for Cup qualification and they would miss out
on the Cup – not on points, not on goal difference
but on goals scored. The consolation would be
that they could still add Plate victory here to
their win in Portugal last year.
