We arrived at the Plate Quarter-Final stage and we would shortly see eight teams reduced to four teams. We had a really high quality line-up in the Plate with 2 previous Cup winners and 2 previous Plate winner featuring. In many ways, this could easily be a Cup line-up at one of our other events.

To begin it was PMPCAR (Por) versus ASCPM (Mor). PMPCAR had reached the Plate Quarter-Finals at last year's tournament and gone on to beat Tommie's Guns 3-0. They began the day well with 7 points from a possible 9 and looked destined for the Cup but 1 point from a possible 6 meant they slipped into the Plate. They had a goal difference of +3 and would start as favourites against ASCPM. The Moroccan team had 1 win in the group phase and a goal difference of -4.

The game was much closer than the group form would suggest though. Just the one goal separated the two teams in the first half. It was Diogo Santos with the goal. It was his third of the tournament and first strike since his double all the way back in their first game versus Giggs Boson.

The game remained close in the second half and there was to be no further addition to the score. Diogo Santos' goal would prove to be the winner.

Sadly, it was the end of the day for ASCPM – it was great to see them join the eurofootballfives.com party and a welcome addition to our tournaments. We enjoyed the presence of ASCPM and ASMS and it was great to see Morocco compete in the tournament.

In the lower half of the Quarter-Final draw it was FC Broxelona A versus Naranjitos. These were two experienced teams in eurofootballfives.com competition and in the Plate section of the tournaments in particular. FC Broxelona A won the Plate at the 2016 Budapest Fives. Naranjitos won the Plate at the 2015 Budapest Fives and the 2014 Barcelona Fives.

The two teams had very similar records this morning so this was going to be a tough match to call. Naranjitos had recorded 1 win, 3 draws and a defeat from their group games. FC Broxelona A had 1 less game (but longer games) and recorded 1 win, 2 draws and a defeat. Naranjitos had a +1 goal difference. FC Broxelona A had a 0 goal difference.

We expected a tight game and that is exactly what we got. The first half ended at 1-1 with goals from Jason Ayton (FC Broxelona A) and Mario Alvarez Garcia (Naranjitos). The second half ended at 2-2 with additional goals from Adam Henderson (FC Broxelona A) and Mario Alvarez Garcia (Naranjitos). The teams were even tied on yellow cards with 1 each.

Penalties would be required to settle this one. FC Broxelona A might fancy their chances here as they had been involved in 2 previous shoot-outs in our tournaments and won them both. 2-0 versus Athletic Pasty in the Plate SF of the 2016 Budapest Fives and 2-1 versus KML in the Cup QF of the 2017 Mallorca Fives.

On the other hand, Naranjitos may not have fancied penalties at all. They had lost both their previous shoot-outs 3-2 to Drunk Perfect at the Plate QF of the 2015 Barcelona Fives and 3-2 to SC Sylt in the Plate SF of the 2017 Amsterdam Fives.

The shoot-out went to form with FC Broxelona A winning 4-3 on penalties. An English team with a 100% record in penalty shoot-outs – I think a DNA test may be required!

Our commiseration to Naranjitos. We very much hope to see them back in action again at the 2018 Barcelona Fives later in the year.

The final Quarter-Final saw Indoorsoccer PSP take on BSP FC. This was another game that would befit a place in the Cup competition rather than the Plate. Indoorsoccer in their 2 previous Lisbon Tournament appearances had reached the Cup Semi-Finals both times. BSP FC were our reigning 2017 Amsterdam Fives champions.

Indoorsoccer PSP in particular can consider themselves unlucky not to reach the Cup. Their haul of 10 points was the most of any teams in the Plate. They had 3 wins and a draw in their 5 games and amassed a goal difference of +5. BSP FC in contrast had 2 wins out of 5 with a 0 goal difference. BSP FC were down to the bare bones 5 players so it would be some effort for them to make it through to the next stage.

With the action underway it was a closely fought opening period. Jorge Morgarido gave Indoorsoccer PSP the lead mid-way through the first half before Zak Sandhu levelled things up a minute before half-time.

BSP FC were then aided with an own goal mid-way through the second half that put them in the ascendency. A few minutes later Zak Sandhu scored his second of the game and afforded BSP FC the luxury of a two goal cushion. In fact, it was the end of the scoring and BSP FC were through.

Indoorsoccer PSP were out and we'd like to thank them for participating today especially for entering a second squad at such short notice after a cancellation in the build-up to the event.