Results
 

The Basemen (Eng)

1

V

3

CDAL (Por)

Galacticos (Eng)

2

v

2*

RAF2 (Por)

* RAF2 (Por) won 4-3 on penalties.

 

We were at the 2022 Lisbon Tournament Cup Semi-Final stage and from the 24 teams who signed up we were down to the final 4 – already an achievement for those who were still in the hunt for glory. The first Cup Semi-Final would see The Basemen (Eng) versus CDAL (Por).

The Basemen were on a great run of form. It was a slow start with a 4-1 defeat to Galacticos but since then they had produced 3 wins and 2 draws (4 wins, 1 draw taking into account penalty shoot-outs). They seemed well suited to Portuguese football having had their best performance in our tournaments at the 2018 Lisbon Tournament where they reached the Cup QF. The 2022 edition of the tournament already represented a “PB” with a chance of a maiden title just 2 wins away.

CDAL were emerging as tournament favourites as they still enjoyed a 100% record and were scoring goals for fun – 18 already today. They took that tally to 19 when Diogo Canina scored his fourth of the tournament. Now, The Basemen were really up against it. CDAL had only conceded once today but RAF1 had conceded 0 until the Basemen put two past them.

Miguel made it 2-0 to CDAL to give the Portuguese some breathing space and The Basemen looked like they had a mountain to climb. Jack Utting helped reduce that task as he halved the deficit to 2-1. The English side were very much in this but the fourth goal of the match would ultimately prove decisive. Adelho was the man to score it as CDAL booked their place in the Cup Final, 3-1.

It was a tough exit for The Basemen but many congratulations on a great day's play.

 
 
 

So, who would take their place in the Final from the second Semi-Final? The two teams set to do battle were Galacticos against RAF2.

Galacticos had now qualified for the Cup on all 7 of their eurofootballfives.com appearances. Their record read:

2009 Barca Fives: Cup Semi-Final

2010 Valencia Fives: Cup Final, Runners-Up

2013 Algarve Open: Cup Quarter-Final (out on penalties)

2017 Barcelona Fives: Cup Quarter-Final (out on penalties)

2018 Lisbon Tournament: Cup Final, Runners-Up

2019 Alicante Tournament: Cup Final, Runners-Up.

So far today they had 5 wins and 1 defeat and were looking good to make a fourth Cup Final. RAF2 had other ideas though. Tiago Sousa's fine goal scoring day continued with his ninth of the tournament to give his team a 1-0 lead. Musaifa Hafesji scored the winning goal in the QF and he added the equalizing goal in the SF. Gonzalo Fernandes's 6th of the tournament restored the Portuguese lead at 2-1 but Galacticos hit back for a second time. Zaiahrr's fifth of the day made it 2-2. We would need penalties to decide this.

The penalty shoot-out started off in exemplary fashion with it being 3-3 after the regulation penalties. Musaifa Hafesji, Zaiahrr & Hamza Hafesji on target for the English whilst Tiago Sousa, Paulo Naria and Micael Nascrimento were all on target for the Portuguese. The game was decided in the first round of sudden death. Adam Patel missed where Gonzalo Fernandes scored and it was RAF2 who were in the Cup Final.

What can we say to console Galacticos? They are so close to that maiden first title but penalties have not been their friend with a third exit in five tournaments due to the dreaded shoot-out.

 
 
 
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