We were down to our final 4 teams in the Plate competition. The first Semi-Final would see OS Sadinos versus Riises Pieces. This promised to be a high quality encounter – OS Sadinas had so far won 4 and lost 2 today but having seen low scoring games (1-0, 0-1, 0-1, 1-0) they had recently exploded into life with two big wins (5-1, 5-0). Momentum was very much on their side at the moment.

At the other end, Riises Pieces were on a run of 3 wins out of 4 with the only defeat in that run coming against CDAL (Por) who were the top ranked team in the tournament at the end of the group phase (most goals, fewest conceded, 100% record). These were two teams at the top of their game and the winner would deservedly take their place in the Plate Final.

It was the Portuguese who held a narrow lead at the half-way point of this game with Pedro Charrano scoring for the third game in a row to take his tally to the day to 4 goals. Riises Pieces were still very much in this game and they struck back in the second period with a goal from Andy Mowll to make it 1-1. It was a vital goal that would ultimately earn his team a penalty shoot-out.

Penalty shootouts had been good for the English team so far with success in the 2019 Mallorca Fives SF versus Red Cow Belgrade and, just moments ago, for their sister team in the Cup QF versus RAF1. Could they make it 3 shootout wins out of 3 in our tournaments?

With 6 penalties taken it was 3-3 and we entered sudden death. Riises Pieces were certainly ruthless in front of goal with Ant Lenihan, Liam O'Doherty, Robbie Heywood, Sam Thomas and Andy Mowll all successful from the spot. The decisive moment came when OS Sadinos' fifth penalty struck the post and went wide. In such situation we like to give the goalkeeper credit for forcing the penalty taker into the mistake and credit to Liam O'Doherty.