Lisbon 2023 Tour Report Group A Round 7

Results

Deportivo Dooradoyle (Ire)	0	V	3	RAF1 (Por)
Bugiels Rovers (Eng)	0	V	1	Sutton on Tour (Eng)
RAF3 (Por)	1	v	1	Fylde FC OB (Eng)

Round 7 would kick-off with Deportivo Dooradoyle versus RAF1. RAF1 needed only a draw to guarantee Cup qualification although, in truth, due to their goal difference they could probably afford defeat. If they won and RAF3 lost their final game they could still win Group A with a swing in goal-difference.

Deportivo Dooradoyle were currently in fifth position and could finish no higher but would want to pick up some points to avoid Sutton on Tour potentially leapfrogging them in the table in the following match.

It wasn't to be. RAF1 guaranteed it would be RAF in first and second place in Group A with a 3-0 win. Fernando Abreu was the chief architect of the win from an attacking perspective as he scored the crucial first two goals. Miguel Mariani contributed a third as RAF1 could look forward to their Cup Semi-Final.

The 20th game of Group A was Bugiels Rovers versus Sutton on Tour. The latter would go into the game as favourites with a 4 point lead over their opponents in the table. Sutton on Tour needed a draw or better to move above Deportivo Dooradoyle in the table. Bugiels Rovers knew this would be their last game of the tournament and would naturally want to finish on a high. They had a free hit at this one.

The game itself proved to be pretty even and was closely contested. Ultimately just the one goal would settle matters and that goal would come from Daniel Ball of Sutton on Tour. Combined with Anton Povstyan's second clean sheet of the tournament and they ran out 1-0 victors. They moved up to fifth place in the table and would play the fourth placed finishers in Group B.

For Bugiels Rovers it was game over – on the pitch at least – but with a well-stocked bar at the venue, sunshine to enjoy and their sister squad to cheer on (or heckle as the case may be) there was still plenty to enjoy.

The final fixture of Group A was RAF3 versus Fylde FC Old Boys. From an RAF3 perspective they knew they only needed a point to win Group A. However, we are sure they would want to keep their 100% record going and also preserve their tournament clean sheet.

Fylde FC Old Boys were certainly targeting third position so they could play the sixth placed finishers from Group B in the Plate Quarter-Finals. To do this they needed a draw or better. They could even stay above Tikki Masala with defeat but they had to keep their goal difference in better shape than the Dutch team. Fylde FC Old Boys were currently +2 whereas Tikki Masala finished on -1. The Dutch team had scored more so unless Fylde FC Old Boys scored twice they could only afford to lose by two to maintain third place.

RAF3 duly opened the scoring through Tiago Nogueira and reduced Fylde FC OB's margin for error. Things suddenly looked a lot brighter for the English team when Ryan Errington equalized for 1-1. Not only was it the chance of them getting a point (or more) but it meant to lose third spot RAF3 would now have to score 3 more against them.

Fylde FC Old Boys battled well and ended up earning a hugely impressive draw. They became the only team to take points off RAF3 and the only team to score against Carlos Ramires so far today. They also boasted an impressive haul of 10 points and clinched third place in the table.

Congratulations to RAF3 who won Group A with a fantastic return of 16 points from a possible 18. 17 goals scored with just 1 conceded was a magnificent performance.

Table

Team	Pld	Won	Drawn	Lost	For	Agst	Pts
RAF3 (Por)	6	5	1	0	17	1	16
RAF1 (Por)	6	5	0	1	14	2	15
Fylde FC OB (Eng)	6	3	1	2	6	4	10
Tikki Masala (Ned)	6	3	0	3	7	8	9
Sutton on Tour (Eng)	6	2	1	3	3	11	7
Deportivo Dooradoyle (Ire)	6	1	1	4	5	12	4
Bugiels Rovers (Eng)	6	0	0	6	0	14	0

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