Results
 

PFC (Bra)

3

V

2

Santa Cruz (Bra)

FC Moldova Montreal (Can)

1

v

1*

FC Poloboc (Mda)

* FC Poloboc (Mda) won 3-2 on penalties
 

We were at the 2026 Lisbon Veterans Tournament Cup Semi-Final stage and from all the teams who began the day we were down to the final 4 – already an achievement for those who were still in the hunt for glory. We still had 3 nationalities in with a chance of winning – Brazil (x2), Canada and Moldova.

Brazil would be guaranteed one team in the Cup Final as the first Cup Semi-Final saw PFC (Bra) face off against Santa Cruz (Bra). All eyes were on PFC as they were going strong in the Open Age and Veterans tournaments. The Veterans side were enjoying a glorious day so far with 4 wins out of 4 and a sensational 22 goals scored. They were the top scoring team in the tournament and had the best goal difference with +17. It was going to be tough for Santa Cruz on debut but they had performed well too with just the one defeat in their 4 games. They had won 3 on the bounce and had not conceded since their opening game.

The first semi-final more than lived up to expectations as PFC and Santa Cruz produced a thrilling contest packed with quality and drama. PFC made the stronger start and moved ahead through the prolific Fernando Cunha, whose eighth goal of the tournament continued his outstanding scoring form. They then strengthened their grip on the match when Ricardo Teixeira found the net to make it 2–0. At that stage PFC appeared to be in complete control, but Santa Cruz showed tremendous character to fight their way back into the game. Leandro Silva reduced the deficit and gave the debutant Brazilians renewed belief before Gean Silva completed the comeback with an equaliser. Suddenly the momentum had shifted and the teams went into the interval level at 2–2 after a breathless opening period.

With a place in the Cup Final at stake, the second half was understandably more cautious, but the tension only added to the spectacle. Both teams searched for the goal that would separate them, knowing that one moment could define their tournament. That decisive moment arrived through the man who had already opened the scoring. Fernando Cunha once again demonstrated his importance to PFC, striking for his ninth goal of the competition to restore his side's advantage. Santa Cruz pushed hard for another equaliser and refused to give up their hopes of reaching the final, but PFC stood firm to protect their lead. When the final whistle sounded, it confirmed a hard-earned 3–2 victory and a place in yet another Cup Final for one of the most successful teams in eurofootballfives history.

 
 
 

FC Moldova Montreal arrived in the semi-final with the 2nd strongest group-stage record in the competition. Four wins from four, thirteen goals scored, and only two conceded had marked them out as one of the favourites for the title. Standing in their way were three-time champions FC Poloboc, who had endured a much tougher route to the knockout rounds. The Moldovans had scraped through Group A on goal difference after two wins and two defeats, but their pedigree in big matches meant they could never be discounted.

The task became even harder for FC Poloboc when they were reduced to ten men in the first half following a sending-off. Many teams would have folded under such circumstances against an opponent of FC Moldova Montreal's quality, but the champions showed all of their experience and resilience. Despite being a player down, they struck the first blow when Leonid Cigureanu scored his sixth goal of the tournament to give FC Poloboc a valuable 1–0 lead. The Canadians pressed for a response, but the Moldovans defended superbly and carried their advantage into half-time.

FC Moldova Montreal continued to push after the break and eventually found a way through. Dmytro Pashkov delivered the equaliser to make it 1–1 and set up a tense finale. The Canadians sensed the momentum was with them, while FC Poloboc dug deep, determined to force penalties despite their numerical disadvantage. They succeeded, holding firm through the closing stages to take the semi-final to a shootout and keep their hopes of a fourth eurofootballfives title alive.

The penalties produced yet more drama. Ion Poia gave FC Moldova Montreal the perfect start before Victor Zagoreanu responded to make it 1–1. Dorin Vasilica restored the Canadians' advantage at 2–1, only for Leonid Cigureanu to level again at 2–2. The pivotal moment came when Maxim Macari was unable to convert his spot-kick, opening the door for FC Poloboc. Up stepped captain Grigore Badea, who calmly converted to seal a 3–2 shootout victory. Against the odds, and despite playing much of the match with a man less, FC Poloboc had found a way through. The three-time champions were into yet another Cup Final, while FC Moldova Montreal could reflect on a superb tournament that had ended in the cruellest fashion.

 
 
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