2018 Mallorca Fives 5-a-side Tournament Tour Report Cup Semi Finals

Results

Bar Maruru (Spa)	0	V	1	Renshaw (Eng)
Inter Balear (Spa)	0	v	7	Inter Hoddesdon (Eng)

We were at the 2018 Mallorca Fives Cup Semi-Final stage and from 12 teams who started the day we were down to the final 4. We had 2 Spanish and 2 English teams vying to make the Cup Final. It was England versus Spain in each and so things were delicately poised.

Up first was Bar Maruru versus Renshaw. Bar Maruru would no doubt came into the game brimming with confidence. They were unbeaten so far today with 5 wins from 5 games. They were the only team to boast a 100% record in the group phase and were ranked #1 of all 12 games coming into the knock-out stage of the tournament. They were the top scoring team (14 goals), had the best defence (just 2 conceded) and obviously therefore had the best goal difference (+12).

This would therefore be some challenge for Renshaw to make the Cup Final. They were close to having a 100% record of their own having won their first four games until final game defeat to Inter Balear. The match against Bar Maruru looked, on paper at least, to be an even tougher prospect.

The game itself was incredibly close. It was end to end and the teams matched each other blow for blow. There was no one team who dominated and so it would come down to which team would be able to take their chances. It was the two defences on top in the first half though as we entered the break at 0-0.

The second half was much the same as the first and remained at 0-0 for much of the half. Just as a penalty shoot-out was looming a late goal settled the tie. Cometh the hour, cometh the man and that man was Elliot Abedian. It was the third game in a row in which he had scored and surely the most vital. There was no time for Bar Maruru to respond and Renshaw were through the final.

So, who would take their place in the Final from the second Semi-Final? It was the battle of the Inters. The two teams set to do battle were Inter Balear against Inter Hoddesdon?

Inter Balear were experienced in reaching finals in our Mallorca tournaments. They were bidding for a fourth final having reached the Plate Final at the 2015 and 2017 Mallorca Tournament and the Cup Final at the 2017 Mallorca Fives. They won all 3 finals incidentally. They were bidding to become the 13th team in eurofootballfives.com history to win 2 (or more) titles.

Inter Balear won Group B with 4 wins from 5, 13 goals scored and 5 conceded. Inter Hoddesdon were very similar with 4 wins from 5 as they finished second in Group A also with 13 goals scored but just 3 conceded. This was set-up to be an intriguing contest.

We expected a close contest but it ended up being very one-sided as Inter Hoddesdon arguably produced the best performance of the entire tournament. Two first half goals from Toby Cleaver put them in control at half-time but it was the second half where Inter Hoddesdon really moved through the gears. Toby Cleaver completed his hat-trick for 3-0. Giuseppe Milazzo made it 4-0, Sam Hoxhaj then scored two goals either side of Toby Cleaver's fourth of the game. Final score, 7-0. It was a landslide.

We were wondering where this ranked in the all-time list of Cup Semi-Final wins in Mallorca and Inter Hoddesdon certainly asked the question. So, we delved into the record books. Whilst most cup Semi-Finals are decided by the odd goal or by penalties here is the list of the “big wins” in Semis:

7-0 Inter Hoddesdon (Eng) v Inter Balear (Spa) - Mallorca Fives, 2018

7-2 Wilmslow Whoppers (Eng) v Finn's Chins (Eng) – Mallorca Tournament, 2017

5-0 Saipan FC (Ire) v Policia Local (Spa) – Mallorca Tournament, 2015

5-1 Cosegur Balear (Spa) v Cheesecake FC (Eng) – Mallorca Tournament, 2012

5-1 Valecuatro (Spa) v FC Broxelona A (Eng) – Mallorca Fives, 2017

4-0 Di Stefano Peluguira (Spa) v Sportsman Bar (Spa) – Mallorca Tournament, 2012

4-0 Los Pibes (Spa) v Policia Local (Spa) – Mallorca Tournament, 2016

4-0 Inter Women (Eng) v Tommy's Tits (Eng) – Mallorca Tournament, 2013

4-2 Grant Thornton (Fra) v FC Miracle (Hun) – Mallorca Fives, 2013

As you can see, it was a Mallorca record for Inter Hoddeson. Well done to them and watch out Renshaw in the Cup Final!

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