We arrived at the Plate Quarter-Final stage and we would shortly see eight teams reduced to four teams. Lindfield FC B would meet Pinkneys Green FC. The pre-determined draw meant the 3rd best 3rd placed team would meet the best 6 th placed team with the former being Lindfield FC B who would be favourites going into this game.

However, in a strange twist of fate, both these teams had emerged from Group C and the two teams had played each other in their final fixture of the group phase. That match resulted in a 1-1 draw which suggested there was little to choose between these two teams. In fact, we reached half-time in this game and there was nothing to separate the two sides. Jon Cunningham twice gave Lindfield FC B the lead but Adam Pauffley equalized first time and Craig Jeffers the second time.

In the second half it was Pinkneys Green FC who nudged ahead through Adam Pauffley but the match was soon level again. Jon Cunningham with an equalizer this time to complete his hat trick. Pinkneys Green FC went ahead for a second time when Mauricio Correa made it 4-3. The 8 th goal of this game proved crucial and it was Mauricio Correa again. At 5-3 and with a two goal cushion there was no way back for Lindfield FC B.

Sadly, it was the end of the day for Lindfield B (on the pitch anyway) but they still had their A team to cheer on in the Cup competition.

With all the drama above unfolding on Pitches A and B, over on Pitch C we had Los Froggies Del Patron versus AFC Blue Boys 1 in action. It was France versus Poland in the bottom half of the Plate draw.

On paper Los Froggies Del Patron would be favourites – they claimed 7 points from their group and had a goal difference of +9. AFC Blue Boys 1 had taken 3 points with a goal difference of -5 but that looked to be misleading especially as they came the closest to any team so far today in taking points from the defending champions, Ecuador 100%. Both these teams had sister squads in the tournament and they had met earlier in the day in Group A. Las Zacaranas (Fra) and AFC Blue Boys (Pol) had drawn 0-0.

So, the stage was set and time to get the game underway. The first goal in these games can so often prove vital and it was Los Froggies Del Patron who broke the deadlock with Richard Leibovici putting his team 1-0 up. It was a lead Los Froggies would maintain until half-time.

In the second half AFC Blue Boys 1 hit back. Krystian Walendziak (#19) scored the goal that put AFC Blue Boys level. The Polish team were runners-up in the Plate at the 2021 Barcelona Fives and they were still very much alive to potentially reach another Plate final. Richard Leibovici had other ideas. With the game delicately poised at 1-1, he scored his second of the game to send Los Froggies Del Patron through to the next round. It was ironic that Leibovici, of Polish heritage, would send the Polish team out.

Three Quarter-Finals down, one to go as Sunrisers Madrid would play Bayern Badonde. Their prize was a place in the Semis against Los Froggies Del Patron. The two teams were just two wins from a European final.

Although it is difficult to compare groups, Bayern Badonde had enjoyed the better of the morning as they emerged from their group with 2 wins, a draw and 7 points from Group A. They would have had an even goal difference if it hadn't been for an 8-1 defeat to Lindfield FC A – an outlier of a result that blew a massive hole in their stats. Sunrisers Madrid would love to catch them on that form. The Sunrisers had grown into this tournament with a win, draw and loss in their last 3 games (although that loss was against the defending champions so forgivable you would think).

It was Bayern Badonde who enjoyed the faster start to this tie. George Rod put his team 1-0 up and then doubled the lead for a 2-goal cushion. At this stage Bayern Badonde were in the ascendency and had one foot in the next round. A Jamie Gosling goal for Sunrisers Madrid before the break put the game back in the balance.

At 2-1 this game could still go either way but George Rod increased his team's advantage to 3-1. It was a fine hat-trick and the second hat-trick we had seen in the Plate Quarter-Finals today. A goal to make it 4-1 from Charlie Courtney sealed Bayern Badonde's safe passage to the Semi-Finals.

It was the end of the road for Sunrisers Madrid on the pitch today but great to see them at the tournament and then at the post tournament social later in the evening.