FC Tpaktop would kick us off next against AFC Blue Boys. The CIS team were top of Group A and they could open up a 5 point lead at the top if they could collect a second victory here. Their opponents were one of three teams in joint second position in the table locked on 2 points.

AFC Blue Boys competed at the 2022 Mallorca Fives with 2 teams. The 2 nd team was the stronger team who were drawn in the group of death. They opened up with two draws (2-2 v Lindfield FC A, 1-1 v Bayern Badonde) before claiming two wins: 5-0 v Squirrel Squad FC and 1-0 v 2018 winners Urbansport '22 of Spain. A 0-0 draw in their final game against Las Zacaranas (Fra) ensured an unbeaten group phase and Cup qualification in 2 nd position. The Cup Quarter-Finals saw them meet Alabama Hotpockets (Ire). It was another draw (0-0) before they went out 2-1 on penalties. The AFC Blue Boys 1 team started off well with a 2-1 win over Pinkneys Green FC but 4 defeats in a row despite almost taking points off the eventual champions Ecuador 100% meant they would qualify for the Plate competition. The Plate Quarter-Finals saw them crash out 2-1 to France's Los Froggies Del Patron.

Today AFC Blue Boys also opened up with two draws just like 12 months ago but could they kic on like they did last year? If they were to do so they would need to stage a recovery as they went 1-0 down after an Ilia Libov goal. FC Tpaktop extended that lead to 2-0 thanks to Timur Garifzyanov. AFC Blue Boys had recovered from 2-0 down against Santander FC to rescue a point but FC Tpaktop were proving to be a tough nut to crack. A clean sheet for the CIS team ensured a 2-0 win and a good lead at the summit of Group A.

Up next was Riptide playing their third game against AFC Blue Boys playing their final game.

AFC Blue Boys came into this tournament on the back of their best eurofootballfives.com performance to date at the 2022 Barcelona Fives. It was their second unbeaten group phase in our events and their first group win taking 13 points from a possible 15. They chalked up wins against Argon'ze of France (2-1), TBC FC (3-1), W London (1-0) and most impressively 4-1 against the defending champions, Club Esportiu Llefia. Only a 0-0 draw against Toe Punters prevented their 100% record. In the Quarter-Finals they drew 1-1 with 2008 champions Rapid Bosco Navas eventually winning on penalties. The Semi-Finals saw them miss out on the Cup Final as they went down 2-1 to FC Yol.

Today, it appeared that AFC Blue Boys had concentrated their strength into the Veterans squad who had 4 wins out of 4. The Open Age squad was struggling in comparison even though they had only suffered one defeat. They needed to win this last game to have any hope of reaching the Cup again.

It was Riptide though who got off to a flyer. The Spanish-based team raced into a 3-0 half-time lead with goals from James McConnelogue, Callum Binmal and Miquel Vicery Dalmau. A win would put Riptide in joint second place with Santander FC on 5 points. In the second half they saw out the result with no addition to the score.

The defeat left AFC Blue Boys in fourth place and hoping Gosham Lions 98 would lose their final game to maintain that position.

We were into the final couple of games in Group A and there was a lot to be settled at the top. FC Tpaktop (CIS) were currently leading the way on 7 points with Santander FC and Riptide each two points behind. FC Tpaktop would meet Santander FC in a game that would decide at least one of the two Cup qualification places.

FC Tpaktop needed just a draw to clinch a place in the Cup. A win would guarantee them the Group A win whilst defeat could potentially see them miss out on the Cup should Riptide FC beat Gosham Lions in a match that was to be played concurrently on Pitch B.

From a Santander FC perspective, they knew a win would see them climb above their opponents and secure a place in the Cup. If they could also better Riptide FC's result they would win the group. If they drew they had to hope Riptide FC lost to finish second. Due to goal difference, if they lost they would most likely be in the Plate (unless Gosham Lions 98 won big).

The good news for both these teams was that their fate was in their own hands. We reached half-time no clearer on how the Cup qualification places would be decided as the teams were locked at 0-0. If the teams checked on the action on Pitch B they would see that Riptide FC were 2-0 up at the break. This increasingly made it a must win game for Santander FC and a must not lose game for FC Tpaktop.

The match was settled by a solitary second half goal. Cometh the hour, cometh the man and that man was Bill Tulett. His goal sent Santander FC through to the Cup and looked like FC Tpaktop were going to slip from 1st to 3rd and go into the Plate.

We went into Game 10 of Group B with Gosham Lions 98 due to host Riptide. Let's have a look at what was at stake for the two teams going into this encounter:

Gosham Lions 98: Win the game and they would move up to fourth position and qualify for the Plate. Anything less would mean the Wooden Spoon.

Riptide FC: If they avoided defeat they would reach the Cup. Win the game and a Santander FC win/draw would mean they would be Group A winners (if they maintained superior goal difference). Otherwise they just had to better Santander FC's result to reach the Cup. They could afford defeat but only if Santander FC also lost by the same margin or more.

If you were reading above you will have seen that the two games were being played concurrently which added an extra level of intrigue and complexity. With the game underway it was Riptide who forged ahead and goals from James McConnellogue and Callum Binmal giving them a level of comfort going into the second half.

If Riptide had glanced over to Pitch A they would have seen that FC Tpaktop and Santander FC were level 0-0 so in the “live” league table they were up to first. Gosham Lions 98 gave them a scare in the second half though as Aaron Newman pulled a goal back to make it 2-1.

Gosham Lions needed two more to reach the Plate but suffered a setback when Miquel Vicery Dalmau restored the two goal cushion for Riptide which consigned them to defeat. Riptide's win combined with Santnader FC's win on Pitch A meant Riptide would be crowned Group A champions. A great performance from them.

Open Age

(For the Veterans, click introduction and then select the relevant Veterans section)