It was Cup Final time in Mallorca. The final and most important match of the day that would determine the 2023 Mallorca Tournament champions.

The big question was could Ecuador 100% create history by becoming the first team in our 17 year history to win 3 consecutive editions of the same tournament or could Polonia Limerick stop them and win their first eurofootballfives.com title?

Polonia Limerick (Pol)

Best appearance to date: 2022 Barcelona Fives Plate Winners

Record today: Played 5, Won 3, Drawn 1, Lost 1.

Goal difference today: 7-3

Current unbeaten run: 2 games.

Today's top goalscorer: Kuba Domanski (2)

Clean sheets: 3

Ecuador 100% (Ecu)

Best appearance to date: 2019 & 2022 Mallorca Fives Winners

Record today: Played 5, Won 4, Drawn 0, Lost 1.

Goal difference today: 19-7

Current unbeaten run: 4 games.

Today's top goalscorer: Meteo Paz (8), Jose Mosquera (8)

Clean sheets: 1

Of course, the stats made Ecuador 100% favourites but so far today the only statistic that mattered would be the score at the end of this Cup Final. Hidden in those stats was the fact that Polonia Limerick had beaten Ecuador 100% back at the start of Group B. To beat them once was fantastic, to beat them a second time would make Polonia Limerick fully deserving champions.

Looking at the stats it showed that Polonia Limerick had the best defence of the two teams with 3 clean sheets (including against Ecuador 100%) and just 3 conceded all day. They had shown that if you could keep it tight and grab a goal at the other end then it was possible to beat Ecuador 100%. Possible, but not easy.

If the game was to be an open attacking game then you felt there was only one winner. Polonia Limerick had scored 7 goals today compared to 19 by Ecuador 100% with Jose Mosquera and Meteo Paz each scoring 8 – more than the Polonia Limerick team. Trying to stop this twin threat could be key if Poland were to win this final.

If the gameplan was to keep the game tight then Polonia Limerick were sticking to their objective as they ensured there was no score in the first half. This was exactly the same as the group game. The first goal, if there was to be one, would be crucial. Polonia Limerick scored it in the group and defended for their lives. Here in the Cup Final Ecuador 100% scored it with Meteo Paz moving onto 9 for the tournament.

This goal changed the whole complexion of the game. Polonia Limerick had to throw more men forward in search of an equalizer. It meant Ecuador 100% were able to take advantage of the extra space and the goals flowed. Jose Mosquera made it 2-0 before Meteo Paz hit doubled figures for the tournament to make it 3-0. Andres Dorada would have the final say as he made it 4-0 to round off a historic win.

Please spare a thought for Polonia Limerick – they had put in a stunning effort and came within one half of football of that first eurofootballfives.com title. Our sincere commiserations to them.

Individual honours of the day went to Meteo Paz, 10 goals and the golden boot. It was fully deserved.

Our congratulations go to Ecuador 100% on their third consecutive Mallorca Fives victory. They were only the second team to retain a eurofootballfives.com title in 17 years and 125 events. They were now history makers as the only team to win three successive crowns. Can anyone beat them in 2024?

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