2023 Mallorca Veterans 5-a-side Football Tournament Tour Report Plate Semi Finals

Results

FC Tpaktop (CIS)	1	V	1*	Polonia Limerick (Pol)
ACE & The Swagmen (Eng)	1	V	0	Southgate Tourists (Eng)
* Polonia Limerick (Pol) won 4-2 on penalties.

We were down to our final 4 teams in the Plate competition. The first Semi-Final would see FC Tpaktop versus Polonia Limerick. This was FC Tpaktop's third appearance in our tournaments and third Semi-Final. So far they were yet to reach a maiden final. At the 2021 Barcelona Fives they lost 3-2 to Sharks at the Cup SF stage and then at the 2022 Amsterdam Sixes they lost 3-0 to Milner Street at the Plate SF stage. Would it be third time lucky?

It started off well with Aleksandrs Golubevs on target for the CIS team but they were unable to maintain that lead as Polonia Limerick hit back through Miroslaw Kurzeja who scored for the third game running to make it 1-1. Polonia Limerick were bidding to make their second Plate Final having also done so at the 2022 Barcelona Fives. If they were to make it, they would need to do it via a penalty shoot-out as this match finished 1-1 in normal time.

FC Tpaktop had not yet competed in a eurofootballfives.com penalty shoot-out until 20 minutes ago in the Open Age tournament. It was a shootout they lost. Polonia Limerick had success in their only shootout in the Plate Final versus Club Esportiu Llefia in Barcelona last year. Following a 0-0 draw they won the shoot-out 6-5.

It was Polonia Limerick who would shoot first and they would strike first with Edward Przekwas on target. FC Tpaktop quickly levelled it at 1-1 before Adam Gracz restored the lead at 2-1. FC Tpaktop were unable to convert their second as Polonia Limerick took full advantage with Iurii Coca on target for 3-1. FC Tpaktop reduced the lead to 3-2 to put the pressure on Pawel Bladzinski who had the chance to send his team through to the final. He made no mistake as he sent Polonia Limerick through to a second Plate Final, 4-2 on penalties.

The second Semi-Final was on an all English affair between ACE & The Swagmen and Southgate Tourists.

It was only ACE & The Swagmen's second Veterans event with us but already they were showing a knack of coming alive at the end of the group phase and taking that form into the Plate. They were looking to reach a second Plate Final on the bounce. At this stage 11 months ago they defeated AFC Shooters 4-2. They would not have an easy task against Southgate Tourists though who had won 3 of their 5 games to date.

ACE & The Swagmen and Southgate Tourists both won their Quarter-Final by going ahead and front-running to the final whistle. The first goal could well prove crucial in this one and so it proved. In the first half it was Matt Proctor who scored the opening goal to give ACE & The Swagmen that crucial lead. They maintained that lead until half-time.

There was still hope for Southgate Tourists as ACE & Swagmen had kept only the one clean sheet today but their defensive form was recent form with just the one goal conceded in the last two games. As hard as they tried Southgate were unable to pierce the Swagmen defence as they secured clean sheet #2, the victory and a place in the Plate Final for the second year running.

Southgate Tourists were out for this year. Thank you to all the lads for joining us on tour again. It was a pleasure to host you all.

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