2024 Mallorca Veterans 5-a-side Football Tournament Tour Report Cup Final

Results

Aston Birra (Ecu)	1*	V	1	Lucanos Locos (Pol)
* Aston Birra (Ecu) won 3-1 on penalties.

It was Cup Final time in Mallorca and the showpiece game of the 2024 Mallorca Veterans Fives - the match that would determine the 2024 Mallorca Veterans Fives champions.

The roll of honour for previous champions in our Summer Veterans reads:

2013: Sao Marcos (Por)

2014: Palmesanos (Spa)

2015: Mini FC (Por)

2016: Sago (Por)

2017: FC Mahou (Eng)

2018: Mini FC (Por)

2019: Esparta (Spa)

2022: FC Mahou (Eng)

2023: Duktil Balear (Spa)

The highlighted teams are winners from the editions of the tournament that were staged here in Mallorca. With a Poland versus Ecuador final we would have a new nationality writing their name in the history books. This is how we lined-up:

Lucanos Locos (Pol)

Best appearance to date: 2023 Barcelona Fives Plate Runners-Up

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

Goal difference today: 16-4 (+12)

Current unbeaten run: 4 games.

Today's top goalscorer: Pawel Zablocki (5)

Clean sheets: 3

Aston Birra (Ecu)

Best appearance to date: Debut

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

Goal difference today: 11-4 (+7)

Current unbeaten run: 1 game.

Today's top goalscorer: Jhon Valencia (3)

Clean sheets: 1

Aston Birra were the sister squad of Ecuador 100% who had won consecutive Open Age titles here in 2019, 2022 and 2023. Today, Ecuador 100% had lost their crown earlier in the day as they got knocked out via penalties in the Semi-Final to W London. Aston Birra had the chance to ensure it was 4 titles in 4 years (excluding the Covid hiatus) for the Ecuadorians by winning the Veterans title.

These two teams had met earlier in the penultimate game of Group B and on that occasion Lucanos Locos had won 1-0 thanks to a Pawel Zablocki goal. A repeat of that would be just what the doctor ordered from a Polish perspective. We started off with a bit of déjà vu as Lucanos Locos forged ahead, 1-0. This time it was captain Jakub Kociemski with his third goal of the tournament putting his side ahead.

This time Aston Birra were able to penetrate the Lucanos Locos defence with Bayron Caicedo equalizing. We reached half-time level at 1-1 with all to play for after the break. The second half was poised on a knife edge but neither team could find the vital breakthrough. We reached full-time with the teams still locked together at 1-1. We would need a penalty shoot-out to decide the title.

This would be familiar territory for Aston Birra who had defeated Polish opposition on penalties in the Semi-Final. If they could repeat the feat they would be lifting the golden trophy aloft at the forthcoming presentation. It would be the same order of takers for Aston Birra as Bayron Caicedo stepped up and scored to make it 1-0. Pawel Zablocki quickly equalized for 1-1. Jhon Valencia missed in the Semi-Final but he was on target in the final to make it 2-1. Pawel Orzechowski missed to hand a huge advantage to Aston Birra. Paul Romain had the chance to win the shootout, match and title for Ecuador. Despite all the pressure, he successfully converted and Aston Birrra had won it!

Our sincere commiserations to Lucanos Locos who had come so close to glory but just missed out. It was a superb day's play for them but it was just not meant to be though. There's definitely a future title there for them to win.

Our congratulations go to Aston Birra on their debut eurofootballfives.com victory at Veterans level. It could be the first of many!