2024 Mallorca Fives 5-a-side Football Tournament Tour Report Plate Semi Finals

Results

Dumpling CF (Eng)	0	V	1	The Yol (Eng)
RAF (Por)	5	V	0	AFC Blue Boys (Pol)

We were down to our final 4 teams in the Plate competition with 2 teams representing England, 1 representing Poland and 1 representing Portugal. The only thing that was guaranteed was that an English team would be in the Final as both English teams met in the first Semi-Final.

The first Semi-Final would see Dumpling CF taking on The Yol. By reaching this stage, Dumpling CF had achieved a personal best in our tournaments and they came into this game with momentum having won their Quarter-Final, 4-0. The Yol were in their second knockout campaign. On the previous one they reached the Cup Final at the 2022 Barcelona Fives. They were one performance away from reached a second European final in as many appearances.

The match began with both teams demonstrating a relatively cautious approach, fully aware of the high stakes. Throughout the first half, both sides struggled to create clear-cut chances as attempts to break through were thwarted. The half-time whistle blew with the scoreline at a stalemate, 0-0.

The second half saw an increase in intensity as both teams sought the decisive goal. The vital moment can when Dan Gleeson, demonstrating his goal-scoring prowess, made his mark, notching his fifth goal of the tournament and giving The Yol a 1-0 lead.

As the match approached its conclusion, The Yol maintained their composure and focus, ensuring they did not concede despite Dumpling CF's attempts to get back level. The Yol's defense held firm, and the final whistle confirmed their place in the Plate Final with a 1-0 victory.

The second Semi-Final was RAF versus AFC Blue Boys. Both teams were aiming to reach a second Plate Final in our tournaments. AFC Blue Boys had played in the 2021 Barcelona Fives Plate Final where they met FC Maroon and although they fell behind they recovered to draw 1-1 and take the game to penalties. Sadly for them, they missed out on glory though as they lost 2-1 on spot kicks.

For RAF, we had to go back to April 2019 when they travelled to our Lisbon Tournament. They performed well and finished joint second in the table on 11 points from 6 games. They were level with 2017 champions Pangare Futebol Clube (Bra) but were third on goal difference and missed out on the Cup. They were brilliant in the Plate competition with 6-1, 2-0 and 3-1 victories taking them to victory.

Both teams had needed a penalty shootout to reach this match so we anticipated a close game but we didn't get one. RAF came firing into the contest and quickly raced into a 3-0 lead by half-time. Diogo Arsenio got the ball rolling with Hugo Dias and Tiago Sousa also getting on the scoresheet.

In the second half RAF continued from where they left off with Hugo Dias making it 4-0 before Tiago Sousa put the cherry on a 5-0 footballing cake. It was a statement result as they headed into the Plate Final.

There was no way back for AFC Blue Boys who'd played well today but they still had a chance today with their Veterans team in action this afternoon.

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