Porto - 'Portugal's second city', set picturesquely astride the River Douro in Northern Portugal – becomes our 3rd destination in Portugal and our 17th in Europe. This fascinating and vibrant city is rapidly becoming one of Western Europe's most sought-after city-break locations.

Porto is a contradiction in that it is an old historic city but also a young and lively city (especially at night). By day you can explore the cobbled medieval streets and by night enjoy your beers as people spill out onto the streets from the bustling pubs and bars. Once you hit midnight, the club scene comes alive as you party until breakfast.

The opening match of the 2024 Porto Sixes Tournament featured a closely contested battle between Polonia Limerick and Stats FC, ending in a hard-fought 0-0 draw. Both teams displayed strong defensive organisation throughout the match, neutralising each other's attacking threats. In the end, the 0-0 scoreline reflected the balance between the two teams, both of whom will now look to sharpen their attacking play as the tournament progresses.

Only time would tell if this was a point gained or two points dropped but it was a solid platform for both teams to begin their campaign.

In Game 2 of Group A at the 2024 Porto Sixes Tournament, debutants Mates/Lads FC faced off against fellow newcomers 5ive Guys in what turned out to be a dominant performance from 5ive Guys, who marked their first appearance in the competition with a comprehensive 6-0 victory.

The match began with 5ive Guys setting the pace early on, and it didn't take long for them to break the deadlock. Callum Conway opened the scoring, putting 5ive Guys 1-0 ahead with a well-taken finish. 5ive Guys built momentum and began to assert control over the game. The combination of Ryan Caldwell and Adrian Anumba proved deadly for Mates/Lads FC, as Caldwell netted two quick goals to put his team firmly in command. With 5ive Guys fully in the ascendancy, Anumba joined the scoring spree with a composed finish to make it 4-0 by halftime.

Mates/Lads FC struggled to match the tempo and intensity of their opponents, finding themselves pinned back for large portions of the game. Their attempts to push forward were stifled by a well-organized 5ive Guys defence, and they couldn't muster much in terms of clear scoring opportunities. The second half saw 5ive Guys pick up where they left off, with Oscar Browning extending the lead to 5-0 shortly after the break. Anumba then added his second of the match, capping off an outstanding debut for 5ive Guys as he made it 6-0 .

Despite Mates/Lads FC's efforts to find a consolation goal, 5ive Guys remained in complete control, managing the game well and preventing any serious threats to their clean sheet. The final whistle confirmed a 6-0 victory, giving 5ive Guys a perfect start to their tournament campaign and sending a message to their rivals in Group A.

The first phase of the 2024 Porto Sixes Tournament would be decided on a group basis. There was three groups with 5 teams in each group. Each team would play each other team in their group once and therefore 4 group games. After which, depending on position, they would progress to the Cup or Plate competition.

The teams finishing 1st and 2nd in each group plus the two best 3rd placed teams would progress to the Cup competition. This was to be played as a knock-out phase with Quarter-Finals, Semi-Finals and Final. The remaining 3rd placed team plus the teams finishing 4th and 5th in each group would progress to the Plate competition. This was to be played as a knock-out phase with Quarter-Finals, Semi-Finals and Final.

Game 3 in Group A would feature RAF (Por) against Polonia Limerick (Pol). For the Portuguese team it would be their opening fixture whereas Polonia Limerick would be playing their second game of the tournament. In their opening fixture they had drawn 0-0 and it was another solid defensive display from the Polish team. At half-time the scores were still tied at 0-0.

In the second half, Polonia Limerick's persistence paid off when Jay Collins found the back of the net to break his team's tournament duck. He scored the only goal of the match after a well-executed move. Collins' strike proved to be enough, as Polonia Limerick held on to their slender lead despite some late pressure from RAF. It meant Dominik Olczak and his defence had kept clean sheets in both their games to date.

In Game 4 of Group A at the 2024 Porto Sixes Tournament, Stats FC claimed their first victory of the competition with a solid 3-0 win over Mates/Lads FC. Coming off a 0-0 draw against Polonia Limerick in their opening match, Stats FC were determined to secure all three points, while Mates/Lads FC were looking to bounce back from a heavy 6-0 defeat to 5ive Guys.

Stats FC started the game with confidence and created early pressure, controlling possession and pushing Mates/Lads FC back into their own half. Their good start paid off in the first half when Aidan Silsby broke the deadlock with a well-taken goal, giving Stats FC a 1-0 lead at halftime.

In the second half, Mates/Lads FC struggled to find a response as Stats FC continued to hold their lead. The pressure mounted, and Stats FC extended their lead when Richard Cobbing found the back of the net, doubling their advantage to 2-0. Mates/Lads FC, still reeling from their earlier defeat, found it difficult to get any meaningful foothold in the game.

As the clock ticked down, Stats FC put the result beyond doubt with a third goal, this time from Jamie Clarke, whose precise finish made it 3-0 and sealed a quality win. Mates/Lads FC were unable to break down the Stats FC defence, and the match ended without them finding the scoresheet. It was a second clean sheet in a row for Stats FC. With this win, Stats FC secured their first victory of the tournament and added three valuable points to their tally, while Mates/Lads FC suffered another disappointing result, leaving them with much to do in the remaining group games.

The match that took us to the halfway stage of Group A saw 5ive Guys meet RAF. 5ive Guys continued their strong start to the competition with a 2-1 victory over RAF. Coming off a commanding 6-0 win in their opening match, 5ive Guys were looking to maintain their momentum, while RAF were aiming to bounce back from a narrow 1-0 defeat to Polonia Limerick.

The match began with 5ive Guys on the front foot, and they quickly found themselves in control of possession but it was clear this match would be tougher than their previous game. The early pressure paid off when Adrian Anumba, who had already made an impact in their first game, opened the scoring with a composed finish to give 5ive Guys a 1-0 lead going into halftime. RAF worked hard to stay in the game but were unable to find an equaliser before the break.

In the second half, 5ive Guys continued to press and their efforts were rewarded when Oscar Browning added a second goal, making it 2-0 with a well-taken strike. At this point, it seemed like 5ive Guys were cruising toward another comfortable victory. However, RAF showed resilience and fought their way back into the match. Their persistence paid off when Marcio Gomes pulled a goal back, reducing the deficit to 2-1 and giving RAF hope of a comeback. Despite RAF's renewed energy and some late pressure, 5ive Guys managed to hold firm and see out the game.

The 2-1 win ensured 5ive Guys maintained their perfect start to the tournament, while RAF were uncharacteristically in the bottom half of the table – though, they had played two tough matches.