Group
B really was the all action group and the one
for the neutrals to watch. Group B saw local side
DHL Prague take on England Lions, Sparta CSF and
AMG from the UK .
The
group kicked off with DHL Prague taking on the
England Lions. DHL Prague knew the venue well
and often use the pitches for training and put
that local knowledge to good effect. A close game
was edged by the Czech side 1-0.
Following
this fixture Sparta CSF, veterans of the Krakow
Trophy, kicked off their campaign against eurofootballfives
debutants AMG. AMG got off to a flier and never
looked back as they saw off Sparta CSF in a convincing
4-1 win. AMG raced into a 3-0 lead with goals
from Richard Worr, Donny Spiro and a second from
Richard Worr. Oz Zamora pulled one back for Sparta
CSF although hopes of a comeback were soon extinguished
when Spiro grabbed his second to complete the
scoring.
The
next game in the group saw the victors in the
first games come face to face. As expected a close
game ensued. AMG picked up their 2 nd win to go
top with a maximum 6 points. Richard Worr grabbing
the deciding goal. His 3 rd in two games and clearly
on the goal trail for tournament top scorer. DHL
were still well placed on 3 points with one game
to go.
Game
4 in group B saw two sides meet in a game neither
could afford to lose. Both England Lions and Sparta
CSF were looking for their first points and a
defeat would end any chance of finishing in the
top two and qualifying for the Cup.
The
game was played in what was lovingly dubbed “The
Cage.” “The Cage” was the only one of the 3 pitches
to be played within surrounding fences. Games
in “The Cage” were always played within a fantastic
atmosphere, as the crowds looked through the wire
fences shouting and roaring their teams on.
This
game was not to disappoint - the England Lions
quickly established a 2-0 lead with a goal each
from Ian Parry and Michael Parry. Sparta CSF must
have been thinking ‘here we go again'. However,
buoyed by support from Slavia CSF on the touchlines,
Sparta bounced back to 2-2 and rescued a valuable
point. Alex Thomas pulling one back to reduce
arrears before the CSF grabbed a vital second
to square things up. The draw meant a victory
for either team in their final game would be necessary
to see them qualify for the Cup.
The
final group games kicked off simultaneously and
England Lions hopes were fading fast as AMG maintained
their 100% group record taking a maximum 9 points,
collecting their 2 nd 4-1 victory. Richard Worr,
who had already scored 3 in 2 games, took his
tally to 7 for the tournament, scoring all 4 of
AMG's goals – a remarkable achievement. Ian Parry
scored the consolation for the Lions. Sparta CSF
put up a braver fight but still came away with
a defeat going down 1-0 against DHL Prague. DHL,
were proving to be the 1-0 specialists, winning
or losing each game by the same scoreline.
DHL
Prague and AMG qualified for the Cup with England
Lions and Sparta CSF through to the Plate. However,
the fun did not stop there. Sparta CSF and England
Lions finished with identical records. As a consequence,
a penalty shoot out was needed to see who finished
3 rd and 4 th to complete the draw for the Plate
Quarter Finals.
Penalties
always draw a great crowd and with all the groups
completed, the penalties drew the largest one
of the day so far. Both teams slotted their first
penalties and missed their next 2. Into sudden
death - Sparta CSF tucked their penalty away,
then Hitesh Bhogaita, the Sparta CSF ‘keeper became
the hero saving the 4 th England Lions penalty,
proving that ‘ England ' teams are hopeless in
this particular area of the game. |