Prague Veterans 2024 Tour Report Plate Final

Results

FC Tpaktop I (CIS)

Mitre Vets (Eng)

The second final of the day would see FC Tpaktop I versus Mitre FC Vets. With eight games of football already under their belt the two teams would need to summon one last burst of energy to ensure they would be picking up winners and not runners-up medals in the presentation.

Let's have a look at the two teams' credentials for the Plate title:

FC Tpaktop I (CIS)

Previous best: Cup Semi-Final 2021 Barcelona Fives

Record today: Played 8, Won 6, Drawn 0, Lost 2.

Goal difference today: 13-7

Current unbeaten run: 3 games.

Today's top goalscorer: Artiom Vlasov (7)

Clean sheets: 4

Mitre FC Vets (Eng)

Previous best: Plate Quarter-Finals, 2023 Barcelona Fives

Record today: Played 8, Won 2, Drawn 2, Lost 4.

Goal difference today: 15-28

Current unbeaten run: 3 games.

Today's top goalscorer: Steve Ashman (9)

Clean sheets: 0

The statistics today showed that FC Tpaktop II would be clear favourites for this Plate Final. With 6 wins out of 8 they can count themselves unlucky that they were not in the Cup – which they missed out on by just 1 point. However, Mitre FC Vets had been second favourites in each of their last 3 matches and ended up winning so FC Tpaktop I could take nothing for granted. The English team's form had really turned a corner and they could be on for a little piece of history. In this format, we had never had a team finish in sixth position in the group phase and go on to become Plate winners.

When these two teams met earlier in the day it was FC Tpaktop I who emerged victorious 3-0.

There seemed to be an aura about Mitre FC Vets at the moment. There was a confidence about the camp as if they knew anything was possible. Momentum was with them and they'd just seen off FC Tpaktop II so a double against the CIS team was on the cards. It was a feeling that had been growing ever since that win at the end of the group phase.

Jose Roberto Corrodus was fresh from scoring the winning penalty in the Semi-Final and he was on target again at the start of this Plate Final. It was his second of the day and what a time to get it?! The pressure was really on FC Tpaktop I now who hadn't really put a foot wrong since Round 2 of the group phase. Their only defeats were to teams in the Cup competition but they were under severe pressure now. That pressure grew when Steve Ashman took his tournament tally to double figures. A 10th goal for him and a 2-0 lead for his team.

Mitre FC Vets were also looking to emulate their Open Age A team from their previous tour to the 2023 Barcelona Fives by picking up the Plate trophy and winners medals. Things were looking very good but there was still time for a scare as Oleg Bliznets reduced the deficit to 2-1 but time was against FC Tpaktop I. Mitre FC Vets had done enough to take a phenomenal victory. They went from 1 draw in their first 5 games to going unbeaten with 3 wins out of 4 in their final games. It was a sensational turnaround and created history by winning the Plate from a 6 th placed finish.

We offer our consolations to FC Tpaktop I on a fine campaign – they could not have got much closer to the Plate winners' trophy. You just had to look at their stats in the preview above to see how well they had played today. It was, once again, a great pleasure to host all of the group.

Huge congratulations though go to our 2024 Prague Veterans Plate champions – Mitre FC Vets. A fantastic win which they celebrated in style.