As Group C entered the final stretch of fixtures, Sudacas FC and Atay 30 met knowing that a victory could dramatically change the shape of the table. Sudacas had started the tournament with two draws from their opening two matches, while Atay 30 had one point from a draw and a defeat. With just a single point separating the two sides, three points here would be a huge boost in a group where every result was proving crucial.

It was Atay 30 who made the early breakthrough and showed their attacking intent. Issam El Bouazzati, who had already scored in their opening fixture, continued his excellent tournament by finding the net again to give Atay 30 a 1-0 lead. Sudacas responded well, though, and restored parity before the break through Luis Tingo, ensuring the teams went into half-time level at 1-1.

The second half remained closely contested, but it was Atay 30 who managed to edge ahead once again. El Bouazzati was the difference between the two sides, completing his brace to put Atay 30 back in front at 2-1. His third goal of the tournament gave his team a valuable advantage as they looked to secure their first victory of the competition.

There was still time for Atay 30 to put the result beyond doubt, and it was fitting that El Bouazzati had the final say. He completed his hat-trick to seal a superb individual performance and confirm a 3-1 victory for Atay 30. The win lifted them onto four points, joining Blue Balls FC and Purgatory FC at the top of the Group C standings, although they had played an additional fixture. For Sudacas FC, it was another competitive performance but a first defeat of the tournament left them on two points and in fourth place, with everything still to play for heading into their remaining games.

Blue Balls FC entered this fixture sitting at the top of Group C with four points, leading Purgatory FC on goal difference. However, after Atay 30's victory earlier in the round, the Dutch side had moved level on points and ahead on goals scored, meaning Blue Balls knew that a positive result would be enough to reclaim their position at the summit. Standing in their way were The Goats, who were still searching for their first win of the tournament but had shown throughout the group that they could be competitive.

The opening stages were closely fought, but it was Blue Balls FC who eventually found the breakthrough. Peter Boyd was the man to deliver the crucial moment, giving his side a 1-0 advantage heading into the interval. It was another strong defensive display from Blue Balls, who had yet to concede a goal in the tournament, and that defensive record gave them a platform to build from.

For The Goats, the task became even more difficult shortly after the restart when Thomas Poulter doubled Blue Balls FC's advantage. At 2-0 down against a team that had been so difficult to break down, the challenge was becoming increasingly steep. Blue Balls continued to control the game and were rewarded further when Robert Hodgins added a third goal, putting the result beyond doubt.

There was still time for Peter Boyd to complete a fine individual performance by scoring his second of the match and sealing a commanding 4-0 victory. It was the biggest win seen in Group C so far and a statement result from Blue Balls FC. The victory sent them back to the top of the table with a three-point lead and, perhaps just as importantly in such a tightly contested group, gave their goal difference a significant boost. Credit also to Harvey Webb in goal for Blue Balls FC who had now kept 3 clean sheets in 3 games. For The Goats, it was a difficult afternoon, but they remain in a group where every team has shown the ability to take points from one another.

This was a hugely important fixture in the context of Group C, with both Purgatory FC and Atay 30 heading into the match locked together on four points. Atay 30 held the advantage on goal difference, while Purgatory FC had the added benefit of having a game in hand. For Purgatory FC, the situation was clear: avoid defeat and their destiny would remain in their own hands heading into their final group match. A victory, however, would put them in a commanding position and bring Cup qualification firmly into view.

For Atay 30, the equation was much simpler. They needed three points. A win would take them onto seven points and put them in an excellent position to secure a Cup place, potentially even second position in the group. With the group so tightly packed, every point was proving valuable, but Atay 30 knew that a draw would leave their qualification hopes uncertain.

Perhaps due to the importance of the match, neither side was able to find the breakthrough. The first half was a tense and cautious affair, with both teams aware that one mistake could prove costly. Chances were limited, and the two sides went into the interval level at 0-0. The same pattern continued after the restart, with defences remaining on top and neither team able to find the decisive goal.

The final whistle confirmed a goalless draw, a result that suited Purgatory FC more than their opponents. Atay 30 moved onto five points but missed the opportunity to put themselves in a much stronger position for Cup qualification, leaving their fate to be decided by the remaining fixtures. Purgatory FC also moved onto five points, but with another game still to play, they retained control of their own destiny and would have another opportunity to strengthen their claim for a place in the knockout stages. In a group where margins were incredibly fine, both teams remained firmly in contention.

The penultimate game of Group C saw two teams desperate for a victory meet, with fourth-placed Sudacas taking on fifth-placed The Goats. In truth, this was a match that underlined just how competitive the group had been, with even the teams near the bottom still having something to play for and neither being outclassed. Sudacas entered the game with two draws and one defeat, while The Goats had collected one point from their opening three fixtures. With the group so tightly packed, Sudacas knew that a win could potentially lift them into contention for Cup qualification, although they would need goal difference to fall in their favour with Purgatory FC and Atay 30 also in the mix.

For The Goats, the Cup was no longer a realistic target, with four points being the maximum they could achieve. However, this game was still hugely important. A victory would give them confidence and momentum heading into the knockout phase, while finishing as high as possible in the table could potentially provide a more favourable Plate draw. For both teams, a draw would do little to help their ambitions, meaning all eyes were on who could finally find that elusive winning formula.

As had become a familiar theme in Group C, the opening half was a cagey and evenly matched affair. Neither side was willing to take unnecessary risks, knowing that one goal could decide the outcome. Chances were difficult to come by, and once again the teams went into the interval level, with the score remaining 0-0 at half-time.

The breakthrough finally arrived in the second half, and it was The Goats who found the crucial moment. Robin de Groot stepped up to score his first goal of the tournament, and it proved to be a hugely significant one. His strike was enough to separate the two sides and secure The Goats their first victory of the competition, with the final score finishing 1-0.

The result was a deserved reward for The Goats, who had shown plenty of competitiveness despite a difficult group campaign. Sudacas, meanwhile, were left disappointed after being unable to take advantage of the opportunity to move into Cup contention. Both teams would now turn their attention to the Plate competition, where they would have the chance to start again in the knockout stages and make their mark in the afternoon's action.

The final game of Group C brought an all-English encounter between Blue Balls FC and Purgatory FC, with both sides having plenty to play for despite their differing situations. Blue Balls FC arrived at kick-off already assured of Cup qualification, having collected seven points from their opening three matches. A draw would be enough to secure the group title, while a victory would see them finish the group phase in style with an even stronger record. Purgatory FC, meanwhile, knew the stakes were much higher. Sitting two points behind their opponents, only a win would take them to the top of the group, but their immediate priority was securing Cup qualification.

For Purgatory FC, the permutations made this a crucial fixture. A draw would guarantee second place and safe passage into the Cup, while defeat would leave them vulnerable. Remaining on five points would mean their final position would come down to goal difference with Atay 30, and if they slipped into third place, they would then have to wait and see whether their points total was enough to qualify as one of the best third-placed teams. With so much riding on the result, they knew they needed to be at their best against a Blue Balls FC side that had been one of the standout teams in the competition.

Blue Balls FC began the game in the same confident manner they had shown throughout the tournament. Their attacking threat was rewarded in the first half when Peter Boyd found the breakthrough, giving his side a 1-0 lead. Once again, their defensive strength was on display as they went into the interval ahead while still maintaining their remarkable record of not conceding a goal in the competition. Purgatory FC faced a difficult task in the second half, needing to find a way through a defence that had been almost impossible to breach.

However, Purgatory FC refused to give up, and they eventually found the moment they needed. Christian Collins scored the equaliser, ending Blue Balls FC's tournament-long clean sheet in the process. More importantly, the goal was hugely valuable for Purgatory FC, as it put them in a position to secure the point they needed to guarantee their place in the Cup competition.

Neither side could find a winning goal after that, and the match finished 1-1. The draw confirmed Purgatory FC's progression to the Cup, with the point securing second place in Group C and ending any uncertainty over their qualification. It was a hard-earned result in a game where the pressure was firmly on their shoulders. For Blue Balls FC, there may have been a small sense of disappointment at not finishing with another victory and at finally seeing their defensive record come to an end. However, they could look back on an excellent group campaign. They remained unbeaten throughout, topped Group C, collected eight points, and had established themselves as one of the teams to watch heading into the knockout phase. Both English sides could be pleased with their morning's work, as they secured their places in the Cup and now looked ahead to the challenges of the knockout stages.