We were at the 2017 Vilnius Tournament Cup Semi-Finals stage and from the 20 teams who signed up for the tournament we were down to the final 4 as the stakes got higher and higher. Belarus, England and Lithuania (x2) were still represented.

First up were Skidmarks against Lilchicago. Skidmarks had an impressive record at this stage of our tournaments. They had played in 5 previous Cup Semi-Finals and progressed to the Cup Final on no less than four occasions. Their only defeat came in last year's Barcelona Fives which was a narrow defeat to eventual winners Elcombe Old Boys. For Lilchicago, this was only their second tournament and their first Cup Semi-Final. They were just one game away from gracing a European Cup Final for the first time.

Skidmarks today had a record that read 3 wins, 1 draw and 1 defeat. Lilchicago's was similar with 2 wins, 2 draws and just the 1 defeat. Both the defeats for these teams were to the teams competing in the other Semi-Final. In terms of goals for and against, Skidmarks had the edge 10-4 compared to Lilchicago's 8-4.

After the early exchanges it was Lilchicago who had the edge in the only important stat that mattered. They lead 1-0 thanks to a strike from Danas Kulisauskas. He converted a chance from the edge of the area to give his team a vital 1-0 lead. Skidmarks through everything at Lilchicago but their opponents were able to retain their lead until half-time.

In the second half the onslaught from Skidmarks continued. The English team would go on to hit the post six times as it seemed they could do everything but score. They tried every trick in the book – bringing on an outfield player to play in goal at the expense of a recognized ‘keeper as they went into full sweeper-keeper mode. As the game went on they took more and more risks in search of the equalizer and inevitably this would lead to a chance for Lilchicago on the break. When that chance came along Martynas Vyzintas finished it off to break Skidmarks hearts.

It was tough on Skidmarks but Lilchicago would not care at all. The Lithuanian team had a Cup Final to prepare for….

So, who would take their place in the Final from the second Semi-Final? The two teams set to do battle were CIS Committee and Funfoot.

If you've been following the progress of CIS Committee in the rest of this report you will already know just how successful they have been in our events. This was their 48th game in our tournaments and they have only tasted defeat once in normal time. That was in the 2015 Budapest Fives Cup Final. They have gone out at the Cup Semi-Final stage before – also in Budapest. At the 2016 event in Hungary they went out on penalties to Budapest Celtic. Could Funfoot claim a big scalp and set-up an all-Lithuania Cup Final?

Funfoot certainly looked capable of doing so. They had 5 wins from 5 games so far and conceded just the one goal. They had also scored 11 for a tournament goal difference of +10. CIS had a tournament goal difference of +11 with 13 scored and 2 conceded. Both teams had 100% records and there was very little to choose between the teams. Maybe CIS Committee's greater experience would win the day? Greater experience in terms of eurofootballfives.com action but they were also a mature side largely of veterans age. Funfoot were a student team with youth and energy on their side.

This game was practically won in the first half and maybe it was a case of wise old heads winning over youthful exuberance as Funfoot's ambition lead to their downfall on at least two of the three goals conceded. CIS Committee had the luxury of an early goal from Alexander Bogaichuk. This no doubt helped the Belarussian cause as it forced Funfoot to come to them.

CIS Committee wasted no time in going 2-0 up when Pavel Tumash found the net for his second in as many games. The third goal perhaps summed it up – Aivaras Meskinis, in goal for Funfoot, had scored 3 times and won 3 games 1-0 for his team. The sweeper keeper option had certainly paid dividends up until now. It would not work this time as Meskinis was dispossessed high up the pitch and as the last man there was no-one in the Funfoot half. Alexander Bogaichuk took advantage to roll the ball into an empty net. As a spectator it seemed that Funfoot chased the game too much, too soon and played into CIS hands.

I guess you live and die by the sword and Funfoot were not going down without a fight. Meskinis helped make amends for the third by reducing the deficit to 3-1. It was his fourth of the tournament – he'd scored a third of his team's goals. Incredible!

In the second half CIS Committee killed the game off and there was to be no further addition to the score. We'd like to thank Funfoot for participating and their brand of football was certainly exciting to watch.