Results
 

Beijing Rockets (Chn)

0

V

1

FC Poloboc (Mda)

FC Miracle (Hun)

1

v

1*

AFC Blue Boys (Pol)

* AFC Blue Boys (Pol) won 2-0 on penalties.

 

We were at the 2023 Barcelona Veterans Tournament Cup Semi-Final stage and from the 14 teams who signed up we were down to the final 4 – already an achievement for those who were still in the hunt for glory. We also had 4 different nations represented in those final four teams. The first Cup Semi-Final would see Beijing Rockets (Chn) versus FC Poloboc (Mda).

Beijing Rockets got off to a flyer in Group A with 4 wins out of 4. They lost their fifth game which put their place in the final four at jeopardy but a win against top of the table AFC Blue Boys in the final group match saw them win Group A themselves. They showed they can win crunch games when the pressure is really on.

FC Poloboc were the team with the best run of current form. They lost their opening match 1-0 to FC Miracle but since then had won 5 consecutive matches as they finished second in Group B. This was their second Cup Semi-Final in 2 eurofootballfives.com appearance. Last time they defeated AFC Blue Boys to reach the final where they ultimately finished second. They'd be hoping to go one stage further in Barcelona.

As we were getting to the final stage of the tournament we expected no easy matches and every game to be a closely contested affair and that's exactly what we got. We had a match that swung from end to end and it was going to be fine margins that decided the first Semi-Final. It would ultimately come down to one moment and it was Victor Zagorneanu who decided the tie with his third goal of the tournament. 1-0 FC Poloboc.

There was no way back for Beijing Rockets and the Group A winners were out. It was not to be their day today but we had seen plenty from them that a Cup Final and a Cup victory was certainly within their locker. We hope to see them on tour again soon.

 
 
 

So, who would take their place in the Final from the second Semi-Final? The two teams set to do battle were FC Miracle (Hun) and AFC Blue Boys (Pol). FC Miracle had an amazing record in our tournaments. This was their 10th tournament with us and it was the 10th time they had qualified for the Cup competition. They were the only team to have a 100% success Cup qualification record after 10 tournaments. Of the previous 9 events, they have won once, finished 2nd three times, reached 3 Cup Semi-Finals and also had 2 Cup Quarter-Finals.

AFC Blue Boys were also on an impressive run of form having reached a Cup Semi-Final for the third tournament in a row having done so at the 2022 Barcelona Fives and the 2023 Mallorca Veterans. On both occasions they missed out on a Cup Final so would be hoping it was third time lucky!

In normal time the two teams could not be separated. AFC Blue Boys lead 1-0 through Marcin Zaluga but Janos Gal equalized and we finished all level at 1-1. It was penalty shoot-out time. AFC Blue Boys had been involved in 3 previous penalty shoot-outs losing their first two but winning their most recent against Rapid Bosco Navas here 12 months ago. Amazingly, FC Miracle had only been involved in 1 penalty shoot-out in our events and they won it – it was the 2018 Algarve Veterans Cup Semi-Final against FC Mahou.

It was AFC Blue Boys who would have the honour of taking the spot kick but they missed it and handed the initiative to FC Miracle. Goalkeeper Mariusz Kupisiak was then hero for AFC Blue Boys as he saved from FC Miracle. Still level at 0-0 but Tomasz Szieradzan was on target to give the Polish the lead. Kupisiak was on scintillating form as he saved a second penalty and AFC Blue Boys had a chance to win it. They made no mistake and qualified for their first eurofootballfives.com Cup Final.

For FC Miracle it was agony for another season as they crashed out. Who knows what might have been had they progressed to the final. They seem to be so close to glory every year - we are sure it will come again soon but it was not to be in 2023.

 
 
 
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