So, onto Group C and we kicked off with a team on debut – Shush IF of Sweden. A big welcome to them. They were up against Montenelas FC who had competed here once before in 2022.

Montenelas FC performed well at the 2022 edition of the event. They began well with a 4-1 win over Moles Salah and a 1-1 draw against 3x eurofootballfives.com winners, Skidmarks. A 2-1 win against Sirkumo FC followed before a 2-0 win over French side White Collar Revolution. They completed their group campaign in style with a 1-0 win over 2017 & 2023 champions, PFC to win Group D. Their run was ended abruptly in the Cup Quarter-Finals as they lost 4-2 to RAF2.

From the outset, it was a commanding display from our Swedish debutants Shush IF as they made an instant impression in Lisbon. Taking on local side Montenelas FC, the Swedes showed no signs of nerves as they stormed into a 3-0 lead by half-time. Axel Stenberg opened the scoring, followed by a composed finish from Samuel Borg. Miram Rahem then made it three before the break, capping off a dominant opening half.

Montenelas FC looked to regroup in the second period but struggled to make headway against a well-organised and technically sharp Shush IF side. Elias Ndungu added a fourth to put the result beyond doubt and round off a convincing 4-0 win. It was the perfect start for Shush IF, who not only picked up maximum points but also made an early statement of intent in the group.

Mngball United made their first appearance in our events at the 2023 Krakow Trophy (6-a-side). They had a tough opening game against Portugal's RAF which they lost 3-1. A first win was not far away though as they defeated CBT FC, 2-0. They slipped to a 2-1 loss against Turn Down For Watford before beating previous winners Big Time Krakow by the same score, 2-1. They won their final fixture 2-0 against Cream of the South as they finished third in the table. It meant Plate qualification. There was a thumping 7-1 win over Krwiodawcow Cracovii in the Semi-Finals before they met Big Time Krakow for a second time. Big Time Krakow are 2x winners on our circuit at the 2018 Krakow Trophy and 2019 Gdansk Tournament. The Polish team avenged their group defeat to win the Plate Final, 2-0.

Krakow was also the destination for Solly March FC's tour with us last season. They began with a 1-1 draw against RSC Andylecht before meeting eventual winners Ball Bashers where they lost 3-0. They picked up another 1-1 draw versus Big Time Krakow. They won 3-0 win against World Pinteur before an even better 4-0 win over Third Degree Burnley. They qualified for the Plate competition and met Alea Iacta Est who ended their tournament, 2-1.

Here in Lisbon it was Mngball United that got off to a flyer. Heliodoro Gomes, making his first start in Europe for Mngball United, proving his worth already as he fired his side 1-0 up. It was to get even better when James Evans doubled the advantage by the break. Scott Jessop pulled one back for Solly March FC in the second period but it was not enough to rescue a point. Mngball United completed a fine 2-1 victory.

Foot 130 of France featured for the first time in our events at the 2023 Amsterdam Fives and Sevens. They had a team in each category. In the Fives competition they got off to a flyer with a 5-1 win over Sweden's BK Manskomplex and followed this up with a 5-2 win over Elstead Blues. A 3-1 win over Slugs FC preceded a thrilling 4-4 draw against The Zlatan Show. They finished the group off with a 1-0 win over Ball Sports Reds as they reached the Cup by winning Group A. They met fellow French team Les Collegues in the Semi-Finals and defeated their compatriots, 6-3. They met The Zlatan Show again in the Cup Final and it was another goal fest but this time Foot 130 took victory with a 5-2 performance. The Sevens team reached the Cup Semi-Final so it was a strong day all round.

It would be a tough opening game against Shush IF who had won their opening fixture, 4-0. Samuel Borg scored for the second game in a row to put the Swedish 1-0 up. It was 5 goals without reply now for them. That was soon to change though as Foot 130 A showed the form that had won them titles before. Billy Falola drew them level before Rodrigue Atikossie put the French ahead. Foot 130 A had turned the game around to lead 2-1 at half-time.

It was the turn of Shush IF to comeback after the break as Axel Stenberg equalized to make it 2-2. This topsy-turvy game swung again as Johan Isaksson made it 3-2 as the Swedes lead for a second time. Just as you thought the 3 points were going to Sweden then France struck again. Thibaut Margottat scored the sixth and final game to make it 3-3. The game finished 3-3 and it was probably fair – both teams deserved reward for serving us up some great entertainment.

Solly March FC were making an 8th appearance in eurofootballfives.com action today. Their travels had taken them to Barcelona (x3), Krakow (x2), Amsterdam and Prague. Today represented a debut in Portugal and they were the most capped overseas team in today's draw. They had opened up with a slender 2-1 defeat to Mngball United and were looking to bounce back. They were up against former Cup Quarter-Finalists Montenelas FC. The Portuguese were licking their wounds following a 4-0 thumping from Shush IF.

Game 4 of Group C was a tightly contested affair. Both teams entered the match searching for their first win, and the opening half reflected that urgency, though it remained goalless at the interval. Montenelas FC defended doggedly while Solly March FC probed patiently, looking for the breakthrough.

That vital moment arrived in the second half when Scott Jessop, already on the scoresheet earlier in the tournament, struck again to break the deadlock. His second goal of the day proved decisive, handing Solly March FC their maiden win in Lisbon. The victory moved the English side up to joint third place in the group, just a single point off the summit – a welcome momentum boost as the group stage unfolded. Montenelas FC were struggling at the foot of the table but with time to turn their fortunes around.

In 2024 Mngball United appeared at the Amsterdam Sevens. They opened up with a 2-2 draw against eventual champions Scoop FC before a narrow 1-0 loss to WWK DB. A 3-1 defeat to FNF on Tour followed before a 4-0 victory over Cream of the South. They needed a draw or better in their final game against Raiders Amsterdam to qualify for the Plate. However, they slipped to a 1-0 defeat as Raiders Amsterdam pipped them to qualify and Mngball FC were eliminated.

Today they had opened up with a fine 2-1 win against Solly March FC. Their next fixture was a tough match against Foot 130 A. The French team had been involved in a 3-3 thriller against league leaders Shush IF in their previous match. The stage was set, let the action begin.

The early breakthrough came courtesy of the boot of Rodrigue Atikossie scoring for the second game in a row. 1-0 became 2-0 as Atikossie was on target for the second time. The referee blew the half-time whistle and it was Foot 130 A who were in full control – at least in terms of the score.

Their position was a little less comfortable at the start of the second half as Adam Cowley reduced the deficit to 2-1. Thibaut Margottat restored the two goal cushion as Foot 130 A moved 3-1 ahead. Thibaut Margottat's second of the game and third of the tournament wrapped up the points for Foot 130 A, 4-1.