We were at the 2025 Lisbon Tournament Cup Semi-Final stage and from the 15 teams who began the day we were down to the final 4 – already an achievement for those who were still in the hunt for glory. We still had 4 nationalities in with a chance of winning – Brazil, France, Portugal and Sweden.

The first Cup Semi-Final saw Shush IF (Swe) face off against the tournament's standout team, Bonde Sem Freio (Por), in what proved to be a gripping and high-quality encounter. All eyes were on the Portuguese side, who had been the dominant force throughout the day—five wins from five, a remarkable 19 goals scored and just one conceded. They were the red-hot favourites and the team everyone was talking about.

But Shush IF had quietly built an impressive campaign of their own. With two wins, two draws and a single loss, they had shown consistency and resolve on their tournament debut. This semi-final represented their toughest test yet. Bonde Sem Freio started with trademark confidence and control, and it wasn't long before Jhon Silva added to his tally with his fourth of the tournament, giving the Portuguese a 1-0 lead at half-time.

In the second half, however, the Swedes refused to roll over. Axel Stenberg, also grabbing his fourth of the tournament, stunned the watching crowd with a fine equaliser. Suddenly, the favourites were under pressure, and the possibility of a shock result—and maybe even penalties—was very real. But Bonde Sem Freio showed their champion mentality. With the game in the balance, Orlando Da Costa—goalless until now—stepped up with a crucial strike to restore the lead at 2-1. With momentum back in their favour, Da Costa then struck again to seal the win and send Bonde Sem Freio into the final.

Final score: 3-1. Bonde Sem Freio stayed perfect, but Shush IF earned huge respect for a brave and skilful performance. They had come within minutes of forcing a penalty shootout and making the final on their debut—a superb showing.

The second Cup Semi-Final brought together two tournament giants—Foot 130 B and PFC—in what promised to be a thrilling showdown. Foot 130 B had steamrolled their way through the Quarter-Finals with a 6-2 victory and were aiming to secure a third consecutive Cup Final appearance for the Foot 130 club. On the other side stood reigning champions PFC, fresh from a commanding 4-0 win over Foot 130 A and determined to defend their title and claim a third Lisbon crown.

It was PFC who struck the first blow, as Wendell Santos netted his third of the tournament to give the Brazilians an early lead. Andre Thomas, a consistent attacking threat throughout the competition, then moved top of the goalscoring charts with his sixth goal—doubling PFC's advantage and putting Foot 130 B on the back foot. But the French side refused to go quietly. Max Remesy pulled one back with a well-taken finish to make it 2-1 and swing the momentum momentarily. Just as Foot 130 B looked to build a comeback, Francisco Alves delivered a sucker punch with a vital third goal for PFC before the break. The half-time score stood at 3-1.

With the comfort of a two-goal cushion, PFC tightened their grip on the game. Foot 130 B were forced to push forward, but the extra attacking intent left them exposed at the back. PFC, always clinical on the counter, took full advantage. Tiago Cardoso struck twice in the second half to remove any lingering doubt and seal a 5-1 win.

It was a commanding display from the defending champions, who showed experience, flair and composure in abundance. For Foot 130, it marked the end of another impressive campaign—but their journey in Lisbon 2025 stopped just short of the final. We look forward to seeing them back in 2026 for another crack at the title.