We were down to our final 4 teams in the Plate competition. The first Plate Semi-Final brought together two sides with different stories but a shared ambition — to reach their first ever final. Dumpling CF, making their second appearance at this stage, were eager to go one step further after falling short in previous attempts. Montenelas FC, meanwhile, had finally hit their stride after a tough start to the tournament, riding a wave of momentum from two straight wins.

Montenelas carried that energy into the game, starting with purpose and confidence. Their early pressure was rewarded when Sergio Trindade found the net in the opening period, giving his side a 1-0 lead at half-time. The Portuguese side continued to press in the second half and doubled their advantage through the in-form Ricardo Pires — his third goal in as many games — underlining his growing influence in the knockout stages.

Dumpling CF refused to go quietly, and a smart finish from Gurvinder Bura — his fourth of the tournament — pulled them back into contention. However, Montenelas showed composure and discipline to see the game out, securing a 2-1 victory. It was a historic result for the team as they booked their place in their first ever eurofootballfives.com final, completing a remarkable turnaround in form and showing they were peaking at just the right time.

Bendeeca were bidding to reach a second Plate Final, ten years after their first appearance at the 2015 Algarve Open where they finished as runners-up. RAF1, meanwhile, were aiming to reach their third Plate Final, bringing a strong track record into the tie and confidence from recent tournaments.

The game lived up to its billing as a close and competitive semi-final. The first half was tight, with both teams showing solid defensive organisation and few opportunities given away. It remained goalless at the break, setting up a tense second half.

The breakthrough came courtesy of Tiago Sousa, whose influence on this tournament continues to grow. The 2022 Lisbon Tournament's second top scorer with 9 goals added another to his collection—his 15th goal across the last three Lisbon editions. His clinical finish proved decisive as RAF1 edged in front.

Bendeeca pushed for an equaliser but were unable to break down a determined RAF1 defence. The final whistle confirmed a 1-0 victory for RAF1, securing their place in the Plate Final once again. For Bendeeca, it was a valiant effort that fell just short of rekindling their 2015 glory. It was great to see the guys back on tour and at the post-tournament social on Saturday night. We look forward to seeing them again soon.