Man Utd (15) Vs Red Star (207) [agg 2-1]
Real Madrid (134) Vs Leeds Utd (10) [agg 4-2]
Lazio (144) Vs Feyenoord (157) [agg 0-0]
As Roma (111) Vs Celta Vigo (125) [agg 1-2]
Tottenham (31) Vs Schalke (204) [agg 1-3]
This is the first of two games to decide who will be crowned champions of The Friendly Tournament Season 4. It saw the current leaders of Southern Europe Division 1 Juventus clash with their their 3rd place rivals Benfica. Chris Green looked to be avenging his defeat in the last phase while Gaz Hargreaves would want to continue his winning streak over Chris Green. Juventus went into the match with only one thing on their mind; to score and they scored 2 away goals in quick succession in the first half and looked like they were going to be crowned Champions of The Friendly Tournament when suddenly against the run of play, Benfica pulled one back. The half time score was 2-1 to Juventus. In the second half it was all Juventus again but they failed to capitalise, and once again Benfica somehow managed to pull out of the bag another goal which has brought them back into contention for the tournament.
Red Star (1) v (2) Man Utd [First Leg]
This is another match featuring on the ever impressive Chris Green, his European Champions Man Utd took on the improving Red Star of Central Europe. Red Star seem to have it all to prove after a slightly disappointing season in Central Europe while Chris Greens Man Utd seem to have seen it all before. Red Star took an early lead in their home stadium in the Serbian capital of Belgrade. But it was to be short lived as Man Utd seemed to wake up and start playing the kind of football they are capable of, and they equalised just after the restart of the second half, and got the crucial away goal. The Serbian supporters seem to make up the difference in class between the 2 teams as they were seemed to be in stalemate until Man Utd just got a lucky break and nicked a goal in the dying minutes of the game. Red Star seem to have everything to do next week at Old Trafford.
Fulham (3) v (1) Brescia [First Leg]
This match saw two vary evenly matched sides both first and looking almost assured of promotion to Div 1 in their respective leagues. Brescia looked to be going into the match with a slight advantage over Fulham due to Fulham having a distinct lack of experience because of being one of a number of late entries into the tournament. The game started out fairly evenly as expected but in the 28th minute influential striker Denilson managed to break through Brescia's defence and score the first of a 4 goal thriller. Brescia seemed to pile up the pressure on Fulham and it paid off when 9 minutes later Brescia were awarded a penalty which was put home by Marazzina and seemed to give Brescia the upper hand with the away goal and it stayed like this until the 71st minute when Brescias defence finally buckled and let Thor Hogne Aaroy to get his first of the match and 12 minutes later he got his second. Fulham look to have secured the 5th place but Brescia have every chance to come back next week.
Brescia (1) v (2) Fulham [agg 2-5] Fulham win on goal difference
Brescia went into the match needing 2 clear goals to finish above Fulham in the Friendly Tournament, but the odds were against them as Fulham had won 100% of all their matches under new manager Jamie Taylor. Paul Bryant's team were playing at home giving themselves the home advantage. Brescia started the match positively and had quite a few chances in the opening minutes of the match but on the 36 minute mark, Fulham star player Aaroy, scored a wonderful individual goal which gave Fulham a 1-0 lead and an all important away goal meaning that Brescia needed to score 3 goals to finish 5th in the friendly tournament. Brescia then pilled on the pressure for the rest of the first half but could not breach the sturdy Fulham defence. The match seemed to die down in the second half, until Fulham's Columbian magician Fastino Asprilla seemed to make a goal from nothing in the 79th minute which saw the end of Brescia's chance of 5th place. Massimo Marrazzina netted a consolation goal for Brescia in the last minute of the match, with the game ending 2-1 to Fulham who finish 5th Overall in the Friendly Tournament while Brescia finish 6th.
Barcelona (2) v (3) Auxerre [First Leg]
Both teams looked to be going into this match in very different directions; Barcelona look to be going into decline as it seems their glory days are over and looks like they will just scrap past relegation to Southern Europe Div 2 this season while Auxerre seem to be now thriving under new management and seem to be heading in the direction of Central Europe Div 1. The game took off right from the start and was the highest scoring match this week in the friendly tournament. The game saw both Auxerre and Barcelona being in the lead at different stages in the match. Auxerre netted the first goal but it was shortly cancelled out by Barcelona, who were next to take the lead to make it 2-1 to Barcelona at half time. The second half saw an inspired Auxerre who looked like they could do anything and got a quick equaliser and retook the lead a few minutes later. Auxerre have 3 away goals so Marc Ritchie would have a mountain of a task next week to get Barcelona to 7th place in the tournament
Auxerre (1) v (2) Barcelona [agg 4-4] Auxerre win on away goals
After last weeks epic match in the Nou Camp, all Auxerre needed to finish 7th was to not lose by 2 goals, while Marc Ritchie's Barcelona had their work cut out, needing to score at least 2 goals in the hostile environment of Auxerre's stadium. It looked like Marc Ritchie could turn round Barcelona's fortunes in the Friendly Tournament like he did in Southern Europe Division 1 when Barcelona took the lead on the 23rd minute, when their new hero Christian Vieri slipped one past Auxerre's defence. Auxerre seemed to have lost their composure after the goal and quickly let in another goal on the 29th minute once again to Christian Vieri. Auxerre looked to be heading to an 8th place until Carignano scored, puting Auxerre back in to the driving seat. The match then went on to finish 1-2 with Auxerre winning on away goals. Auxerre finish 7th overall in the Friendly Tournament while Barcelona finish 8th.
Leeds Utd (2) v (4) Real Madrid [First Leg]
This match saw two teams with very different styles meet; the skillful and dazzling side of Real Madrid verse the strong and robust Leeds Utd. One thing both teams have in common is a rejuvenation under their new managers, Rob Perini of Real Madrid has brought Real Madrid back into the top five sides in Southern Europe and Mark Cox seems to be steering Leeds towards a place in the European Cup. Another thrilling match in the friendly tournament which saw 6 goals. The first half ended 2-2 with both teams playing great and exciting football but the distance showed up in 2nd half when Real Madrid added 2 more goals to their 2 and kept Leeds at bay with ease. It now looks foregone conclusion that Real Madrid will finish 9th but miracles do happen.
Lazio (0) v (0) Feyenoord [First Leg]
Match not played for 2wks so i have decided to make the result 0-0 because the is no more time to play the first leg. Away goals will not count.
Celta Vigo (2) v (1) As Roma [First Leg]
Roma looked to be going into this match in very indifferent form; thrashing lecce 3-0 but losing their previous 3 matches while Celta Vigo seemed to be in pretty high consistent form in Southern Europe Division 2. Both team winners from the previous phase and looked to carry the winning form into the final phase. Celta playing at home went on to take the lead through target man Diego Tristan on the 15th minute, but seemed to lose their composure after their goal as Roma equalised 3 minutes later through Captain Antonio Conte. The match seemed to be in Roma's favour with the away goal until Diego Tristan once again scored on the 35th minute, to put Celta Vigo into the lead. Both teams went on to have a few chances but failed to capitalise as the match ended 2-1 to Celta Vigo who look to have the advantage going into the second leg to be played at the 105,000 capacity stadium Olimpico.
Schalke (3) v (1) Tottenham [First Leg]
Rhia Edwards Tottenham and Brendan Nattrass Schalke went into this match playing for pride and the highly coveted wooden spoon. Schalke late replacements for Udinese, and only just taken over by Brendan look to be heading into Europe while Tottenham are just 1 point of the relegation zone in the English Premiership. This was the fourth match with 4 or more goals as Schalke demolished Tottenham in style, the net was in the back of the net very quickly as Schalke rushed to a 1-0 lead. It then became 2 then 3 goal lead as Schalke were strolling in the park. Schalke looked to be heading for a comfortable 3-0 victory when Tottenham pulled 1 back to the surprise of the Schalke fans and also Tottenham fans. Schalke look in a strong position to avoid the dreaded last place but Tottenham have it all to prove next week at White Hart Lane.