Day five! We’re about a third of the way through which will either be music to your ears or fingers down a chalkboard depending on your enjoyment of this years entertainment. It’s back to Groups C and D today which are both looking quite symmetrical as it stands. Four sides will be looking to secure win number 2 to put themselves in the last 16:

Group C

Winkveron vs TomReedWriting

Former champ Dan endured a rough opener away at Philip but he’ll be hoping to put that right here. Veron is in for the injured Boban.

Tom sticks with 4-4-2 despite his defeat to Zak in the opening match.

We have lift off for Dan! Djorkaeff is the main protagonist, opening the scoring after 7 minutes and being a thorn throughout. Dani adds as second and a third, Youri is back to make it 4 and lovely Signori makes it 5. Batistuta gets two consolations which might yet prove useful if results go Tom’s way in the search for third place.

It was a tremendous performance from Dan, there can be no argument over the result.

Dani takes man of the match despite Matthias Sammer’s best efforts.

Time to see how the two winners of matchday 1 get on.

CornishZak vs Verbist_Philip

It’s a CLM derby as Zak hosts Philip. Zak claims this formation was built to nullify Philip but time will tell. It’s brave not having a right back, I would say.

I guess there’s nothing coming at Zak from left back. Yorke and Henry will take some stopping. Hinchcliffe is in for the stricken Di Matteo.

This turns into quite a filthy game. Henry opens the scoring against the run of play but Onopko sees red for a last man handball. Nothing comes of the free kick and Zak looks to find a way back against 10 men. However, Babbel decides to copy only inside the penalty area. It’s a red card, a penalty and a 2-0 deficit. Fernando makes it 3. Can you hear the drums? Philip advances to the last 16.

A fairly even game but Zak’s poor finishing was a factor.

No surprise to see Henry get the champers but impressive performances from Philip’s two centre halves, who are relatively unheralded.

It’ll be a shootout between Zak and Dan for the second qualification spot but three points might yet be enough to get through as a third place team. I guess we’ll see.

Let’s see what Group D are up to.

Group D

Matt_C_Wills vs Charlemaagne

Matt has decided to throw caution to the wind and switch things up to this attacking looking number. It’s more or less a front 5.

Charlmaagne is sticking with the sweeper keeper. It’s so mad it might just work.

If you like drama, this is the game. Denilson opens the scoring, justifying his future most expensive player price tag. Zamorano levels it up and the game looks to be heading for a draw. Substitute Luis Garcia gets off the bench to score an 83rd minute winner…or is it a winner? We’re deep, deep into stoppage time thanks to injury delays for Ehiogu and Roberto Carlos when Denilson finds the testicular fortitude to equalise and snatch a point. It keeps Matt in the competition!

A fair result for a very even game.

N’Doram gets man of the match which is probably half on Denilson.

Good grief. One game to go to round off another crazy day.

90sfootball vs KingOfTheRooks

Paddy brings in Carboni and moves Mihailjovic to midfield for Valderrama. Will it work?

Andrew is still not playing a goalkeeper. What can go wrong?

Surprisingly little. Zidane opens the scoring and it remains 1-0 for an awful long time. Paddy makes changes to try and keep his hopes alive and something eventually works when Romario equalises. He’s still got it. Unfortunately Joao Pinto gets a needless second yellow and his departure opens the door for Sabri Lamouchi to win the game late on for KingOfTheRooks.

Late drama everywhere. Paddy seemed to shave it apparently despite KOTR having more shots.

Somehow five yellows for KOTR and only 1 for Paddy…guess who got the red? Goalkeeper-left back Phil Neville takes man of the match and the perfect 10. Goodness me.

KingOfTheRooks will be in the round of 16 and Charlemaagne is in the driving seat to join him. Matt might well be relying on getting through in 3rd place but 4 points would be enough to do that.

A day filled with late drama. Can tomorrow live up to this? You know where to find out! Bye for now.