Futsal Winter State League Finals Night

The Futsal Winter State League Finals night held at the Sports Halls Homebush.
In the first semi final it was the first placed Sydney Benfica taking on fourth place Quake. Both sides played some enterprising Futsal in the opening half with Osmar Barros putting Benfica in front with a well executed goal. The second half was much of the same with both sides moving the ball around the court nicely. Both sides also squandered a number of chances but it was Benfica who went two-nil up with another well worked goal by Marcelo Andace. This woke the Quake boys up and with the Final five minutes Quake turned the match on its head with two quick goals scored by Tim Simpson. The Quake boys were firing and they completed a dramatic comeback when goal poacher Tuan Cao found himself free at the far post to tap in and send Quake through to the final.
Semi final two was the surprise packets of the competition the young Plumpton side taking on the experienced Dural Warriors. This was another nail biting fixture with Dural Warriors taking an early advantage and skipping out to a two-nil lead. Plumpton finally settled down but then found themselves down three-nil down. The Plumpton side lead by Daniel Fogarty never gave in and began to take the game to Dural and with two quick goals it was game on in the final minutes. Plumpton then drew level with a well worked goal and the dying minutes the game was there for the taking. Dural regained their composure and found the winner to move to the final to take on Quake to decide the winter state league champion side.
The women?s final was the clash of the titans with both sides having a great battle through the round games with both tasting victory. SBS show The World Game was on hand to witness the show piece of the women?s state league. Sydney tragic reverted back to their Sydney Magic strip for the final and they started the stronger taking the lead on six minutes when a defensive error by quake lead to Tragic taking the early lead. Quake then started to play the Futsal that saw them finish top of the league and were unlucky not to draw level when they  had two shots cleared of the line, Kaylee Doyle the hero for Tragic on both occasions. Tragic took the lead to the break and they game was up in the air with either side capable to taking the spoils. The second half Tragic went two-nil up and left Quake with it all to do in the remainder of the match. Quake got back into the contest with a deflected goal that breathed life into the Quake girls. In the closing minutes they peppered the goal but unfortunately it wasn?t to be and the bounce of the ball was not on their side today.  Coagulations to Sydney Tragic on being crowned Futsal winter state league champions for 2008
Player of the final was awarded to Clare Walsh from Quake.
In the men?s final Dural Warriors lead by Greg Giovenali took on the experienced Quake side lead by Simon Keith.  Both sides started the match cautiously and were just waiting for either side to make a mistake. Both sides created a number of chances in the opening period but neither could find the elusive breakthrough.  The second half saw the pressure building , Quake was trying to stamp there authority on the match creating a number of opportunities eventually taking the lead with a screamer by Gary Seymour a goal worthy of any final. With Quake leading one-nil Dural gave it their all to get back into the match but a cheap turn over allowed Quake to pounce and allowed Mark Symington to put Quake two-nil up. The experienced Quake side held on to take the victory and be crowned 2008 Futsal winter state league men?s champions.
Player of the final was awarded to Simon Keith from Quake
Results on the night…
Quake 3 (Tim Simpson x2, Tuan Cao) def. Sydney Benfica 2 (Osmar Barros, Marcelo Andace)
Dural Warriors 4 def. Plumpton 3
Women?s Grand Final Sydney Tragic  2 def. Quake 1
Men’s Grand Final Quake 2 (Gary Seymour, Mark Symington) def. Dural Warriors 0