Futsal – Quake win points in a Thriller

The Campbelltown Quake survived a second half comeback from a new look Sydney City Eagles side to win a tense and enthralling game 3-2 with the winning goal scored by a long range shot from Quake keeper Gavin O?Brien in front of a big crowd at Minto Indoor Sports Stadium. 
FNSW Futsal chose to hold the game at an earlier timeslot which meant that many of the younger players and parents who would normally have left were able to watch Futsal at its best as two of the top sides in the Premier League battled out an absorbing contest.
The Quake looked confident on the ball from the opening whistle and almost opened the scoring early when a neat backheel from Ian McAndrew let in Shane Soutter whose shot brought a quick reaction save from Tudor Vasile in goal.
The Quake nearly scored again when Dean Lockhart burst onto the ball but his effort was saved by Vasile in the Eagles goal.
Halfway through the first period Campbelltown got the goal they deserved when Mark Symington sped through the centre of the court laid the ball off to Martinez whose shot was saved but Symington was on hand to crack the ball into the net to give his side the lead.
Dean Lockhart almost doubled his sides lead when his header from a Danny Martinez lob flashed just wide of the goal.
The Eagles were not without their chances or attacking endeavours but the Quake had set up a sound defence which Sydney City were finding hard to penetrate.
Andres Gomez came closest for the Eagles when he skipped past a couple of challenges and sped through the middle of the court but his effort was well saved by Gavin O?Brian in goal.
Just before half time Danny Martinez collected the ball inside his own half and ran down the court but rather than choose the easier option to pass to his team mate in support unleashed a shot from long range that flashed past the keeper to give his side a solid 2-0 lead.
Almost straight from the kick off the Eagles nearly scored when Gomez hit the post from an acute angle and Andrew Paine?s goal bound shot was parried away by Gavin O?Brien.
The Eagles started the second half with more urgency in their play and were rewarded early when Andrew Paine received the ball with his back to goal but expertly turned his marker and smashed his shot into the top corner of the net.
The big crowd sat enthralled as the pace of the game quickened as a result of the Eagles early goal and the challenges became more physical as both sides contested harder for the ball.
Andrew Paine almost equalised for Sydney City but his shot was brilliantly saved by Gavin O?Brien. 
Sydney City were pressing hard for another goal while the Quake were defending valiantly high up the court and trying to absorb the Eagles pressure and looking to hit back on the break. 
But the inevitable happened when from a corner the ball came across goal and Andres Gomez was on hand to stab the ball between the last defender and the goalpost to level the game at 2-2.
With time running out and the scores level the Sydney City Eagles retracted back to their goal area for a breather. Campbelltown keeper Gavin O?Brien brought the ball down court and kept passing the ball forward to team mates as the Quake probed for an opening.  To the surprise and delight of the home crowd he decided to have a go himself and from near half way smashed an unstoppable shot into the top corner of the net to put his side back in front.
The Eagles had used up so much energy getting themselves back into the game they fatally took their foot off the pedal for just a short time but it was all the Quake needed on this occasion to get back the lead.
Chris Zeballos twice went close for Sydney City in the dying moments of the game but the Quake defence held firm as it had done for much of the game to grab all the points for the home side.
Campbelltown Quake  
Goals: Mark Symington, Danny Martinez,Gavin O?Brien
Sydney City Eagles
Goals:  Andres Gomez, Andrew Paine

Fouls –  Campbelltown  4     Eagles  10

Yellow Cards
Shane Soutter, Ian McAndrew (Campbelltown)
Andrew Paine, Sam Taha (Sydney City Eagles)

Venue  –  Minto Indoor Sports Centre  
Crowd: 300 approx
Teams:
Campbelltown Quake
1      Gavin O?Brien
2      David Van Dinklage
3      Gary Seymour
4      Dean Lockhart
5      Mark Symington
6      Shane Soutter
7      Tuan Cao
8      Ian McAndrew
9      Pablo Alcantara
10    Danny Martinez
11    Stefan Doneski
12    Oliver Lawton

Sydney City Eagles
13    Carlos Musumeci
19  Heber Carvahlo
12  Chris Zeballos
15  Brian Zeballos
18  Andres Gomez
1   Tudor Vasile
14  Giovanni Leuzzi
16  Andrew Paine
20  Dylan Maloney
7   Chris Manly
11 Sam Taha