Futsal: Second half comeback seals win for the Eagles

Sydney City came back from a half  time deficit to beat the Vipers 3-2 to maintain their position at the top of the Premier League in a frenetic game of Futsal that never lost its feverish pace from start to finish.
The win for the Eagles also went some way to avenging the semi-final loss at the recent State Championships to the Vipers who ran out eventual winners.
After absorbing some early pressure from the Eagles the Vipers took the lead after only 3 minutes when Robert Issa evaded some tackles and cleverly skipped along the by-line and picked out the run of Mustafa Mohebbee at the far post to stab the ball home for a 1-0 lead to the Vipers.
The Eagles responded with Chris Zeballos forcing a good save from Georgakopoulos and a little later shooting just wide.
But despite the furious pace of the game Vipers led by some strong defence from Danny McCann and Yavus Ekinci running the centre of the court Mascot were offering their opponents very little. 
Mohebbee had a shot saved by Peter Spathis and Reuben Lagos held up the ball under pressure from the defence but fired his turn and shot just wide.
Peter Spathis made a great save to deny Reuben Lagos after a brilliant one two between he and Yavus Ekinci.  A short while later Ekinci forced another save from the Sydney city keeper.
Amongst all the pressure from Mascot the Eagles had a great chance to level when Andrew Paine cleverly slipped away from his deep defensive role and popped up unmarked at the other end but put his attempt over the bar.
In perhaps the move of the game McCann deep in defence fired a bullet long pass to Ekinci in the attacking corner who instantly flicked the ball across the court into the path of Reuben Lagos whose first time shot flashed inches wide.
Having soaked up so much pressure the Eagles rallied in the dying minutes had a flurry of chances on the Mascot goal with Brian Zeballos, Giovanni Leuzzi, Andrew Paine all having chances that were either stopped by Danny Georgakopoulos in goal or blocked by the defence.
The pace continued in the second half with Chris Zeballos forcing a great save from Georgakopoulos from a freekick then shortly after Peter Spathis came out to block a goalbound shot from Mustafa Mohebbee.
Just when it looked like Mascot were set to maintain the upper hand in the second half Sydney City turned things around. The Eagles levelled the game when Giovanni Leuzzi led a lightning fast counter attack and ran onto a perfect pass to slot the ball past the keeper to make it 1-1.
With the game hanging in the balance the chances were coming from both teams Marino Musumeci fired just wide, Yavus Ekinci hit the crossbar from a freekick then fired another effort just wide.
Halfway through the half Sydney City took the lead through a quick counter attack as Giovanni Leuzzi received the ball wide on the left who quickly fired the ball across for Chris Zeballos to slam the ball home from close range.
A few minutes later the Vipers levelled when Yavus Ekinci sped down the left brilliantly evaded the Eagles tackles and crossed for Mohebbee to smash the ball into the net to tie the game at 2-2.
But before Mascot could settle themselves down Sydney City instantly regained the lead and it was Andrew Paine who so often does for his team stepped up and blasted his shot into the net to make the score 3-2.
Despite Mascots considerable efforts from this point on the Eagles defence gradually wrestled control of the game.
Musumeci and Paine fired just wide for the Eagles and McCann and Ekinci went close for Mascot. Marino Musumeci had his shot saved by the keeper, McCann fired wide twice and Georgakopoulos came out to block an effort from Carlo Musumeci.
Into the last five minutes the Vipers were charging forward desperately searching for an equaliser but the Sydney City defence was up to the task. Peter Spathis saved a McCann piledriver but Yavus Ekinci who had been on court the whole game was starting to tire.
Danny Georgakopoulos made another great stop this time to deny Andrew Paine from extending the lead in the dying moments.
In the end Sydney City?s rally in the second half was enough to take all the points running out winners in a really entertaining game of committed Futsal from both sides.
Eagles coach Jamie Amendolia was not happy with his sides performance but his decision to change the playing system in the second half did the trick. With Dylan Maloney and Andreas Gomes out injured against tough opposition it was a good result for the high flying Eagles.
Teams
Sydney City                                                                  Mascot Vipers
2. Peter Spathis                                                           1. Danny Georgakopoulos
11. Tudor Vasile                                                            4. Nick Hanna
12. Chris Zeballos                                                         10. Yavus Ekinci
13. Carlo Musumeci                                                       11. Reuben Lagos
14. Giovanni Leuzzi                                                        83. Michael Karagiannis
15. Brian Zeballos                                                         85. Mostafa Mohebbee
16. Andrew Paine                                                          86. Danny McCann
17. Marino Musumeci                                                     87. Robert Issa
19. Heber Carvalho                                                        16. Engin Ongel
Goals
Sydney City ? Chris Zeballos, Giovanni Leuzzi, Andrew Paine
Mascot Vipers ? Mostafa Mohebbee

Infringements
Sydney City ? 7 fouls
Mascot Vipers ? 8 fouls

Yellow Cards ? Nil
Red Cards ? Nil

Officials
Roger Lee, Darius Turner
By Peter Davies