Futsal Premier League Grand Final Preview
12 Boys – (1st) Commodores FCB vs. (3rd) Inner West Allstars
Premiers and overwhelming favourites the Hawkesbury Commodores such with their feet up watching as Sydney Benfica and the Inner West Allstars battled out an absolute classic for the right to compete come Saturday afternoon. Benfica started brilliantly and twice took 4 goal leads but the quality and determination drove the Allstars to an unbelievable come from behind 9-7 victory.
The Commodores are the overwhelming and deserved favourites having racked up over a 130 goals this season but the Allstars have already upset the Commodores this season, Could another one be on the cards?
Ritchie Darko has been the standout player in the competition but Alisane Fofanah isn?t too far behind him and the winner of this individual dual could determine the outcome.
12 Girls – (1st) Campbelltown Quake vs. (2nd) Western Raiders
Premiers Campelltown Quake watched the Preliminary semi final and wouldn?t have been able to know who they were playing such was the topsy turvy clash between their Grandfinal opponents the Raiders and the Dural Warriors. The Warriors were close to earning an upset and book their place in the Final but and in extra time the Raiders fought just that little bit harder to score the decisive goal and clinch their Final appearance with a 3-2 victory.
Both the games during the regular season have been won by the Campelltown based side but the Raiders are a team you just can?t write off. The top 2 teams should put on a great show.
14 Boys – (1st) Inner West Allstars vs. (2nd) Western Raiders
The last time these 2 teams met the Allstars won in 4-0 victory in the Major semi final but that score line wasn?t a true indication of the closeness between these two teams. The Raiders led by star Hagi Gligor accounted for a very good Sydney City side in the Preliminary Semi 4 goals to 3 to book their deserved position this weekend.
The Allstars led by Dylan Caton must go into the final feeling fairly confident having beaten the Raiders in their 3 previous encounters this season.
14 Girls – (1st) Inner West Allstars vs. (3rd) Sydney City Eagles
Sydney City Eagles have been the surprise packet in this finals race, having finished 3rd on the table, the Eagles have beaten both more fancied opponents on their way to make a Grandfinal appearance which not many people thought possible. Most pundits expected the Allstars and the Vipers to battle it out, but led by star Melissa Caceras the Eagles over powered the Vipers to score the day?s biggest upset in a 7-5 victory. The Eagles will be hoping they can leave the biggest upset until Grand final day when they take on competition heavyweights the Inner West Allstars. The Allstars went 14 games undefeated to leave the competition in their wake but needed penalty a shoot out to book their Grand Final place. With the confidence and the form the young Eagles are in this one should be a great game.
16 Boys – (1st) Inner West Allstars vs. (2nd) Campelltown Quake
And so these grand old rivals meet again. Quake had to fight and fight they did against the Mascot Vipers in their qualifying semi final. The Quake boys were a goal down until they fought hard to score 3 unanswered goals and seal their grand final place with a 3-1 victory.
The last time these 2 sides met was the Major semi where Quake led by 2 goals to nil until the Allstars fought back and took the game and the week off after their 3-2 victory. Both these teams know each other inside out. There is some great talent in both squads which should make for one of the more entertaining games of the day. Goal keepers Marcello Bortone and Andrew Haim have been in great form so far this final series and both will play a massive role in helping their team to victory.
16 Girls -(1st) Inner West Allstars vs. (2nd) Mascot Vipers.
In what should be a great game, the Allstars have the slight edge over a Doris Osman led Vipers side. Having played 3 times this season the Allstars lead 2-1 and with a convincing 4-2 semi final victory two weeks ago, the Allstars will go into the final confident. The Vipers coached but astute tactician Erkin Osman will go in to final battle hardened after coming from behind and beating a good Benfica side 3-2. Coach Joe Baldacci will rely heavily upon young star Helen Petinos to lead his side to victory after some storming performances so far this season. The Vipers are a very good side having already beaten the Allstars once this season could do it again. This one is too close to call.
Youth Men?s – (1st) Inner West Allstars vs. (4th) Dural Warriors
Dural Warriors finished the season in 4th position that certainly doesn?t show how good this team is.
In a clash which many people wanted to see in young stars Daniel Fogarty and Elliot Ragomo go head to head, unfortunately won?t eventuate with Fogarty?s recent call up to the National team. Ragomo is without doubt the best player in the competition and in the past 2 games has seen the star score 6 goals with a hat trick in each of his two semi final appearances.
Both teams will be lacking star players because of Injury, suspension and representative call ups with the Allstars most hit with Shervin Adeli, Shayne Ardle and now without Fogarty will see them field a team which resembles nothing like the team that earned them top position. While the Warriors are without probably the most influential player in the competition, Rhys Giovenali after his National team call up.
The Warriors are without doubt now the favourites and after easily accounting for Sydney Benfica in their semi final 8-3, the Warriors should seal another victory in an age group which they are always difficult to beat.
Open Women?s -(1st) Campbelltown Quake vs (2nd) Sydney City Eagles
The young brash Quake girls vs. the older and experienced Eagles. Sydney City played one of their best games of the season without Amanda Bowering on the weekend to dispatch the Inner West Allstars 3-0 in which Melissa Link scored a double to book their place in the final whilst the return of Nichole Laws should make a difference for the Eagles against Quake.
Quake on the other hand is a young side coached by Tom Thompson that came into the competition with nothing to lose and have been the best team all season. Led by Stephanie Haim and Leesa Thompson the Quake girls are hoping to repeat their semi final form and account for the Eagles to seal a deserved Premiership and Championship double.
For the first time in the Competitions history all 9 Minor Premiers have made their way to the Grand Finals and in 6 Grand Finals 1st vs. 2nd will go head to head.
In what should be a great day of Futsal the Dural Sports and Leisure Centre is the venue to watch all the exciting action.
Kick off Times:
12pm – Grade 12 Boys – Commodores FCB v Inner West Allstars
1pm ? Grade 12 Girls – Campbelltown Quake v Western Raiders
2pm ? Grade 14 Boys – Inner West Allstars v Western Raiders
3pm ? Grade 14 Girls – Inner West Allstars v Sydney City Eagles
4pm ? Grade 16 Boys – Inner West Allstars v Campbelltown Quake
5pm ? Grade 16 Girls – Inner West Allstars v Mascot Vipers
6pm ? Youth Men – Inner West Allstars v Dural Warriors
7pm ? Open Women – Campelltown Quake v Sydney City Eagles
