32nd FFA Futsal National Championships Mens/Womens Days 1,2 & 3 Review

OPEN MEN ? DAY ONE
NSW Lightning began the defence of their FFA Futsal National Championships title with a hard-fought 2-2 draw against hosts ACT Cobras at a packed AIS Arena. The Lightning, who stunned the Futsal community by claiming the 2010 crown against all odds, came from a goal down to lead before being pegged back late in the game by the Cobras.
The home team got off to a perfect start with an early goal to new recruit Adrian Vizzari, the former NSW representative sweeping home at the end of a slick ACT move much to the delight of the home support that dominated the terraces,
Lightning however showed their resilience and, despite trailing by that goal at the interval, got themselves back into the match with a brace of superb goals. Kane Wright levelled proceedings with a low finish beyond Angelo Konstantinou before man of the match Daniel Fogarty latched onto a perceptive Wright through ball to round the prostrate Cobras shot-stopper and slide the ball into the empty net for a wonderful goal.
The Cobras though hit back and managed to pilfer a late equaliser when Misko Naumoski pounced on a cut back at the end of a terrific team move to calmly finish through a crowd of players and ensure the ACT team a share of the spoils.
Southern NSW Flames tops Pool A after a high-scoring 5-3 victory over Northern NSW. Kevin Oliviera was the star of the show for the Flames scoring twice for his team whilst team mates Thomas Taylor, Ali Bazzi and Luis Carneiro had Southern NSW 5-1 ahead close to the conclusion of the match before a late brace to Hakan Canli made the score line more respectable for Northern. Earlier Pouria Bashardoust had netted Northern NSW first goal of the competition.
NSW Thunder were held in their opener by a spirited ACT Colts team in Pool B that led for the vast majority of the match. The Colts took a first half lead through the feisty Callum Beaton and held the lead for most of the encounter. Late on Daine Merrin equalised for the Thunder but the Colts could have won it at the death when Elia Salloum spooned a chance over the bar in the end the draw was a fair result.
STATISTICS
Tasmania ? Bye
ACT Cobras 2 (Adrian Vizzari, Misko Naumoski) NSW Lightning 2 (Kane Wright, Daniel Fogarty)
Northern NSW 3 (Pouria Bashardoust, Hakan Canli (2)) Southern NSW Flame 5 (Kevin Oliviera (2), Thomas Taylor, Ali Bazzi, Luis Carneiro)
TABLE ? POOL A  

Southern NSW ? Bye
NSW Thunder 1 (Daine Merrin) ACT Colts 1 (Callum Beaton)
Victoria v South Australia ? late match
TABLE ? POOL B 

LEADING SCORERS
2 Hakan CANLI (Northern NSW), Kevin OLIVIERA (Southern NSW)
1 Misko NAUMOSKI, Adrian VIZZARI (both ACT Cobras), Callum BEATON (ACT Colts), Daniel FOGARTY, Kane WRIGHT (both NSW Lightning), Daine MERRIN (NSW Thunder), Pouria BASHARDOUST (Northern NSW), Ali BAZZI, Luis CARNEIRO, Thomas TAYLOR (all Southern NSW)
OPEN MEN ? DAY TWO
TASMANIA DOUSE SOUTHERN NSW FLAME
Tasmania recovered from a morning hammering by NSW Lightning to inflict a first defeat on Southern NSW Flame, winning their Pool A clash 4-1 in memorable style. The Tasmanians roared into a 2-0 lead by the break thanks to goals from Adam Husseni and a superb goal from Joshua Quan, sweeping the ball into the net first time from an acute angle, via both posts, for a sublime finish. Skipper Andrew Clark made it three after the resumption before Luis Carnerio registered his fourth goal of the competition to give the Flame some hope. This was doused not longer afterwards when Liam Scott made it four to complete a terrific result. Southern NSW Flame also saw Kevin Oliveira sent off for receiving two yellow cards.
The morning?s matches had seen NSW Lightning set out a marker that they would be defending their championship with vigour after seeing off the challenge of Tasmania 5-1. The strength in depth of the Lightning team was exemplified by the sharing of the goals amongst the squad. Mark Symington, Jordan Mundell, Kane Wright and Aaron Cimitile all netted for the NSW side with an own goal completing the victory. Adam Husseni responded for Tasmania but it was scant consolation.
The ACT Cobras, one of the pre-tournament favourites, were held to a second successive 2-2 draw, this time by Southern NSW Flame. The Cobras were 2-0 up by the break with Marcial Munoz and Dustin Wells finishing well, but the Southern NSW Flame team fought back after the re-start and a double to Luis Carnerio, taking his personal tally to three goals in two matches ensured the game ended in an entertaining score draw.
But the hometown heroes found their feet in the evening fixtures romping to a 5-0 destruction of Northern NSW in a performance that was a step up from what they had offered earlier. Scott Manson and Misko Naumoski were the beneficiaries of some sterling approach work grabbing a brace apiece with the latter moving his tournament tally to three. The rout had been instigated by Dustin Wells who had opened the scoring in the first half.
In Pool B the ACT Colts suffered their first defeat of the championships when they succumbed to a Fernando De Moraes inspired Victoria by 3-0. De Moraes, the Victorian captain, was in spectacular form in the second half and proved the difference between the teams with two well taken goals, the second of which, a superb back-heel flick, secured the points close to the conclusion of the match. Victoria had taken the lead in the first half through Resit Culculoglu and played some quick-fire Futsal, but the Colts were left to rue missed chances with Jason O?Dwyer going closest when his effort from just outside the ?D? was pushed to safety. The Colts face Southern NSW and South Australia tomorrow and realistically probably need two wins to ignite their finals hopes.
In what?s shaping up to be an incredibly tight Pool, Southern NSW have the advantage after they won their first match of the tournament by defeating South Australia 5-3. Liam Moller had given the South Australians the lead in the first half only for Giovanni Leuzzi to level matters minutes later. Joseph Foti and Shane Soutter out Southern NSW in front in the second term and, after Nick Bucco had netted his third goal in two games, a double to Engelo Rumora secured the points for Southern. Chris Dean pulled one back late on for South Australia but they couldn?t haul themselves back into the encounter.
STATISTICS
Round 2
NSW Lightning 5 (Mark Symington, Jordan Mundell, Kane Wright, Aaron Cimitile, own goal) Tasmania 1 (Adam Husseni)
Southern NSW Flame 2 (Luis Carnerio (2)) ACT Cobras 2 (Marcial Munoz, Dustin Wells)
BYE ? Northern NSW
Round 3
Tasmania 4 (Adam Husseni, Joshua Quan, Andrew Clark, Liam Scott) Southern NSW Flame 1 (Luis Carneiro)
ACT Cobras 5 (Scott Manson (2), Misko Naumoski (2), Dustin Wells) Northern NSW 0
BYE ? NSW Lightning
TABLE ? POOL A 

Round 2
ACT Colts 0 Victoria 3 (Fernando De Moraes (2), Resit Culculoglu)
South Australia 3 (Liam Moller, Nick Bucco, Chris Dean) Southern NSW 5 (Giovanni Leuzzi, Shane Soutter, Engelo Rumora (2), Joseph Foti))
BYE ? NSW Thunder
TABLE ? POOL B 

LEADING SCORERS
4 Luis CARNEIRO (Southern NSW Flame)
3 Misko NAUMOSKI (ACT Cobras), Nick BUCCO (South Australia)
2 Scott MANSON, Dustin WELLS (both Act Cobras), Kane WRIGHT (NSW Lightning), Hakan CANLI (Northern NSW), Engelo RUMORA (Southern NSW), Kevin OLIVIERA (Southern NSW Flame), Adam HUSSENI (Tasmania), Fernando DE MORAES (Victoria)
1 Marcial MUNOZ, Adrian VIZZARI (both ACT Cobras), Callum BEATON (ACT Colts), Aaron CIMITILE, Daniel FOGARTY, Jordan MUNDELL, Mark SYMINGTON (all NSW Lightning), Daine MERRIN (NSW Thunder), Pouria BASHARDOUST (Northern NSW), Chris DEAN, Raff FRISINA, Liam MOLLER (all South Australia), Joseph FOTI, Giovanni LEUZZI, Shane SOUTTER (all Southern NSW), Ali BAZZI, Thomas TAYLOR (both Southern NSW Flame), Andrew CLARK, Joshua QUAN, Liam SCOTT (all Tasmania), Resit CULCULOGLU, Vadim MAZURSKIY (both Victoria), Own GOALS
OPEN WOMEN ? DAY ONE
MAROONS DEFENCE BEGINS WITH A DRAW
Queensland?s defence of their crown began with a 3-3 draw with home town ACT Cobras in a quality match at AIS Arena. The Maroons looked in good touch against a more experienced ACT outfit and looked destined for a win until a late goal from Maja Blasch earned the Cobras two points for a score draw.
The Cobras had earlier taken the lead with a thumping finish from Luisa Marzotto, a lead they held until the half-time interval, having only been tested sporadically by the Maroons. However, the second half was a different story with Queensland upping the ante and playing some excellent Futsal in the process.
Kate Orkild, who was a standout in the title winning side of 2010, dragged her team level with an exceptional finish before Sophie Lamberton turned the match on its head with a slide rule finish from close range after neat approach play. The ACT responded in kind with a poacher?s leveller from Nicole Somi, sliding in to stab the ball in from close range.
It seemed as if Queensland had won it when Orkild banged in a second minutes from time, but the Cobras had other ideas and Maja Blasch swept in a coolly taken goal to level the score at 3-3.
There was a second scoring draw in the following match when NSW Lightning and Western NSW finished honours even at 2-2 following a topsy-turvy forty minutes of action. It looked likely that Lightning would be the ones celebrating at half-time having taken a 2-0 lead courtesy of goals from Sarah Semaan and Jo-Anne Saliba but Western found added resolve after the interval to fight back.
A fortuitous own goal reduced the deficit before Anna Errington equalised. Western later wasted a gilt-edged chance to win the match when spurning a break that left two attackers facing Lightning ?keeper Melanie McCauley, but McCauley read the play to make a brilliant interception and deny the chance.
Southern NSW leads the way after the first round of action though thanks to a match-winning goal from Hayley Buckingham struck with virtually the last kick of the match. Buckingham diverted home a driven shot to steal the point?s seconds after Victoria looked to have gained a draw.
Natalie Exon deflected Lauren Farrugia?s shot into the bottom corner to bring Victoria level at 2-2 before Buckingham pounced. Earlier, a double from Effi Rodopoulos had twice given Southern NSW the advantage, the first time cancelled out by a goal from Leisl Woods.
STATISTICS
NSW Thunder ? Bye
Queensland 3 (Kate Orkild (2), Sophie Lamberton) ACT Cobras 3 (Luisa Marzotto, Nicole Somi, Maja Blasch)
NSW Lightning 2 (Jo-Anne Saliba, Sarah Semaan) Western NSW 2 (Anna Errington, own goal)
Victoria 2 (Leisl Woods, Natalie Exon) Southern NSW 3 (Effi Rodopoulos (2), Hayley Buckingham)
TABLE ? POOL A 

LEADING SCORERS
2 Kate ORKILD (Queensland), Effi RODOPOULOS (Southern NSW)
1 Maja BLASCH, Luisa MARZOTTO, Nicole SOMI (all ACT Cobras), Sarah SEMAAN, Jo-Anne SALIBA (NSW Lightning), Sophie LAMBERTON (Queensland), Hayley BUCKINGHAM (Southern NSW), Anna ERRINGTON (Western NSW), Natalie EXON, Leisl WOODS (Both Victoria), Own GOALS
OPEN WOMEN ? DAY TWO
ANYONE?S GAME IN WOMEN?S COMPETITION
A succession of drawn matches has left competition for spots in the semi-finals of the Women?s tournament at the FFA Futsal National Championship wide open with only Queensland looking certain of securing a place amongst the last four after a day of intense, tight play at the AIS Arena.
Defending champions Queensland enjoyed a stellar second day reaping the maximum six points possible from their two fixtures without conceding a goal. After an opening day draw with ACT Cobras it was business as usual for the Maroons as they easily accounted for an outclassed Western NSW 5-0. Western were gritty opponents for most of the game but Queensland had too much where it counted, in the final third. Five different players troubled the scorers with Leigh Ferguson, captain Brooke Skelly, the influential Kate Orkild, Georgie Bridges and Sophie Lamberton claiming the goals.
It was a tougher task that faced Justin Morrison?s team just after the lunch break though as NSW Lightning proved tenacious opponents. It took a single goal, netted by Tiffany Roberts, to break the deadlock, although the same player nearly added a second barely sixty seconds after the deadlock had been broken.
The ACT Cobras hopes of gaining a spot in the semi-finals took what could have been a huge blow with a narrow 2-1 loss to NSW Thunder coming on the back of a 4-4 draw with Victoria leaving the home team playing catch up at the top of the table. To compound their woes leading scorer Sarah Crittenden was sent off for violent conduct minutes before the NSW Thunder won the match through a goal from Zoeie Redman. Earlier in the match Crittenden had equalised for the ACT after Natasha Lo Guidice had given the Thunder the early advantage.
The morning fixture with Victoria brought plenty of excitement and lots of goals. The Cobras showed great fortitude to fight back from a 3-1 deficit to claw their way in front only for the most unfortunate of own goals to derail their hopes of a win. Becky Roche (2), Kim Crocker and Crittenden scored for the Cobras with Stephanie Peluso (2), Stephanie Tanti and the own goal replying for the Victorians who played their part in an end-to-end match.
And the Cobras rekindled their dreams of National glory thanks to a last-gasp goal from Becky Roche. Roche was on hand in the final minute to slot home from close range at the end of a quality team move to secure the points in a 2-1 win. Kylie Meehan had put Southern NSW ahead in the first half before Amanda Aurousseau equalised with a vital captain?s goal setting the scene for Roche?s late heroics.
NSW Thunder had seen off Southern NSW 2-0 in the opening match of the day with goals from Stephanie Haim and Caitlan Jarvie whilst the match between Victoria and Western NSW ended 1-1. Chloe Drinoczky gave Victoria the lead only for Melissah Parlatto to level.
The matches between Victoria and NSW Lightning and Western NSW and NSW Thunder kicked off late in the evening.
STATISTICS
Round 2
Southern NSW 0 NSW Thunder 2 (Caitlan Jarvie, Stephanie Haim)
ACT Cobras 4 (Becky Roche (2), Kim Crocker, Sarah Crittenden) Victoria 4 (Stephanie Tanti, Stephanie Peluso (2), own goal)
Western NSW 0 Queensland 5 (Leigh Ferguson, Brooke Skelly, Kate Orkild, Sophie Lamberton, Georgie Bridges)
Round 3
Queensland 1 (Tiffany Roberts) NSW Lightning 0
NSW Thunder 2 (Natasha Lo Guidice, Zoeie Redman) ACT Cobras 1 (Sarah Crittenden)
Victoria 1 (Chloe Drinoczky) Western NSW 1 (Melissah Parlatto)
Round 4
Southern NSW 1 (Kylie Meehan) ACT Cobras 2 (Amanda Aurousseau, Becky Roche)
NSW Lightning v Victoria ? late kick off
Western NSW v NSW Thunder ? late kick off
TABLE ? POOL A

LEADING SCORERS
3 Becky ROCHE (ACT), Kate ORKILD (Queensland)
2 Sarah CRITTENDEN (ACT), Sophie LAMBERTON (Queensland), Effi RODOPOULOS (Southern NSW), Stephanie PELUSO (Victoria), Own GOALS
1 Amanda AUROUSSEAU, Maja BLASCH, Kim CROCKER, Luisa MARZOTTO, Nicole SOMI (all ACT Cobras), Sarah SEMAAN, Jo-Anne SALIBA (NSW Lightning), Stephanie HAIM, Caitlan JARVIE, Natasha LO GUIDICE, Zoeie REDMAN (all NSW Thunder), Georgie BRIDGES, Leigh FERGUSON, Brooke SKELLY, Tiffany ROBERTS (all Queensland), Hayley BUCKINGHAM (Southern NSW), Anna ERRINGTON, Melissah PARLATTO (both Western NSW), Chloe DRINOCZKY, Natalie EXON, Stephanie TANTI, Leisl WOODS (all Victoria)
OPEN WOMEN ? DAY THREE
Headline
Results throughout the morning continued to indicate the openness of the Women?s competition with defending champions Queensland, who had looked certain of a semi-final spot after the opening four rounds, surprisingly beaten by Victoria, 3-2, in an upset result. Lauren Farrugia was the standout for the Victorians controlling the game from the back with some composed Futsal and scoring a brace of cracking goals to put her team 2-0 ahead at half-time. Stephanie Tanti added a third in the second half, a goal sandwiched by a double strike from the competition?s leading scorer, the Maroon?s Kate Orkild, as Victoria forced their way back into contention.
Unfortunately for Queensland, serious injuries seem to have scuppered hopes of defending their crown. Orkild, who had been in truly outstanding form, suffered a heavy knock to the back of her head when tumbling following a challenge in the teams 1-4 reverse to NSW Thunder in the early evening clash. Orkild landed on her back and cracked her head on the hard surface and looked in some discomfort as she was led from the field. To compound their woes the impressive Sophie Lamberton was then carried from the pitch after what appeared to be knee ligament damage that looks likely to end her participation. Whether Orkild returns to the fray will depend on medical advice received overnight.
The game itself saw Brooke Skelly give Queensland the lead before the Thunder hit back in some style. Claire Walsh equalised for the NSW team and further goals from Renee Tomkins (2) and Natasha Lo Guidice, star of the Youth team last season, secured an important win for the Thunder.
Back to the morning and the all-NSW battle between the Thunder and Lightning was, as many predicted, a tight affair settled by a solitary goal scored by Claire Walsh after a neat build up. The Thunder, who were beaten 4-2 by Western NSW in the late game on Day Two, suddenly found themselves top of the ladder after four games and looking good for a place in the last four. Western NSW recovered from that setback to see off their Southern NSW rivals 3-2. Lauren Didusko, Vanessa Lee and Megan Embleton struck for Western with the winning goal coming in the final two minutes. Hayley Buckingham and Michelle Petschy replied for Southern.
STATISTICS
Round 5
NSW Thunder 1 (Claire Walsh) NSW Lightning 0
Victoria 3 (Lauren Farrugia (2), Stephanie Tanti) Queensland 2 (Kate Orkild (2))
Western NSW 3 (Lauren Didusko, Vanessa Lee, Megan Embleton) Southern NSW 2 (Hayley Buckingham, Michelle Petschy)
Round 6
Queensland 1 (Brooke Skelly) NSW Thunder 4 (Claire Walsh, Renee Tomkins (2), Natasha Lo Guidice)
Southern NSW 1 (Hayley Buckingham) NSW Lightning 3 (Jo-Anne Sailba, Sarah Semaan, Ivana Bojanovic)
ACT Cobras v Western NSW
Source ? Futsal Nationals official website