Futsal Premier/State League Round 8 Review
An extraordinary round eight has the Futsal NSW premier league poised delicately after Enfield downed UTS Northside, Inner West stunned Dural 5-1, Campbelltown edged Mascot 6-5, Mountain Majik held off Phoenix 4-3.
It’s going to be an exciting run home to the finals with Enfield (19 points) just ahead of Campbelltown (18), Dural (16), Inner West (15) and Mountain Majik (12) all charging for top-four chance.
Inner West Magic turned the premiership race on its head with an inspirational 5-1 result against club championship rivals Dural Warriors at Dural Sport & Leisure Centre.
The visitors were electric from the start and etched out a slender 2-1 advantage by the break, Dural getting some luck with an own goal keeping them in the contest. But it was Inner West who stood tallest in the second term with Marino Musumeci, Jonathan Barzel, Isaac Wadick and Chris Zeballos netting memorable Magic goals.
It was Inner West’s first victory over Dural in five tries and crept them closer to a top-three place and just four points behind leaders Enfield. Incredibly, it appears to be the heaviest Warriors home defeat since a 1-5 loss to Sydney City Eagles at Dural in late 2009.
Campbelltown Quake got more than they bargained from a terrific Mascot Vipers at Minto Indoor Sports Centre, the home side falling over the line 6-5 to jump Dural and move to second place on the leaderboard just before Christmas.
It was neck and neck all the way in a spritely affair, Mark Symington and Anthony Haddad picking up two goals each as Quake turned a tense 3-3 halftime scoreline into a dramatic one-goal win.
Symington has now scored in eight straight league runs and Campbelltown’s fifth straight win over Mascot leaves Vipers winless in nine straight league outings (a new mark).
Enfield Rovers motored to a 5-1 defeat of UTS Northside at Sydney Academy of Sport & Recreation. It was tight at the interval with Rovers 2-1 in front, and their experience showed even more in the second period with Enfield producing a very good result that strengthened their top spot billing. They next face motivated Inner West!
Mountain Majik pipped Phoenix Futsal Club 4-3 in an entertaining match at Valentine Sports Park. Jamie Dib fired in all four Majik goals and Vic Koutsoufis bagged two for Phoenix, who led twice; the 2-2 halftime deadlock and eventual one-goal victory Mountain’s tightest of four straight wins over Phoenix. Majik now host Quake in an important fixture.
Next week’s games
Premier League round 9 features Campbelltown Quake against Mountain Majik at Minto Indoor Sports Centre, Inner West Magic play Enfield Rovers at Valentine Sports Park, UTS Northside meet Phoenix at Sydney Academy of Sport & Recreation, and Dural Warriors host Mascot Vipers at Dural Sport & Leisure Centre.
State League round 8
Futsal NSW State league round 8 shuffled the top order a little as bye-team Raiders watched Boomerangs and Easts jump them following supportive weekend results, with a feast of teams ready to chomp on the playoff pie.
The points table shows Boomerangs (18), Easts (17), Raiders (16) Eagles (15), Wolves (13), Sutherland (12) and Pumas (11) rounding out a very tight top-six, with Crusaders (8), Sydney Futsal Club (8), Pirates (8) and Taipans (7) all needing to strike soon or miss out on the post-season fun.
Boomerangs beat Sydney Futsal Club 6-1 at Canberra’s mpowerdome, Jake Wilsener and Daniel Fulton causing the most damage with doubles each as the Territorians soared to top of the state league roost.
Eastern Suburbs Hakoah extended their unbeaten run to seven games with an easy 13-1 defeat of International Football School Futsal at Niagara Park Stadium, Jarrod Basger netting five times and Jordan Mundell four goals in a clinical performance that shifted Hakoah into second place.
Sutherland Shire made it three on the trot with a 4-2 denial of Western Wolves at Emerton Leisure Centre. The visitors grinded to a 4-1 halftime lead and had to withstand a crafty Wolves comeback to grab a well-deserved top-five spot.
Sydney City Eagles sunk Botany Bay Pirates 6-1 at Hurstville Aquatic Centre, Adrian Maruzza and Matthew Trotter doubles lifting Eagles to fourth place on the ladder.
South Coast Taipans and West City Crusaders cancelled each other out in an epic 0-0 stalemate at University of Wollongong Sports Hub. The draw did neither side any good as the top sides surged even more points ahead of them.
Parramatta Pumas downed Mount Druitt Town Rangers comfortably 7-1 behind braces from Ibrahim Kerem and Arsallan Mangal at Dural Sport & Leisure Centre to nestle just two points off a top-four position.
Next week’s games
State League round 9 features South Coast Taipans against Sydney City Eagles at University of Wollongong Sports Hub, Parramatta Pumas play Raiders at Dural Sport & Leisure Centre, Mount Druitt Town Ranges meet International Football School Futsal at Kevin Butts Stadium, Western Wolves face Eastern Suburbs Hakoah at Emerton Leisure Centre, West City Crusaders host Boomerangs at Penrith Valley Regional Sports Stadium, Sutherland Shire welcome Botany Bay Pirates to Menai Indoor Sports Centre, while Sydney Futsal Club has the bye.
