Futsal Premier League Semi-Finals Review
What a weekend of Futsal as premiers Dural moved into the grand final following a strong 7-3 win against a defiant Enfield. Inner West eliminated Campbelltown in an epic penalty shootout after the scores were deadlocked 1-1 at the end of extra time.
Dural Warriors stood tall in a strong challenge from Enfield Rovers at Dural Sport & Leisure Centre, winning a gripping major semi-final 7-3 to book a spot in the championship decider at Valentine Sports Park in two weeks time.
It was a tough slog from the outset and the home side clung to a 3-1 lead midway through the game, but a second-half burst from the Giovenali brothers Greg (three goals) and Wade (two) backed by a heroic defensive effort that restricted Enfield’s red-hot attack saw Dural home; Chris Polkinghorne netting twice for Warriors while Shervin Adeli, Rob Foti and Lachlan Wright scored for Rovers.
Inner West Magic prevailed in a grinding knockout semi-final bout against worthy contenders Campbelltown Quake, winning a nailbiting penalty shootout 3-2 after nothing separated the two sides following added time at Dural Sport & Leisure Centre.
Defence was the winner of a nervy opening period with the sides retreating to halftime stalemated at 0-0, and a Daniel Fogarty strike cancelled out a breakthrough second-half goal from Quake’s Mark Symington to ensure extra-time.
The bonus period couldn’t produce a winner so it was decided from the spot, some fine goalkeeping and high anxiety finishing with Inner West outdoing Campbelltown 3-2 in the shootout to continue their outstanding league run, now 11 games unbeaten (one short of Dural’s top run last summer).
Magic and Quake have provided some outstanding clashes over the years and Campbelltown were outstanding to put a poor run behind them and lift for this one, but Inner West roll on to a preliminary final match-up against Enfield.
Next week’s game
Enfield Rovers face Inner West Magic in a blockbuster Futsal Premier League preliminary final at Dural Sport & Leisure Centre for the right to face Warriors in grand final day at Valentine Sports Park.
State League Preliminary Finals
This week’s Futsal State League grand final line-up at Valentine Sports Park was finalised following a hectic round of preliminary finals, Sutherland sitting in five of the nine championship bouts and South Coast four, while AWD division one featured two upset results to start their post-season phase.
Raiders claimed a yo-yo open men’s preliminary final beating Sydney City Eagles 7-4 at Valentine Sports Park, but it was a strange match with Raiders leading 3-0 at the break before Eagles stormed back to draw level four-apiece at fulltime, Raiders scoring three times in extra time to earn the right to meet Hakoah in next week’s trophy decider at the same venue. Damien Smith, Goran Ljuboja and Adam Savetta netting braces for the victors.
Sutherland Shire won an absorbing open women’s preliminary final against South Coast Taipans. No goals were scored in two halves and extra time, but 17 were scored in the penalty shootout as Sutherland emerged from the smoke 9-8 victors to face Boomerangs in the title match.
Boomerangs edged Mount Druitt Town Rangers in a gritty 3-2 youth men’s preliminary final win. The Territorians led 2-0 at the interval but Mount Druitt came at them in the second term, Boomerangs finishing a goal ahead to advance to this weekend’s grand final against Sutherland.
Two goals from Ehlana Hards saw Sutherland Shire lift to a 2-1 preliminary final win over Raiders in the 17 Girls competition, the sides locked 1-1 at halftime with Sutherland set to face South Coast in the trophy match.
Sutherland Shire proved too good for South Coast Taipans in the 16 Boys preliminary final turning a 3-0 halftime cushion into a 4-0 win and progress to the grand final against Sydney City.
In the 15 Girls preliminary final Raiders accounted for Mount Druitt Town Rangers 4-1 following a tight first half that finished 1-1, Raiders to tackle South Coast in the championship decider.
Advin Trebincevic scored a hat-trick as Sutherland defeated Sydney City Eagles 6-2 in the 14 Boys preliminary final with South Coast waiting for Shire in this week’s grand final.
Eastern Suburbs Hakoah won a gutwrenching 13 Girls preliminary final against Raiders. It was 0-0 at halftime, 1-1 at fulltime and 2-2 at the end of extra time; Easts winning a pulsating penalty shootout 2-1 to meet South Coast on grand final day.
In 12 Boys Sydney Futsal Club beat South Coast Taipans 3-2 in an exciting preliminary final to establish a grand final showdown with Hakoah.
A goal in both halves and extra time from Ben Atkins inspired Mountain Majik to an upset major semi-final win over premiers South Coast 3-2 to claim the first available AWD division one grand final berth. Taipans will now play Phoenix in this weekend’s preliminary final after the Ryde-based outfit stunned third-placed Sutherland Shire 3-1 in the knockout semi-final. The trophy match will feature at the Futsal Premier League championship round being held at Valentine Sports Park on February 21.
-By Dan De Nardi
