Futsal Premier League Preliminary Final Review
The Premier League Open Men grand final will feature premiers Dural Warriors against Inner West following Magic’s pulsating 7-5 defeat of Enfield Rovers in the weekend’s preliminary final held at Dural Sport & Leisure Centre.
The evenly matched sides went blow-for-blow throughout an exciting game that was still deadlocked 3-3 at the interval; but Inner West dug deep as six different players landed a goal to ensure a memorable 7-5 victory – only soured by a red card to key player Daniel Fogarty.
Chris Zeballos scored twice for Magic, while Miles Downie, Brian Griffin-Colls, Michael Cimino, Marino Musumeci and Fogarty grabbed a goal each. A possessed Lachlan Wright bagged three for Rovers with Shervin Adeli also penning his name on the scoresheet for an 18th straight time.
Inner West’s 12th straight league match without loss pegs them level with Dural’s 2013/14 championship-winning side and Magic haven’t been beaten in nine trips away from home – one more and they tie with Warriors’ incredible road run last summer.
And winning the Club Championship just wasn’t enough for Inner West, who’ll feature in seven of nine Premier League Grand Final contests being held at Valentine Sports Park on February 21. Dural will play for four trophies and Enfield and Campbelltown three each.
Open Women Premiers Dural Warriors bounced back from last week’s major semi-final loss to Enfield Rovers with a 3-0 shutout of Inner West Magic in a tough Preliminary Final. Warriors led 1-0 at the break and a consolidated second-half gives them a second chance against Rovers this weekend.
A first-half goal from Inner West Magic saw them knock Youth Men Premiers Enfield Rovers out of the finals and line-up against second-placed Campbelltown Quake in this weekend’s trophy match at Valentine Sports Park.
Fourth-placed Inner West will tackle 17 Girls Premiers Mascot Vipers in the championship decider after Magic downed Mountain Majik 3-2 in an enthralling Preliminary Final.
Inner West Magic defeated Dural Warriors 3-1 in their 16 Boys Preliminary Final match-up to advance to a Grand Final meeting with Premiers Campbelltown Quake.
The 15 Girls Preliminary Final went to a penalty shootout with third-placed Inner West prevailing over Mountain Majik 3-1 from the spot after scores were locked 3-3 after a grueling contest. Magic will now face a Dural Warriors juggernaut that’s conceded just eight goals in 15 games over summer.
Inner West edged Mascot Vipers in a 14 Boys Preliminary Final extra-time thriller, finishing 5-4 ahead after Vipers had turned around a 2-1 halftime deficit to finish even 3-3 at fulltime. Magic now meet Premiers Enfield Rovers in the Grand Final at Valentine Sports Park.
It’ll be first-versus-second in the 13 Girls Cup match after Inner West downed Enfield Rovers 2-0 in a close Preliminary Final to challenge Premiers Dural Warriors one more time.
It was a stunning upset in the 12 Boys Preliminary Final as fourth-placed Enfield Rovers came from a goal down at halftime to overcome Premiers Inner West Magic 2-1 – Magic going through an undefeated season as the highest scoring outfit of any Premier League grade (81 goals). Magic will play Campbelltown Quake in the Grand Final.
AWD Preliminary Final
AWD Premiers South Coast bounced back from their eye-popping semi-final loss to Mountain Majik last week with a convincing 10-0 win against Phoenix in the weekend’s Preliminary Final at Dural Sport & Leisure Centre.
Majik and Taipans will fight it out again in what promises to be a riveting Grand Final match-up at the Championship Day being held at Valentine Sports Park on February 21 (3pm kickoff).
-By Dan De Nardi
