Futsal State League Grand Final Review
On a day where the Futsalroos qualified for the 2016 FIFA Futsal World Cup in Colombia, hundreds flocked to Valentine Sports Park for a fantastic Futsal State League championship day, with all seven clubs represented and six of them winning titles on Saturday 20th of February.
Club champions Sydney Futsal Cub enjoyed the most success winning four of the seven grade crowns they contested (open women, youth men, 15 girls & 12 boys), with one title each going to West City Crusaders (open men), International Football School Futsal (17 girls), Central Coast (16 boys), Western Wolves (14 boys) and Parramatta Pumas (13 girls).
It wasn’t a day for the underdogs as all eight premiers featured won their deciders; but five of them had to come from behind to defeat their gallant challengers.
12 Boys – premiers & champions Sydney Futsal Club
13 Girls – premiers & champions Parramatta Pumas
14 Boys – premiers & champions Western Wolves
15 Girls – premiers & champions Sydney Futsal Club
16 Boys – premiers & champions Central Coast
17 Girls – premiers & champions International Football School Futsal
Youth Men – premiers & champions Sydney Futsal Club
Women – premiers & champions Sydney Futsal Club
Men – premiers Parramatta Pumas; champions West City Crusaders
Open Men – Crusaders slay Wolves
West City Crusaders took their chances to defeat Western Wolves 3-1 in a hotly-contested men’s final.
With premiers Parramatta out of the way the open men final still came down to two western Sydney teams battling for the title and as expected it was fast and furious from the opening whistle.
West City had the clearer chances as Western found their feet but the Crusaders failed to capitalise on any of their offences, including a Wolves pass-back to keeper Shannon Viera and a low Alex Crane drive that shaved the upright, but they eventually made their possession count when Crane pounced on a second chance to make it 1-0.
Western finally got going and a penalty gave them a clear sight on goal only to find City glovesman Daniel Schwarzer equal to the task with a great block to deny Tobias Elliot-Orr, Kurt Elborough going close moments later as Crusaders maintained their tight margin.
Elliot-Orr was unlucky not to equalise when his rocket deflected off a defender and onto the post, and Wiltar Jajaw’s glance from a full-court throw bounced fortuitously off Schwarzer and away from danger as a Wolves goal seemed imminent.
But it was West City who next found the back of the net when Viera parried away an Evan Daglis freekick only as far as Daglis who rifled it in from outside the D and hand Crusaders a double advantage eight minutes out from halftime.
Western’s Ryan Faulkner had a great shot stopped by Schwarzer, and Daglis was throwing everything at the Wolves goal but the difference remained two goals at the changeover.
A fiery start to the second half showed the Wolves intent and Eren Kirkpinar (now in goals for Western) charged out to deny a Crusaders fast break, City’s Lucas Rossi missing a gilt-edged chance in front of goal moments later and somehow the score stayed 2-0.
Schwarzer did well to block Crane’s audacious attempt and the Crusaders keeper was throwing himself everywhere to keep the Wolves at bay, Kirkpinar also chiming in with some great stops at the other end to hold back the Crusaders.
If the goals were an inch bigger Faulkner might’ve scored twice with another rocket scraping the crossbar and the misses proved costly when a Crusaders break saw Carlo Manna lay it off for Lochlan Sommerville to drill past Kirkpinar and advance West City to a 3-0 cushion, also forcing Western to a fifth-man press with 10 minutes to play.
In a frenetic finish to the match Western just couldn’t get a clear shot on goal, and when they did they couldn’t find a way past Schwarzer, so it was fitting for gloves-clad Kirkpinar to run onto a Faulkner cross and push it into goal to stir some life in the Wolves pack with three minutes on the clock, but the run was too late and West City claimed a deserved 3-1 win.
West City Crusaders 3 (Alex Crane, Evan Daglis, Lochlan Sommerville) Western Wolves 1 (Eren Kirkpinar)
West City Crusaders: Daniel Schwarzer, Chris Sheerin, David McMurray, Alexander Crane, Brendan Riley, Evan Daglis, Carlo Manna, Rizwan Bawani, Lucas Rossi, Lochlan Sommerville, Brycen Ladd, Kane Weight, coach Damian Baker, assistant Warren Ladd, manager Janette Smith
Western Wolves: Shannon Viera, Kurt Elborough, Tobias Elliot-Orr, Eren Kirkpinar, Wiltar Jajaw, Joshua Smith, Ryan Faulkner, Jesse Elliott, Samir Abdelkrimi, Nathan Rawling, Matthew Viera, Joshua Viera, Brad Smith, coach Michael Viera, assistant Paul Brown, manager Elizabeth Mahony
Referees: Taha Marabani, Andrew Beckett, Zac Hibbard
Open Women – Sydney down West City
A four-goal second half drove Sydney Futsal Club to a convincing 5-1 win against West City Crusaders, placing even more awards in the SFC trophy room following the club’s fourth premiership-championship double.
It was a good start to the game with probes at both ends of the court and Crusaders custodian Courtney Halpin was particularly involved with a couple of good saves to maintain a 0-0 scoreline.
The players were also committed with several throwing their bodies on their line to block any attempts at goal, but Samantha Collins found a way through for West City with a low drive that pinched the bottom corner and put Crusaders one goal to the good.
The officials needed to be on their toes in a physical clash that saw both sides stand their ground, unfortunately most of the action started to take place in the middle of the court.
The match picked up pace toward oranges, Sydney keeper Michelle Podnecky doing well to stop Ashlee Norman’s goal-bound shot while Halpin wasn’t as good in handling a freekick that rebounded straight to Deirdre Barham who calmly rifled the ball into a vacant net and draw Sydney level 1-1 just seconds before the break.
West City shaved paint off the post with a solid drive at goal to start the second stanza but it was Sydney who took a 2-1 lead when Emma Noro glanced a sharp corner past Halpin, and it should’ve been more had Freya Hickey been a shoe-size bigger missing Willow Shorrocks’ terrific centre by a whisker.
Halpin was doing her best to keep Crusaders in it with some courageous stops but she was sent the wrong way by a wicked deflection off Hickey’s solid strike, and Hickey was in again seconds later finishing off Noro’s cross to make it 4-1, Barham adding a fifth goal soon after to give Sydney a stranglehold on the decider.
Some over-zealous finishing stopped Sydney from scoring more, but it didn’t matter as FC ran out comfortable four-goal winners.
Sydney Futsal Club 5 (Deirdre Barham 2, Emma Noro, Freya Hickey 2) West City Crusaders 1 (Samantha Collins)
Sydney Futsal Club: Abbey Fletcher, Vanessa Penitani, Deirdre Barham, Willow Shorrocks, Emma Noro, Emily Upstone, Chloe Robinson, Lauren Gaul, Rebecca Browning, Freya Hickey, Karen Saavedra Ramiez, Michelle Podnecky, Brittney Ornelas, Amy Woodhouse, coach Glenn Woodhouse, assistant Glenn Errington, manager Montana Bolzan
West City Crusaders: Courtney Halpin, Samantha Collins, Elise Cherry, Hollie Wilson, Paige Wilson, Adele Granata, Elise Robins, Emma Davies, Ashlee Norman, Kaitlyn Smith, Madeline Cassin, Narmin Malas, coach Warren Ladd, assistant Malcom Smith, manager Janette Smith
Referees: Zac Hibbard, Laura Hockings, Kaine Mannell
Youth Men – Sydney take Coast
Sydney Futsal Club came from two goals back to hold off a fast-finishing Central Coast 4-3 and lift both the premiership and championship summer trophies.
Coast were quick to get on the scoreboard following a great move that resulted in Nathan Baker slamming the ball home to shock premiers Sydney inside a blistering opening two minutes.
Coast was a hair-length away from doubling their lead when keeper Riley Battle’s long throw clipped Baker’s fringe before going a centimetre the wrong side of the post, while Sydney’s Nathan Spinola went close at the other end with a long-range curler that Battle tipped over the crossbar.
Battle was in everything and could claim an assist in Central’s second goal, his mid-court throw rebounding off the head of FC defender Jared Abbonizio and drifting over the head of glovesman Brandon Groom into goal for a 2-0 lead midway through the term.
It was 2-1 within seconds however as Battle could only parry Abbonizio’s blast to Spinola who volleyed spectacularly into the Coast net and add new spice to the afternoon salsa.
Coast’s Jayden Messell might’ve done better with his open look on goal and Sydney’s Jack Carrier struck straight at Battle, Bilal Belkadi also having a smart snap stopped well by the Coast custodian before George Tsokos skied his strike over an open net.
It was Thomas Papa who provided Sydney’s equaliser in the closing moments with a deflected power drive over a diving Battle, and FC suddenly found themselves 3-2 in front just before the changeover as Tsokos placed himself well inside the D to complement a pinpoint cross.
The premiers surged further ahead within a minute of the second half starting as Lucas Di Pietro netted well for a 4-2 buffer but this seemed to rile up Central Coast who went on the attack only to be let down by some poor options close to goal and some reflex saves from Groom.
Battle was keeping Coast in it with some heroic stops, and some not even he knew much about such was Sydney’s crispness, and his desperation was inspiring as Messell and Baker combined beautifully with the latter finishing off sweetly under Groom to make it 4-3 five minutes from fulltime.
The Coasters finished with a flurry of chances but Sydney held their mettle on for a tight one-goal win.
Sydney Futsal Club 4 (Nathan Spinola, Thomas Papa, George Tsokos, Lucas Di Pietro) Central Coast 3 (Nathan Baker 2, own goal)
Sydney Futsal Club: Andres Nolan, John Mamis, Tom Mazzucco, Lucas Di Pietro, Brandon Groom, Thomas Papa, Daniele Fiumara, Nathan Spinola, Jared Abbonizio, Scott Armstrong, Ryan Henderson, George Tsokos, coach Arthur Kazas, assistant Raff Dardano
Central Coast: Jordan Lane, Nathan Baker, Jayden Messell, Daylen Cobb, Jack Carrier, Riley Battle, Zak Belkadi, Bilal Belkadi, Joshua Iannazzo, coach Zoey Belkadi, manager Kevin Wilson
Referees: Jordan Lake, Kaine Mannell, Gordon McOrist
17 Girls – International force conquer Sydney
International Football School Futsal claimed the 17-Girls premiership-championship double following a determined 5-1 victory over Sydney Futsal Club.
International were solid from the get-go and it didn’t take long for them to get on the scoreboard as a great ball to Tamar Felsch on the byline was matched by an equally accurate cross for a lurking Emily Diaz to latch onto and score the game’s opening goal.
Jessica Garrett went close to extending the lead moments later and Diaz might’ve done better than shooting straight at Sydney custodian Abbey Fletcher as International dominated possession and territory.
A ranged effort from Tanya Marjanovic midway through the half lifted Sydney as they looked to get back into the contest, Tiarne Schuman looming large on the left with a drive that came off both keeper Ruby Kesteven and post.
From the resulting corner the ball became lodged between Tiffiny McKerrell and the International defence right on the goal-line, the Sydney target eventually winning the contest on her third attempt to get the ball into goal as FC drew level 1-1 five minutes from the interval.
International returned fire when Diaz dribbled toward goal before unleashing an unstoppable blast to restore her team’s lead before the interval, and it was 3-1 a minute after the restart when Felsch rounded Fletcher, weighed up her options and buried it between two goal-line defenders.
As Sydney struggled to get out of their half the premiers moved to go further in front with a Jessica Garrett rocket rattling the upright before a full-court throw from Kesteven released Diaz who cutely tucked the ball under Fletcher for a three-goal advantage with 10 minutes on the clock.
Diaz was on fire and added yet another goal in the dying moments to make it 5-1 at the end – the imposing target racking up a staggering 34 goals in just a dozen dazzling summer appearances.
International Football School Futsal 5 (Emily Diaz 4, Tamar Felsch) Sydney Futsal Club 1 (Tiffiny McKerrell)
International Football School Futsal: Ruby Kesteven, Emily Diaz, Tamar Felsch, Daniella Ward, Samantha Fulwood, Sara Piriz, Molly Frost, Jordyn Lawton, Jessica Garrett, Gemma Clegg, coach Andrew Peachey, assistant Will Piriz, manager Paul Chapman
Sydney Futsal Club: Abbey Fletcher, Tiarne Schuman, Tanya Marjanovic, Emily Thurgar, Tiffiny McKerrell, Emma Lewis, Hannah McAvoy, Anjelica Williams, Mollie Lombo, Chiara Bivona, Brittney Ornelas, Yasmene Placer, coach Glenn Errington, assistant Glenn Woodhouse, manager Vanessa Penitani
Referees: Gordon McOrist, Giovanni Santoro, Oscar Videan
16 Boys – Coast bring down Eagles
Central Coast won a torrid 16-Boys battle coming from two goals down to beat Imperial Eagles 5-3 and add the championship prize to their outstanding summer premiership.
Central Coast got off to a flyer with sharpshooter Bilal Belkadi going agonisingly close on two occasions, but the game turned on its head with two quickfire Imperial goals, Adam Blundell smashing home from close range before Alex Small drove one in from a tight angle to make it 2-0 in the first three minutes.
The Coasters responded in fine style moments later when Ottie Clarke grabbed the ball inside the D and managed to sweep it in ‘Karate Kid’ style to halve the Eagles advantage.
A high tempo game saw plenty of chances at both ends, Coast fans holding their breath as a delicious Clarke strike from range just lofted past the post as the premiers began to assert themselves on the match.
And an absorbing contest was back on even terms a couple minutes from the interval following Belkadi’s mesmerising dance into the D, even rounding Eagles keeper Daniel Vaccaro to make it 2-2; but he couldn’t beat Vaccaro in a last-gasp attempt to finalise first-half proceedings.
Chances went begging for both sides to start the second period, Coast custodian Brayden Gunn and his counterpart Vaccaro producing solid stops, but it was that man Belkadi who stepped up again to fire Central in front, showing strength with his back to goal before turning and burying his shot through a small gap between keeper and post.
Belkadi was on-point and fortune favoured the grade leading scorer when a byline ball spat straight to him in front of goal and he tapped it in for a 4-2 lead midway through the term, but the Eagles refused to go away and a speculative Brandon Doan effort from near halfway bobbled out of Gunn’s hands and into goal behind him to narrow the deficit to 4-3 with five minutes on the clock.
Imperial tried hard for an equaliser but Belkadi put the result beyond doubt with a fifth-foul spot-kick that beat Vaccaro to restore Coast’s buffer and the premiers looked comfortable as they closed out the game to win by two goals – Belkadi netting 35 times in just 14 appearances this summer.
Central Coast 5 (Ottie Clarke, Bilal Belkadi 4) Imperial Eagles 3 (Adam Blundell, Alex Small, Brandon Doan)
Central Coast: Ottie Clarke, Christopher Altuneg, Jacob Villablanca, Zak Belkadi, Bilal Belkadi, Jordan Lennon, Josh Inazzo, Brayden Gunn, Josh Iannazo, coach Zoey Belkadi, assistant Matthew Wilson, manager Andrew Lennon
Imperial Eagles: Kristian Zabala, Alessandro Trimboli, Miles Beeston, Naoki Varlamov, Brandon Doan, Emmanuel Ganakas, Alexander Small, Felipe Rava, Adam Blundell, Christopher Condylios, Daniel Vaccaro, coach Rui Da Silva, assistant David Palma, manager Michael Doan
Referees: Soheil Adabjou, Oscar Videan, Jordan Lake
15 Girls – Sydney better International
Grade Fifteen Girls premiers Sydney Futsal Club rose to the occasion with a fine 3-1 win against International Football School Futsal, adding another accolade to their premiership title in a crowded SFC cabinet.
It was a good start from International as they pressured the Sydney goal early, keeper Abbey Fletcher tipping a Sara Piriz rocket past but Fletcher could do nothing to stop Piriz delivering from right in front moments later to lift International 1-0 up.
Sydney’s Emily Thurgar showed intent with a long range bomb that International custodian Ruby Kesteven pushed onto the post, and it was even within seconds as Thurgar again drove one toward goal that broke the back of the net for a 1-1 scoreline five minutes into a pulsating game.
Cheyanne Dearie almost restored International’s lead when her effort from distance was spilled by Fletcher with the ball bobbling between her legs before she collected it again, and the Sydney keeper was in the thick of it using her feet to deny a Ruby Marquez strike seconds later.
Everything stopped five minutes from halftime when Rebecca Janes went down heavily in a solid challenge and smashed her head on the court, the crowd applauding Janes’ tenacity to get back to her feet after a few moments, while Kesteven was excellent in gathering a Thurgar thumper to keep the scores level at the break.
Sydney’s Tanya Marjanovic had a good chance early in the half with a quick snap of goal that missed the post by centimetres and for the next seven minutes it was virtually one-way traffic as Sydney upped the tempo.
Sydney went ahead midway through the term following some beautiful team play from the sideline saw Bridget Fallah cross to Alessandra Camporeale in front of goal who made no mistake with her blast into goal for a 2-1 edge.
The lead almost doubled when Camporeale sent a delicious curling strike that ricocheted off the post, and they did find a third through Marjanovic’s goalmouth scramble seconds later as Sydney led 3-1 inside the final five minutes and held their nerve to fulltime.
Sydney Futsal Club 3 (Emily Thurgar, Alessandra Camporeale, Tanya Marjanovic) International Football School Futsal 1 (Sara Piriz)
Sydney Futsal Club: Abbey Fletcher, Bridget Fallah, Alessandra Camporeale, Rebecca Janes, Tiarne Schuman, Tanya Marjanovic, Emily Thurgar, Genia Isabel Furlong, Tess Ingram, Lana Giampaoli, coach Willow Shorrocks, assistant Glenn Woodhouse, manager Emma Novo
International Football School Futsal: Ruby Kesteven, Paris Blair, Emily Downs, Ruby Marquez, Cheyenne Dearie, Sara Piriz, Molly Frost, Hannah Batten, Katie Tonner, Taylah Robertson, Gemma Clegg, Abigail Davies, coach Will Piriz, assistant Andrew Peachey, manager Paul Chapman
Referees: Bright Lee, Ben McCarthy, Manwell Limnios
14 Boys – Wolves defeat Sydney
Western Wolves came from behind to beat Sydney Futsal Club 3-2 and claim the 14-Boys premiership-championship double.
Sydney started strongest testing Western keeper Cooper Halfpenny with a series of sweeping raids on the Wolves goal, the premiers taking seven minutes to conjure up their first serious foray before Sydney’s Dimitri Kostopoulos whistled one past the post as both sides shifted up a gear.
The deadlock was finally broken midway through the half when Western’s Ivan Sunjic ran onto the receiving end of a beautifully weighted lob and he made no mistake from inside the D as Wolves went 1-0 up.
Sydney’s Yianni Solidakis went close to equalising with a great run down the left and shot that needed covering by Halfpenny and a high-pressure affair also needed yellow cards dished out to each side to calm things down a notch, Western holding onto their slender advantage at the break.
Western had a great chance to go further ahead straight after the restart when Lukas Ostojic cantered up-court for a one-on-one with Sydney keeper Fabrizio Dardano at his best in a drop-save to smother the attempt, and the effort went rewarded as seconds later Kostopoulos made the most of a good attacking raid with a brilliant finish past Halfpenny to tie the game up at 1-1.
A highly spirited match was producing plenty of heroics as Sydney’s Alex Zinnato scrambled back to clear the ball from danger after Wolves had drawn out Dardano, and FC’s blockade went rewarded when Kostopoulos drove a ball across goal that Sam Bova somehow got a toe on for Sydney to hit the front 2-1 midway through the stanza.
But the Sydney joy didn’t last long when within a minute Tim Williams slammed home from close quarters to level the scores at 2-2, Halfpenny then smothering a Sydney freekick from the edge of the D to keep the scoreline unchanged.
Western’s persistence paid off when a beautiful move up court allowed Williams a sight on goal and he buried it past Dardano to move 3-2 ahead two minutes out from fulltime, Kostopoulos rattling the post with a last-second kick as Wolves held on for victory.
Western Wolves 3 (Ivan Sunjic, Tim Williams 2) Sydney Futsal Club 2 (Dimitri Kostopoulos, Sam Bova)
Western Wolves: Cooper Halfpenny, Jacob Debien, Blake Steward, Adam Pavlesic, Lukas Ostojic, Jackson Ostojic, Lachlan Strahan, Timothy Williams, Jacob Santiago, Oliver Park, Nathan Bogadi, Ivan Sunjic, coach Paul Brown, assistant Michael Viera, manager Elizabeth Mahony
Sydney Futsal Club: Fabrizio Dardano, Alexander Zinnato, Yianni Solidakis, Jason Rudd, Sam Bova, Connor Magiasis, Michael Marjanovic, Dimitri Kostopoulos, Marcus Apostolakis, coach Sam Solidakis, assistant Raff Dardano, manager Goran Marjanovic
Referees: Manwell Limnios, Matthew Wearne, Dean Wright
13 Girls – Parramatta cruise past Sydney
Grade 13 Girls premiers Parramatta Pumas proved too strong for Sydney Futsal Club winning the championship match 6-1 to take the double trophy.
An even start to the game saw Parramatta’s Ellie Smyth come closest with a great shot that cannoned off the post and a Chloe Gordon freekick ruffled the side-netting, which proved a good precursor for a second Gordon freekick from the other side of the court that whistled into goal to push Pumas ahead 1-0.
The lead was shortlived however when Tess Ingram teed up Sydney team-mate Georgia Witney at the other end who buried a long-range shot to level the scores at one apiece.
Parramatta fortuitously regained the lead when an acute Zoe Hilton corner was bungled into goal by the defence to lift the premiers back in front and they extended their advantage through a clever Erin Leah Tavares run into goal and sidefoot past Sydney keeper Abbey Fletcher, Hilton making it 4-1 just before the break with a blast that clocked up frequent flyer points.
Sydney tried hard in the second term and Pumas opportunities were limited, Tavares hitting the post with her effort before getting one past Sydney keeper Abbey Fletcher for a 5-1 Parramatta cushion midway through the half.
Things just weren’t going Sydney’s way and they nudged a second Pumas corner into their own goal to make the margin five goals at fulltime, Parramatta running out convincing 6-1 victors.
Parramatta Pumas 6 (Chloe Gordon, Erin Leah Tavares 2, Zoe Hilton, own goals 2) Sydney Futsal Club 1 (Georgia Witney)
Parramatta Pumas: Ashley Purcell, Erin Leah Tavares, Julia Morales, Chloe Gordon, Tayler Filbin, Ellie Smyth, Zoe Hilton, coach Nelson Gordon, assistant Trevor Gordon
Sydney Futsal Club: Abbey Fletcher, Jessica Strati, Tayla Garifalakis, Georgia Ethell, Melissa Marjanovic, Mia Domine, Georgia Witney, Tess Ingram, Bella Markou, Jaslyn Moore, coach Craig Fletcher, assistant Ryan Fletcher, manager Karen Ingram
Referees: Mario Fouad, Selen Santoro, Ben McCarthy
12 Boys – Sydney edge International in thriller
A scintillating 12-Boys final kicked off a full program of grand finals in spectacular style with an extra-time goal lifting Sydney Futsal Club to a 4-3 victory over a gallant International Football School Futsal.
The win capped off a remarkable Sydney season who ran out comfortable premiers after racking up over 100 goals, and then holding off fourth-placed International to take both summer titles on offer.
After absorbing some early pressure a nice roll-out from Sydney keeper Blake Sanchez Cruz to Gustav Soerensen led to a clever one-two with Dylan Kanjo who was clinical with his strike past International custodian Preston Lorusso to make it 1-0 inside three minutes.
The International response was swift when Talon Green cut through the Sydney defence and had his shot smothered by Cruz with the rebound falling nicely for Alex Waugh to smash through traffic and tie the scores up at 1-1.
Sydney reclaimed their lead in a minute when Kanjo, free on the right, drove past Lorusso with the strike rebounding off the post and into Larusso’s back, the ball trickling back over the goal-line for a 2-1 scoreline.
Sydney were full of zest but they found International straight back on their heels when a lofted Kobe Lowe corner somehow found Jye Elliot-Buhagiar in the thick of it and his poke past an advancing Cruz restored parity at 2-2.
Just like the opening term International were forced to do plenty of defence against a well-oiled Sydney machine, and while the ‘Schoolers were defending resolutely they were also unable to hold onto the ball for long periods – their first look at goal taking 12 minutes – and the pressure was mounting.
A Sydney freekick from the top of D looked ominous with five minutes to go but Soerensen’s strike banged straight into the wall and his follow-up pushed wide by Lorusso.
The International defensive effort looked exhausting and the workout finally took its toll when a great ball to Soerensen alone at the top of the D gave him space to bury the opportunity and take Sydney 3-2 ahead with less than three minutes left.
But again International refused to roll over and a jinking Kobe Lowe run down the left took him into the D where he pushed his drive neatly past Cruz to level the scores a fourth time and send a mesmerising match into extra-time.
International almost hit the front in the first bonus period when a quick release found Jakob Ham on the sprint and his deft touch put him in good position to score, but he got sandwiched by the defence and couldn’t reach the rebound.
At the other end Sydney were frustrated by a series of near-misses and some terrific School defence but they finally found a breakthrough when Lazar Drakulovic in open space on the left made no mistake to put his side in front again with two minutes on the clock.
The final drama came with a sixth Sydney foul giving Green a chance to level the scores for International after the final whistle, but Cruz was equal to the task touching the strike onto the post to hand Sydney the trophy.
Sydney Futsal Club 4 (Dylan Kanjo 2, Kobe Lowe, Lazar Drakulovic) International Football School Futsal 3 (Alex Waugh, Jye Elliot-Buhagiar, Gustav Soerensen)
Sydney Futsal Club: Blake Sanchez Cruz, Fabiano De Araujo Daniels, Gustav Soerensen, Alan Majon, Spiros Peridis, Thomas Mumford, Dylan Kanjo, Lazar Drakulovic, Patrick Alexiadis, Leo Hadley, Byron Kay, Zachariah Livingstone, coach Bruno Nobrega, manager Soeren Soerensen
International Football School Futsal: Preston Lorusso, Joel Curren, Talon Green, Kobe Lowe, Jye Bailey, Jye Elliot-Buhagiar, Alexander Waugh, Cameron McCay, William Rumgay, Benjamin Waller, Jakob Ham, coach Andre Gumprecht, assistant Andrew Peachey, manager Paul Chapman
Referees: Dean Wright, Wagih Fouad, Matthew Wearne
-By Dan De Nardi
