Inner West Magic Breeze Into Championship Glory

November 26, 2017, Sydney. FNSW Futsal Cup Men's Final between Inner West Magic and Campbelltown Quake at Valentine Sports Park. (Credit: Damian Briggs/FNSW)

Inner West Magic thrashed Campbelltown City Quake Futsal Club as they strolled 7-1 to become the first ever Men’s Futsal Cup Champions tonight at Valentine Sports Park.

Spearheaded by a hat-trick from Futsalroo Daniel Fogarty aided by Brian Griffth-Colls, Christopher Zeballos and a late brace from Daniel Fornito made for a comfortable evening for the Magic.

Campbelltown Quake would avoid the duck egg, as Mark Symington found the net late in the contest in a night that the finalists would rather forget.

Down on numbers from the offset, Inner West Magic played a patient and cautious game, as they relied on the pace of Daniel Fogarty and a solid defensive shape, marshalled by goalkeeper Roberto Maiorana.

Their gameplan paid off in the third minute, as Fogarty nipped in on the defender then rifled an effort into the net. Magic furthered their lead in the seventh minute when Christopher Zeballos was first to a rebound to crash home.

From then, the contest belonged to the Magic. Fogarty blistered down the left-hand side, past several defenders before he squared it to Brian Griffith-Colls to complete a rapid counter-attack and the third goal for the current leaders in the Select Futsal Premier League.

Just before the break, Fogarty was given an inch of space which allowed the attacker to arrow an effort past a dispirited Conor Irwin for a 4-nil half-time lead.

The onslaught continued after the break, Fogarty completed his hat-trick in the 27th minute – a stylish outside of the boot finish left replacement Quake keeper Andrew Haim rooted to the spot. Their sixth was a product of precision as a one-two put Fornito on-goal to stab home.

Fornito added the final goal through his commitment to pressing. He refused to give up on the ball, and pressured Haim into losing possession and he edged it home.

Mark Symington gave the Quake something to cheer in the 39th minute. The striker finished off the movement as Campbelltown brought on Daniel Martinez, as the flying keeper, which created enough space for the goal.

Afterwards Magic coach Matteo Maiorana was delighted in how ruthless his team was in both attack and defense. He also praised captain Daniel Fogarty.

“It was a comprehensive effort. After a disappointing effort on the weekend, the boys bounced back well especially against a tough team like Campbelltown City,” said Maiorana.

“He [Fogarty] is one of Australia’s best players. He is our captain, and most influential player so when he is on song we are truly hard to stop.” He finished.

MATCH STATS

Wednesday 31st January 2018

Referees: Darren ALLAT, Peter LIAROS, Nicholas BACKO

Quake Futsal Club 1 (Symington ’39)

Inner West Magic 7 (Fogarty ‘3, ’20 and ’27, Zeballos ‘7, Griffith-Colls ’11 and Fornito ’35 and ’36)

Campbelltown City Quake Futsal Club: 1. HAIM Andrew, 2. FIELDING Shannon, 3. WRIGHT Cameron, 4. WRIGHT Bradley, 5. SYMINGTON Mark, 6. FILIPOVIC Marko, 7. IRWIN Shaun, 8. HADDAD Anthony, 10. MARTINEZ Daniel, 11. LOCKHART Dean, 12. BAGOT Harrison and 20. IRWIN Conor

Inner West Magic FC: 1. MAIORANA Roberto, 3. GRIFFITH-COLLS Brian, 5. CALLE LAMELAS Francisco, 8. BARZEL Jonathan, 9. ZEBALLOS Christopher, 10.FORNITO Daniel, 30. BADALATO Domenic and 44. FOGARTY Daniel

-By Justin Davies