SELECT Futsal Premier League 2 & AWD Grand Final Reviews

February 24, 2018, Sydney, Australia. FNSW Futsal NPL2 Grand Finals  U13 Girls match between Phoenix Futsal Club and Raiders Futsal at Valentine Sports Park, (Credit: Damian Briggs)

It was a great day of Futsal action as Valentine Sports Park played host to the 2017-2018 SELECT Futsal Premier League 2 & AWD Grand Finals, Football NSW reporter Justin Davies was there to cover all the action that unfolded in each age category. 

12 Boys

Sydney Futsal Club have taken out the first Grand Final of the day, defeating a gallant Eastern Suburbs Hakoah Futsal Club 3-1 this morning.

From the opening whistle Sydney were on the front foot. William Kounnas arrowed one wide after four minutes

Next Hakoah custodian Aidan Foreman produced a heroic double save from the rampaging Sydney Futsal Club attack that was laying siege to the goal early doors.

The rest of the first half followed a similar pattern, as Sydney Futsal Club swept forward as George Papadakis and Marcus Koukoutaris were denied again by Foreman.

Eastern Suburbs Hakoah Futsal Club almost snuck ahead in the final minute of the first. Charlie Bickerstaff skipped clear before he crashed an effort against the crossbar.

Sydney’s dominance paid off five minutes after the restart. Cameron Duong fought his way through defenders before he lunged home for 1-nil.

Duong repeated the effort a minute later, as another rampaging run down the left gave Duong enough space to finish well for 2-nil.

Foreman was the hero again for Eastern Suburbs Hakoah as Duong danced through looking for the hat-trick but the custodian remained big to keep the deficit to two.

Hakoah made it a lively finish as Tobia Welfare popped up on the spot to reduce it 2-1 then his team-mate Jordan Shalome could’ve levelled things up but his shot screwed wide.

Papadakis confirmed the Grand Final for Sydney as he found enough space, while Hakoah aimed to counter, to roll home Sydney Futsal Club’s third for a 3-1 triumph.

MATCH STATS

Referees: Tara Brown, Joel Perry and Dylan Sherman

Sydney Futsal Club 3 (Duong ’25 and ’26 and Papadakis ’39)

Eastern Suburbs Hakoah FS 1 (Welfare ’35)

Sydney Futsal Club: 47 Cameron Duong 48 Marcus Koukoutaris 52 William Kounnas 51 Giorgos Louca 45 Christian Marjanovic 53 Christian Martinez 46 George Papadakis 49 Christian Tanti COACH: Bruno Nobrega MANAGER: Zoran Marjanovic

Eastern Suburbs Hakoah FS: 9 Charlie Bickerstaff 5 Jordan Heydt 7 Adam Kliman 12 Ben Kramer 4 Coby New 3 Josh Sacks 10 Julian Shalome 8 Jonah Vaysbakh 11 Tobia Welfare 1 Aiden Foreman COACH: Lucas Vilela MANAGER: David New

13 Girls

It took a dramatic shootout, but Phoenix Futsal Club prevailed 3-1 from the spot after the score was locked 1-1 after 50 minutes of play.

The woodwork got a workout in the first half, as first Phoenix’s Keira Jones crashed an effort against the post followed six minutes later by Ariana Vidackovic gliding clean through before she contrived to bullet one off the crossbar.

After a tense first twenty minutes, Melis Ozcan created the opening. Her cushioned pass into the path of Jones, allowed the latter to arrow home for 1-nil.

Teresa Morabito had the golden opportunity to double the Phoenix lead, as she cleverly tried to hook an effort across goal but it trickled wide of the cage.

It seemed the Morabito miss wasn’t going to matter, as Phoenix clung onto their one-goal advantage deep into the final minutes, but Elise Savannah popped up last minute for Raiders to sweep home, and take us to extra-time.

The game continued to be a tense stand-off in extra-time, as both teams were rigid in defense and the only clear chance came a minute into the added-on minutes. Morabito burst clear but shot straight at the keeper.

So it was onto penalties. Both teams converted their first kick from the spot. Next Morabito converted for Phoenix but Emily Bricic couldn’t replicate as her tame effort was saved. It was left to Ozcan to seal it from the spot and she did so emphatically for the 3-1 shootout win.

MATCH STATS

Referees: Dylan Sherman, Mohammed Abdelaziz and Nick Gongolidis

Phoenix Futsal Club 1 (Jones ’26)

Raiders Futsal Club 1 (Savannah ’40)

Phoenix FS:17 Natasha Woods 18 Sienna Jackson 20 Teresa Morabito 19 Sydney McQuillan 11 Anneka Wood 12 Casey Weinhart 16 Melis Ozcan 13 Jessica Hall 15 Lori Basmajian 14 Keira Jones 6 Jasmine Burnard-Leppinus COACH: John Jiggins ASST. COACH: Albert Disciascio MANAGER: Leanne Hall

Raiders FS: 86 Emily Bricic 89 Lucia Franulovic 101 Emma Kociper 88 Megan Misfud 87 Ainsley Mitchell 93 Sophie Powells 85 Raina Prasad 96 Elise Savannah 90 Ariana Vidackovic COACH: Eric Savannah ASST. COACH: Alyssa Marco MANAGER: David Taylor

14 Boys

Eastern Suburbs Hakoah Futsal Club completed a crushing 6-nil victory against Phoenix Futsal Club in a one-sided 14 Boys final today at Valentine Sports Park

The Hakoah side flexed their muscle from the first kick, as Jared Frack tested the Phoenix keeper early with a hard shot that the custodian held onto. The shot-stopper wasn’t as fortutous the second time as Saul Levy pounced on an error to open the scoring.

From there the floodgates open, Hakoah thrusted forward quickly and with intent. Jordan Mikhael doubled their advantage in the 13th minute when he ghosted in at the far post from a Christian Dos santas pass.

Quickly it became three, then four. Frack with a quickfire double, firstly, converting from a goalkeeping error then he smashed home from the spot for a 4-nil half-time, as Eastern Suburbs Hakoah FS held a commanding lead.

Their onslaught didn’t end with the half-time whistle, Ethan Corrick fired home in the 22nd minute for the fifth of the morning before Dos santas rounded out the perfect performance with a classic poachers effort in the 28th.

MATCH STATS

Referees: Joel Perry, Nathan Pitt and Cameron Shelton

Phoenix Futsal Club 0

Eastern Suburbs Hakoah Futsal Club 6 (Levy ‘8, Mikhael ’13, Frack ’14 and 20 and Dos santas ’28)

Phoenix FS: 19 Adam Shaheen 20 Giancarlo Federate 21 Joshua Dobson 22 Joshua Moore 23 Kobi Monteleone 24 Kye Hickman 25 Kyle Bennett 26 Marcus Panetta 27 Mason Smith 28 Tyler Zimbounellis 12 Finn Robinson 5 Jack Carmichael 10 Ash LeightionCOACH: Ibrahim Sweedan ASST. COACH: Hugh Brown MANAGER: Emma Moore

Eastern Suburbs Hakoah FS: 6 Kimon Antoniades 3 Brad Benstock 9 Lee Charles 11 Ethan Corrick 8 Christian Dos santas 10 Jared Frack 13 Saul Levy 12 Jordan Mikhael 5 Rocco Smith 2 Edan Walker 7 Jake Ziman COACH: Toni Sharp MANAGER: Paul Dos Santos

15 Girls

Boomerangs FS were professional in their 2-1 15 Girls Grand Final success completing a season sweep against a gallant Raiders Futsal this afternoon at Valentine Sports Park.

Raiders were the first to register a shot, as Julia Morales squeezed into some space but the forward couldn’t dig out an effort to test the Boomerangs custodian.

As the minutes ticked in the first half, neither side gave an inch as the chances were at a premium. The sole goal of the first half came after a chaotic goalmouth scramble that saw Maria Pachi swept home for Boomerangs making it 1-nil.

The Raiders side responded well to going behind after the break, Gemma Morgan broke quickly before she rifled a shot that thudded into the Boomerangs keepers hands.

The Boomerangs absorbed the pressure well, before they struck quickly themselves. Stella De Marco positioned herself well close to the goal to finish after some neat interplay from her team-mates.

Once they added the second, Boomerangs controlled the tempo of the game expertly, they could’ve heaped on further misery as both Ella-Rose Brown and Carla Di Fronzo were unlucky to smash a pair of efforts against the post.

MATCH STATS

Referees: Mohamed Abdelaziz, Dylan Sherman and Tara Brown

Raiders Futsal 0

Boomerangs Futsal Club 2 (Pachi ’17 and De Marco ’28)

Raiders Futsal: 77 Michaela Bricic 73 Nyssa Castillo 91 Jasmine Crouch 75 Tayler Filbin 80 Ella Goodwin 101 Emma Kociper 78 Lulu Lozano 76 Julia Morales 79 Gemma Morgan 74 Amelia Savetta 82 Ellie Smyth 83 Erin Leath Tavares COACH: Antonio Marco ASST. COACH: Stephanie Taylor MANAGER: David Taylor

Boomerangs FS: 30 Elke Aitolu 29 Ella-Rose Brown 42 Ellen Brown 43 Stella De Marco 49 Carla Di Fronzo 36 Lilian Geale 41 Sally James 63 Stefi Lejins 60 Caitlin Listar 47 Lily Martens 59 Alex Mckenzie 46 Maria Pachi COACH: Mark Dowling MANAGER: Karen Brown

16 Boys

An eleven-goal thriller was produced by the 16 Boys in a Sydney derby like affair as Sydney City Eagles inched past Sydney Futsal Club 6-5 this afternoon.

It was a contest that was dominated by two key headlines – Bradley Tapp with a hat-trick for the victorious Eagles while in defeat, Jonathan Lynch bagged five goals for Sydney Futsal Club as the two accounted for eight of the eleven goals.

Tapp started running the show in four minutes, as the speedster forced a sharp save then a minute later, atoned for his miss, rolling an effort home for 1-nil.

Sydney Futsal Club responded in a frantic first half, as Lynch opened his account with a sharp finish after some fluid play from the side.

The Eagles responded venomously once they were pegged back. Tapp made it a brace with a powerful shot before Milos Anic arrowed home, to quickly make it 3-1 in a six minute salvo.

The scoring wasn’t finished before the break though, as Lynch showcased his guile as a striker when he popped up in the right position to stab home for a five-goal opening half.

Much like the first half, it rained goals in the second half from the onset. Tapp completed his hat-trick within 60 seconds with a composed finish for 4-2. He couldn’t celebrate for long as Lynch responded with his third goal in the 23rd minute.

For the rest of the contest, the game represented a game of tennis, as neither team could break serve. Hayden Dalmazio got himself on the scoresheet for Sydney City in the 28th minute before who else, but Jonathan Lynch was first to a rebound to reduce Sydney Futsal Club’s deficit to one again.

Tapp completed his day out with a thrashed effort from the spot to make it 6-4, as the goals ticked into double figures. Not content with just a bag of goals, Lynch put a full-stop to Sydney Futsal Club’s scoring with a fierce strike for 6-5.

MATCH STATS

Referees: Cameron Shelton, Nick Gongolidis and Matthew Wearne

Sydney City Eagles 6 (Tapp ‘5, ’12 and ’21, Anic ’18, Gafa ’37 and Dalmazio ’26)

Sydney Futsal Club 5 (Lynch ’10, ’19, ’23, ’30 and ’39)

Sydney City Eagles: 21 Nicholas Hoensellars 23 William Gafa 25 Bradley Tapp 38 Milos Anic 27 Ryan Duffy 30 Jayden Calver 28 Hayden Dalmazio 22 Patrick Yazbeck 29 Dean Pelekanos 11 Averon Prasad COACH: Chris Gafa ASST. COACH: Roy Perre MANAGER: Josie Caligiuri

Sydney FS: 22 Marcus Apostolakis 24 Kevin Cloke 30 Fabrizio Dardano 25 William Hagiwara 20 Oliver Hughes 18 Jonathon Lynch 17 Michael Marjanovic 23 Daniel Padoani 19 Yianni Solidakis 21 Alexander Zinnato COACH: Sam Solidakis

18 Women

Raiders Futsal put together a spectacular comeback in the 18 Women, triumphing 3-1 to secure the Raiders first Grand Final victory of Select Futsal Premier League 2 Grand Finals Day

In a tight contest, both teams took the opening half to figure each other out, as both Boomerangs and Raiders found chances rare to come by.

Alicia Meuronen had the first shot, and the first goal of the afternoon. The forward positioned herself well at the near post to slash home for a 1-nil advantage.

Conceding woke up a stagnant Raiders attack, as they pushed forward with purpose. Cassidy Chidgey started to find some space to roam down the wings. Chidgey used her space well to fashion the equaliser, as she burned a defender to slam home.

Three minutes later, Chidgey was in the thick of action again. Once again, afforded space the Raiders star found a precision finish to make it 2-1 to the Raiders.

The second half followed the pattern of the first, as the teams turned the contest into a track meet, up and down the field for the first ten minutes after the resumption.

Raiders Futsal killed off the contest in the 35th minute. Julia Morales channeled Ned Zelic with a bout of individual brilliance, the diminutive Raider curved the ball enough, as she was falling to beat Boomerangs keeper Eleni Haridemos.

Haridemos pulled out an impressive double save in the 38th, as she denied the rampant Raiders twice in quick succession. Her heroics couldn’t prevent Nicole Ossio rifling home a fourth after Chidgey’s initial effort was saved.

MATCH STATS

Referees: Gareth Biggs and Kyle Hockings

Raiders Futsal 4 (Chidgey ’16 and 19, Morales ’35 and Ossio ’39)

Boomerangs FS 1 (Meuronen ’10)

Raiders Futsal: 70 Cassidy Chidgey 67 Erin Cleghorn 91 Jasmine Crouch 68 Jessica Fallah 81 Kira Maggio 64 Alyssa Marco 65 Nicole Ossio 69 Emma Voloder 66 Talie Walton 76 Julia Morales COACH: John Ossio MANAGER: David Taylor

Boomerangs FS: 33 Jacqueline Alferink 21 Grace Basser Silk 29 Ella-Rose Brown 42 Ellen Brown 22 Isobel D’Amico 43 Stella De Marco 31 Ashlyn Garrity 23 Eleni Haridemos 41 Sally James 32 Alicia Meuronen 34 Madeleine Perceval 24 Ineka Voigt COACH: Nick Van Aalst MANAGER: David Perceval

AWD Futsal League 2

International Football School were crowned AWD Futsal League 2 champions after a tough 2-nil victory against Phoenix Futsal Club on a steamy afternoon at Valentine Sports Park.

The Football School scored either side of half-time to lift the trophy. Daniel Gravas fierce strike combined with Harzl Lippl’s 31st minute effort saw off the challenge from a Phoenix side that had the better of the chances in the first half.

Despite being second best for the first half, IFS took their chance well to take the lead. Gravas found an inch of space on the left before he rasped a strike into the cage for a 1-nil lead.

Not deterred by being behind, Phoenix started the second half with a string of half-a-dozen corners, the best chance fell to Rodney Afif, whose powerful effort was tipped wide.

From the half hour mark though, IFS dominated the ball and chances. Chris Smith tested the keeper before Harzl Lippl doubled the advantage was a grass-cutter strike in the 31st minute.

Afif had a golden chance again, to claw one back when he was found expertly at the back post but he was unable to sweep it home. Vito Girrantino had a last minute chance for a consolation but it whistled wide of the post.

MATCH STATS

Referees: Guy Laurenceson, Nick Gongolidis and Cameron Shleton

International Football School 2 (Gravas ‘9 and Lippl ’31)

Phoenix Futsal Club 0

International Football School FS: 22 Justin Asciak 3 Daniel Gravas 8 Kevin Huynh 99 Harzl Lippl 9 Nick Marov 5 Amanda Reid 6 Alexander Shepherd 7 Chris Smith 23 Katelyn Smith 33 Melissa Smith COACH: Andrew Peachey MANAGER: Kaitlin Murphy

Phoenix FS: 10 Brooke Crossingham 8 Vito Girrantino 4 Wayne McDonough 11 John Meehan 7 Sebastian Sauri 1 Nicole Simpson 6 Michael Wade 1 Shannon Walford 12 Shawn Walford 9 Harry Woodhouse 5 Raymond Young 3 Rodney Afif COACH: Greg Brown ASST. COACH: James Brown

Youth Men

Boomerangs FS produced a stirring comeback to become Select Futsal Premier League 2 Youth Men Champions after a pulsating 3-2 victory against Raiders Futsal Club.

It was the true game of two halves, as Raiders FS strolled out to a two-goal advantage, thanks to a brace from former Bonnyrigg youngster Hassan Jalloh. They were pegged back swiftly due to Dylan Aitolu, Jayde James-Ward and Elie Darwich strikes which was the second trophy for the Boomerangs today.

Raiders Futsal Club looked to get the jump on their opponent, and the pace of Jalloh created havoc for the retreating Boomerang players. His first came from the spot after two minutes when he collided with the keeper, and he dusted himself off to make it 1-nil.

The leaders laid siege to the Boomerangs goal in the opening quarter – Abdelrahman Kuku blazed an effort wide in the fourth before Jalloh popped up on the right to complete a brace. Jalloh could’ve completed a hat-trick before half-time but slashed wide.

Going behind by two, woke up the sleepy Boomerangs as they crafted a series of corners in their first raid of the game, the last of which, fell to Darwich whose effort was well held. Next James-Ward turned a defender inside-out before he sliced wide.

Whilst the first half belonged to the Raiders – Boomerangs spurred by their late surge, owned the second twenty minutes. A clever free-kick routine allowed Dylan Aitolu to redirect the ball into the net to claw it back to 2-1.

Boomerangs sniffed a chance of a comeback now, as they applied front court pressure to the Raiders. This pressure resulted in a stolen ball by James-Ward who spanked the ball into the net to level things up at 2-2.

Now, as the crowd got themselves into the contest, Boomerangs completed the comeback. From close range, Elie Darwich was hungriest for the ball, as he poked it through the sea of people to gift Boomerangs their first lead of the contest.

Raiders had a late chance to send the contest to extra time, as Jalloh sprung free down the left , sprinted past his defender and tried an outside of the foot shot that whistled past the crossbar. Boomerangs continued to break up the attack and celebrated raucously as the buzzer sounded.

MATCH STATS

Referees: Janush Adabjou, Matthew Wearne and Nick Gongolidis

Raiders Futsal Club 2 (Jalloh ‘2 and ‘6)

Boomerangs FS 3 (Aitolu ’28, James-Ward ’32 and Darwich ’36)

Raiders FS: 19 Saaad Al Dilami 18 Jordan Alsford 31 Nikola Bratic 21 Justin Cakovski 24 Troy Cheung 63 Fadil Easa Hasnawi 20 Modassir Hussain 22 Hassan Jalloh 14 Abdelrahman Kuku 17 Avit Prasad 23 Benjamin Tisdale 28 Zachary Taylor COACH: Slaven Ljuboja ASST. COACH: Goran Ljuboja MANAGER: David Elias

Boomerangs FS: 33 Badreldin Abbas 27 Dylan Aitolu 98 Elie Darwich 29 Jamie-Lee Guo 96 Jayde James-Ward 97 Finn Jurak 47 William Manalo 78 John O’Gorman COACH: Sam Smith MANAGER: Stuart Noack

Open Women

Boomerangs FS has romped to the Select Futsal Premier League 2 Open Women title after a dominant 6-1 victory against an overmatched Eastern Suburbs Hakoah Futsal Club tonight at Valentine Sports Park.

All the damage was done in the first half, as Boomerangs piled on the goals – Michaela Day got herself a brace while Ashlyn Garrity, Grace Basser Silk and Rachael Corbett got themselves on the scoresheet.

Eastern Suburbs Hakoah FC pulled one back through an own goalin the second half before Corbett completed the performance with her second in the 31st minute, sending the Open Women title to Boomerangs FS.

From the opening whistle, Boomerangs were on the front foot and kept the ball in the Hakoah half – Michaela Day converted their pressure with a powerful strike to make it 1-nil. Four minutes later, Garrity was quickest to react to stab home for the quickfire double.

Boomerangs FS weren’t finished there, as Garrity was in the thick of the action again, earning her side a penalty. Day stepped up and slotted the spot kick for the third. The fourth was a precise piece of football from the Boomerangs.

A lofted ball looped over the Hakoah defense before Grace Basser Silk bravely lunged at the ball with her foot that fooled the keeper and nudged in with some help from the post. For their last act of the half, Rachael Corbett was on the spot for a rebound for a five-star first half.

As much of the damage was done in the first-half, Boomerangs were content to sit with the ball, and wait for the opening. They added a single goal after the break – Corbett created enough space between herself and the defender to lash home for 6-1.

Eastern Suburbs Hakoah Futsal Club were spared the duck egg with a 29th minute own goal. The goal came after a series of set pieces from Hakoah that had the nerves jangling, then the last one found the net.

MATCH STATS

Referees: Gareth Biggs, Cameron Shelton and Nathan Pitt

Eastern Suburbs Hakoah FS 1 (OG ’29)

Boomerangs FS 6 (Day ‘7 and ’14, Garrity ’11, Basser-Silk ’18 and Corbett ’20 and ’31)

Eastern Suburbs Hakoah FS: 3 Holly Duncan 13 Karly Vouros 9 Kate Halaska 12 Natalie Haradas 15 Erin Hill 14 Madaline Mirkovic 1 Cassandra Nader 11 Paloma Oliveria 8 Alexia Karrys-Stahl 16 Kate Mitrevski 7 Diedre Barham COACH: Paulo Dutra MANAGER: Anabela Marcal

Boomerangs FS: 21 Grace Basser Silk 2 Rachael Corbett 22 Isobel D’Amico 9 Michaela Day 43 Stella De Marco 31 Ashlyn Garrity 16 Jessica Giovinazzo 4 Olivia Gurney 99 Nicole Jalocha 12 Alex Martens 34 Madeleine Perceval COACH: Kristian Collins

Open Men

The Open Mens brought down the curtain on a successful Select Futsal Premier League 2 Grand Final Day as Sydney City Eagles downed Phoenix Futsal Club 3-nil tonight at Valentine Sports Park.

Fast starts were the order of the day, and the Men’s final was no different. Sydney City scored thrice within the first ten minutes through Aaron Cimitile, Matthew Trotter and Peter Pelekanos to put the Eagles in a commanding position.

Their hunger continued after the break, as Domenic Vaccari and Martin Fernandez scored their first while Pelekanos and Trotter completed braces late on. Phoenix rose to scored consolations through Angus Chance and to prevent the duck egg.

Sydney City Eagles found their rhythm quickly in the Mens Final, as Aaron Cimitile converted a clever cutback to start the scoring. He was followed by Matthew Trotter and Peter Pelekanos that saw the scoreline balloon to 3-nil after ten minutes.

Cimitile almost added a fourth when he broke clear but was denied by the post. The post became a huge thorn for the Eagles as they struck it through on half a dozen occasions in the one-sided contest.

They wouldn’t be denied for long, as Domenic Vaccari, Trotter and Pelekanos heaped on further misery on Phoenix Futsal Club as the Eagles romped their way to the title.

Phoenix Futsal Club were spared the duck egg, as they found the net twice late on through an Angus Chance brace to give them something for their effort tonight.

Overall, it was a dominant display from Sydney City Eagles, as they got ahead early and were never headed against a Phoenix Futsal Club that were second best.

MATCH STATS

Referees: Kyle Hockings, Nathan McOrist and Janush Adabjou

Sydney City Eagles 6 (Cimitile ‘5, Trotter ‘7, ’44, P. Pelekanos ’10, ’38, Vaccari ’27, Fernandez ’47)

Phoenix Futsal Club 2 (Chance ’40 and ’44)

Sydney City Eagles: 1 John Dimitrakis 15 Robbie Perre 10 Aaron Cimitile 19 Matthew Trotter 29 Peter Pelekanos 17 Domenic Vaccari 28 John Morabito 6 Dean Pelekanos 14 Martin Fernandez 11 Vincent Breckenridge 34 William Gafa COACH: Roy Perre ASST. COACH: John Pelekanos MANAGER: Josie Caligiuri

Phoenix FC: 1 James Brunacci 3 Joshua Mathie 12 Angus Chance 48 Thomas Louw 10 Ibrahim Sweedan 9 Amin Rezaie 5 Admin Scalone 42 Jack Vandervelde 50 Joshua Spencer 41 Joshua Delnido 45 Isaac Wylie 23 Mohammad Rahimi COACH: Elliot Jurd ASST. COACH: Ros Hunter

-By Justin Davies