SELECT Futsal Premier League 2 – Round 5 Open Men’s Review
Sydney City Eagles sit high on their perch atop of the SELECT Futsal Premier League 2 competition after a successful outing against Phoenix, whilst SD Raiders, Raiders Futsal chugged along with their victories as finally, West City Crusaders broke their duck in another weekend of fantastic futsal action. Let’s get onto the review!
Match of the Round: Sydney City Eagles 7 defeated Phoenix Futsal Club 4
Sydney City Eagles stand alone as the only undefeated side, after a 7-4 success against Phoenix Futsal Club Saturday afternoon at Michael Clarke Recreation Centre.
In a dominant display from the Eagles, they were clinical in front of goal, Judah Cleur set them up with a first half brace with Martin Fernandez chipped in a third. In the second, the Eagles kept their foot on the gas with goals to Aaron Cimitile, Michael Cimino and Matthew Trotter alongside an own goal as the leaders went top.
For Phoenix Futsal, whilst it wasn’t the result they wanted, they created a series of chances in the first half which they couldn’t convert. Last year’s top goal scorer Angus Chance piled in a brace alongside Jordan Smylie as they gave the Eagles a late scare.
Befitting a clash between two undefeated sides, the game started with a bang. Todd Nelson fired the first salvo from a kick-in that Eagles keeper, John Dimitrakas had to push away then Angus Chance had a prime chance to open the scoring, but blazed wide.
Eagles responded through Michael Cimino shot straight at the goal then he had a follow up that was smothered quickly by the Phoenix keeper. The opener would come in the 7th minute, as Judah Cleur slammed home making it 1-nil.
Buoyed by his opener, Cleur broke free again trying to poke the ball home but again, the Phoenix defence came up trumps, as they cleared it off the line.
John Dimitrakas described as a brick wall by his coach after the contest, showed why. He denied Phoenix on several occasions in the first half, including a double save from a pair of well worked chances then spurned Chance at the near post in an active first half.
After the frantic nature of the contest, it was some calm work from Cleur that made it 2-nil. He showed the defender some swift feet, before he slotted home as the Eagles soared.
Chance didn’t leave the first half without something. He tried a cheeky effort to catch out Dimitrakas but it sliced wide then he profited from a loose ball, to slide home, making it 2-1.
The Eagles responded immediately, a beautiful angled ball picked out Martin Fernandez right in front of the goal before he smartly poked the ball home, doused the ‘nix’s spirits, 3-1 going into the break.
Right after the break, Sydney City added a fourth. Michael Cimino, was a spark for much of the Eagles attack across the contest and found himself on the break then had his shot blocked, although the block from Chance squirmed into the net, 4-1.
Knowing they needed to find three goals now, Phoenix thrust forward with intent. Ibrahim Sweedan couldn’t poke the ball home, his blushes were saved quickly by Jordan Smylie, the striker clipped home for 4-2.
Chance again found joy on the break, strode confidently into space, suddenly it was 4-3 and the Phoenix rose back to life.
The back and forth nature of the contest was illustrated clearly in a 35th minute sweep of action. First Cimino thundered an effort against the crossbar as ‘nix mopped up and swept upfield for Smylie to strike the right post, quickly followed by Nelson whacked the right post and finished up with a scooped shot high.
Phoenix went the extra attacker, the Eagles capitalised with a late flurry of goals. Aaron Cimitile slotted home in the 45th quickly followed by Matthew Trotter and Cimino making it seventh heaven. Smylie did find a late consolation, making the final score 7-4.
Afterwards Sydney City Eagles coach Roy Perre was overjoyed by the effort of his side on short numbers and gave special mention to three of the senior members.
“I thought Robbie stepped up, and the young boys when they came on did well. To me, Aaron Cimitile, Robbie and our goalkeeper, have stepped up. Dimitrakas especially has been a brick wall and it helped us to the win tonight.” said Perre.
For the Phoenix Futsal Club coach Elliot Jurd, he remained upbeat after a quality first half before they had to chase the game in the second half.
“Their goalkeeper had a blinder today. They were good for their win, outplayed us in the first section and we didn’t take our chances when needed. We hit the post and crossbar several times so on another day, we win that contest,”
“It was good heart shown by our guys, but not good to be in that situation in the first place. They are a beatable side, and hopefully, we both make the semis to meet again.” he finished.
Match Stats
Saturday 27 October 2018
Michael Clarke Recreation Centre
Referee: N. Gongalidis
2nd Referee: A. Brett
3rd Referee: P. Di Matteo
Sydney City Eagles 7 (Cleur 2, Cimitile, Fernandez, Cimino, Trotter, OG)
Phoenix Futsal Club 4 (Chance 2, Smylie 2)
Sydney City Eagles: 1. DIMITRAKAS John, 2. PELEKANOS Dean, 5. STRATI Giovanni, 6. ROSE Lachlan, 7. PERRE Sam, 9. CLEUR Judah, 10. CIMITILE Aaron, 13. MORABITO John, 15. PERRE Robert, 16. FERNANDEZ Martin, 18. CIMINO Michael, 19. TROTTER Matthew, 21. BRECKENRIDGE Vincent
Yellow cards: M Trotter
Red cards: nil
Phoenix Futsal Club: 1. BRUNACCI James, 3. CHANCE Angus, 5. MATHIE Joshua, 6. NELSON Todd, 7. WYLIE Isaac, 9. SWEEDAN Ibrahim, 10. DENIS Ethan, 11. BATTESTIN Tayller, 19. VANDERVELDE Jack, 89. SMYLIE Jordan
Yellow cards: J Mathie, J Smylie
Red cards: nil
Other Round 5 Results
SD Raiders have moved into second spot after their 3-2 success against Boomerangs FS Saturday afternoon at Fairfield Youth & Leisure Centre. In a feisty contest, the brothers Antelmi stole the headlines – Bruno and Patrick combined for all three of the SD Raiders goals to make it back-to-back wins. Boomerangs FS found their goals through Daniel Giovinazzo and Michael Rinaudo, the latter’s was his seventh goal of the season.
The search for three points goes on for South Coast Taipans. They were the wrong side of an end-to-end contest down at UOW Sports Hub, 5-4 against Raiders Futsal Club, rebounding from their loss last week themselves. Anthony Tomelic netted in the first half for Raiders Futsal after a fast start from Taipans saw Ricky Goodchild and scoresheet fixture, Matthew Mazevski find the net in the first half before Jovan Mladinovic added another for Raiders Futsal to make it 2-2 at the break.
Adam Savetta and Kyle Del exchanged goals after the break before Tomelic completed his brace then Damien Smith added an insurance fifth for Raiders Futsal. Charles Taylor scored in the final minute for Taipans to finish off a frantic fixture.
Rounding off the weekend, West City Crusaders made it back-to-back successes themselves against struggling Sydney Futsal Club in another nine-goal thriller, 5-4, at the National Centre of Indigenous Excellence. Greg Kondek led the way for Crusaders with a brace, whilst Anthony Musumeci also had a brace for Sydney as the two sides couldn’t be separated at the break.
In a wild second half, there were five goals, a red card each and three points for Crusaders. Patrick Pace and Laith Al-Shdifat found the net for Sydney and for the visitors, it was sharpshooter James Mawein, Benjamin Lam and Simon Zahra completed the scoresheet.
Tom Elliot-Orr saw red for Crusaders whilst brace hero, Musumeci was given his for Sydney.
-By Justin Davies
