SELECT Futsal Premier League 2 – Round 8 Open Men’s Preview

Heading into the second half of the SELECT Futsal Premier League 2 competition, it is time for the chasing pack to start making their move to try and break into the top four. Sydney City look to remain undefeated, while a battle between third and fifth headlines this weekend, in another smorgasbord of Futsal action.

Match of the Round: West City Crusaders vs Phoenix Futsal Club, Saturday 17 November, 5:50pm, Hawkesbury Indoor Stadium

Go west! This week’s Match of the Round heads to Windsor as fifth place West City Crusaders play host to third place Phoenix Futsal Club, as they chase the top four at Hawkesbury Indoor Stadium.

West City Crusaders picked up a valuable point in their trip down to the nation’s capital in a 2-2 draw as top four hopefuls Phoenix Futsal were dealt a serious blow, in a 3-1 defeat in their trip to Fairfield.

Currently Phoenix Futsal occupy third place, five points clear of fourth but since their impressive start, fell to a pair of losses in their last three. Phoenix have the attacking talent in Angus Chance, Jordan Smylie and Joshua Mathie to get back on track.

The Crusaders have shown in recent weeks their fight, picking up seven points in the last month which saw them score 13 goals after a slow start to the season. In Simon Zahra and James Mawein they have duel threats to make for an enticing contest for this weekend’s Match of the Round.

SD Raiders vs Sydney Futsal Club, Saturday 17 November, 5:10pm, Fairfield Youth & Leisure Centre

Sydney Futsal Club look to build on their first win of the season, as they travel south-west to take on SD Raiders Futsal in the opening contest of Round 8 this Saturday.

Both teams come into the contest with victories, SD Raiders were clinical in dispatching Phoenix Futsal Club, 3-1 whilst it was a banner evening for Sydney, where in last week’s Match of the Round, they were on the right end of a thriller against Taipans, 5-4.

Tuan Cao warned that Sydney would open up some teams once they gelled. In two explosive spurts where they scored their five goals, they showed they might be a side that can play spoiler in the final quarter of the season.

For SD Raiders, their victory was welcome return to the win column, after their shock loss to Taipans the week before. The class of Patrick Antelmi showed again with a pair of goals, as another bow in the arrow of the Raiders attacking arsenal, as they look to put some distance on Phoenix in third.

South Coast Taipans vs Sydney City Eagles, Saturday 17 November, 5:40pm, UOW Sports Hub

Fresh from their mid-week heroics, South Taipans welcome the undefeated Eagles to UOW Sports Hub, as the latest to challenge the leaders streak on Saturday evening.

The Eagles made it seventh heaven, as they put Raiders Futsal Club to the sword, 7-4, including being four-nil ahead in the first half. For the Taipans, they lost a heartbreaker to Sydney Futsal Club, 5-4 as they prop up the ladder.

South Coast will be full of confidence headed into the weekend, they claimed a huge scalp in the Futsal Cup, taking down Inner West Magic, 5-2. Can they mastermind a similar success against the undefeated leaders? With Ricky Goodchild and Kyle Del in form, it could be possible, they did give them a scare in Round 1.

In regards to Sydney City, everything is going smoothly. Another seven goals scored against a good Raiders side, they have the top two scorers in Matthew Trotter and Aaron Cimitile, so if the can repeat the dose from the opening weekend, they will make it eight.

Boomerangs FS vs Raiders Futsal Club, Saturday 17 November, 6:20pm, AIS Training Halls

Rounding off the weekend, Raiders Futsal Club make the long trip to the nation’s capital to take on Boomerangs FS, looking to get their season on track, Saturday at AIS Training Halls.

Held to a frustrated draw at home last week, 2-2, Boomerangs again are stuck on the same track. Needing to work on their final ball, to put their chances away if they want to play finals football this season.

Against a potent attack like Raiders Futsal, a side that has had inconsistent form this season, Boomerangs will rest on their main attackers, Michael Rinaudo (seven goals) and Nicholas Rathjen (four goals) as they try to claw their way closer to the top four.

Raiders Futsal can hold their head high, even after defeat to Sydney City. They are on track to play finals football and with the wisdom of Goran Ljuboja directed the side around and attackers like James Letta and Anthony Tomelic, they could create six points of distance between them and the chasing pack.

-By Justin Davies