SELECT Futsal Premier League 2 – Round 8 Open Women’s Review
It was a colossal weekend for the destination of the SELECT Futsal Premier League 2 Premiership as Boomerangs took on their closest challenger Raiders Futsal Club.
Elsewhere some impressive results have contracted the chase for the top four. That said, let’s get onto the review!
Match of the Round: West City Crusaders 2 defeated by Phoenix Futsal Club 3
Phoenix Futsal Club produced an impressive second half comeback to stun West City Crusaders, 3-2 in an exciting contest Saturday afternoon at Hawkesbury Indoor Stadium.
It looked like smooth sailing for West City Crusaders as goals in each half to Jennifer Bennett and Jessica Thorley had them good value for three vital points but some remarkable fighting spirit from Phoenix Futsal Club saw them fall to their fourth defeat of the season.
In a week where they were depleted, these three points could prove golden for Phoenix Futsal Club. A superb double salvo from Hannah Mcnulty drew them level and take her tally to a dozen for the season. Consistent performer Isabel Gomez sealed the victory with her 43rd minute effort to remain in fourth position on the table.
The home side started the contest on the perfect note, they swept upfield quickly, as Phoenix keeper Eri Arikawa swatted away a pair of tough shots, the rebound fell to Jessica Thorley to poke home, made it 1-nil to the visitors.
Sparked by their goal, Crusaders kept their foot on the pedal. They pressed Phoenix quite well and created opportunities which included Paige Wilson drive on goal that required a leg save from Arikawa to keep it at one score.
Erin Hill had a chance at the set piece on the quarter mark of the contest. She drove the ball right into the Phoenix wall before the follow up had to be smothered by Arikawa, the keeper was kept busy across the contest.
When Phoenix found themselves forward, much of their edge came from Isabel Gomez. The attacker swerved past her defender, one-on-one with the Crusaders keeper but she poked the effort right at Alannah Ellul as the home side, after a lengthy delay for an unfortunate injury to Angela Gardner, took a 1-nil advantage to the break.
Crusaders kept their pressure up after the break. They opened the half with a series of corners that opened up space but the ball continued to trickle past the post, Paige Wilson’s backheel the highlight of the spell which Arikawa gobbled up.
Hannah Mcnulty tried to force Phoenix back into the contest, she drove decisively through the middle of the Crusaders defence, but her fierce shot was repelled by Ellul. Next, Isabella Hopkins crashed an effort against the crossbar, as Phoenix surged.
West City Crusaders caught them with a sucker punch to double their advantage. Dimitie Whiteman provided a fantastic cross-court pass that found Jennifer Bennett in stride, she took the touch well before the Crusader fired home for 2-nil.
There needed to be a response and Mcnulty delivered in the 40th minute. Standing over a right side free-kick, she arrowed it into the bottom corner of the goal, 2-1 and Phoenix were back in the contest. She followed that up with a strike that wobbled wide of the right post.
Mcnulty was in fine fettle now, she quickly brought Phoenix on terms in the 43rd minute. A superb pass found the attacker in stride, despite headed to the floor she swept the ball into the net, now it was 2-2 with seven minutes to find a winner.
Phoenix didn’t wait long for that winner. Gomez, who has been a consistent performer for the side across the first half of the season, found herself in the right spot, slotted home smartly, made it 3-2 and a superb comeback from the visitors.
Crusaders stung by the avalanche of goals, needed to respond. Hill cracked the ball against the post, quickly followed by P Wilson unable to poke home. Desperation grew, as Crusaders tried to scramble one home but Phoenix continued to live dangerously.
The visitors had a final chance to put some icing on their victory, Mcnulty had her hat-trick on a plate but couldn’t convert the tap in but she won’t mind as Phoenix Futsal held on for an important 3-2 victory.
Afterwards Phoenix coach, Albert Disciascio reflected on what may turn out to be an important victory for the side in their quest for finals football:
“We’ve had a lot of injuries and it has cost us thus far. With this victory, hopefully we’re getting some momentum for the final few games, and hopefully, make it into the finals.” he said.
Match Stats
Saturday 17 November 2018
Hawkesbury Indoor Stadium
Referee: R. Fisher
2nd Referee: M. Renton
3RD Referee: M. Ibrahim
West City Crusaders 2 (Bennett, Thorley)
Phoenix Futsal Club 3 (Mcnulty 2, Gomez)
West City Crusaders: 2. WILSON Paige, 3. GARDNER Angela, 4. WHITEMAN Dimitie, 5. THORLEY Jessica, 7. TROVATO Stefanie, 8. HILL Erin, 10. WILSON Hollie, 11. HARMS Kaitlin, 12. ELLUL Alannah, 19. BENNETT Jennifer, 30. GRANERO Christine
Yellow cards: H. Wilson, P. Wilson
Red cards: nil
Phoenix Futsal Club: 1. ARIKAWA Eri, 2. BARRERA-PEREZ Amanda, 5. HOPKINS Isabella, 6. MONTELEONE Neisha, 7. MCNULTY Hannah, 8. MOORE Sarah, 22. ELFORD Alexa, 60. DISCIASCIO Nattasha, 63. WATSON Kate, 64. GOMEZ Isabel, 65. LAMBKIN Olivia
Yellow cards: nil
Red cards: nil
Other Round 8 Fixtures
It was the big match this weekend, and it delivered in spades. Boomerangs FS has stretched their advantage to six points after a 4-3 success against Raiders Futsal Club in a fantastic contest down at the AIS Training Halls. It was a night for the attacking superstars, as Rachael Corbett fired home a first half brace only pegged back by Cassidy Chidgey’s first for Raiders Futsal to send us to the break at 2-1. The second half saw the sides see-saw as Chidgey competed her hat-trick as the visitors aimed to claw back some points. Boomerangs FS took the spoils and the season series, with Alex Mckenzie’s second half brace enough was enough to put one hand on the Premiership.
SD Raiders made it three games unbeaten, as they put six past Sydney Futsal Club, in a 6-1 success Saturday afternoon at Fairfield Youth & Leisure Centre. Sharpshooter Vesna Milivojevic added a double to take her season tally past double digits while Justine Vella opened her account for the season with two goals herself. Jami-Lee Mussett and Kaitlyn Doan completed the result which has the SD Raiders on the edge of the top four. For Sydney Futsal Club, Rochelle Johnson fired home her fifth of the season as some consolation for the afternoon.
South Coast Taipans made some ground on second place, after they defeated a heavily depleted Sydney City Eagles side, 4-nil down at the UOW Sports Hub. The Taipans maintain third position, as they scored twice in either half to down an Eagles side that had to start their u15s keeper. They shared the goals around with Cayla Constable, Katelyn Leadbeatter, Elise Battin and Emilia Skopal all finding their way onto the scoresheet.
-By Justin Davies
