SELECT Futsal Premier League 2 – Round 9 Open Women’s Preview
Round nine sees the competition start into the home stretch, as while it is a shorter weekend of matches, all three matches have importance for the final makeup of the top four.
The Match of the Round sees us head to Hornsby for Phoenix Futsal Club against Raiders Futsal Club.
Match of the Round: Phoenix Futsal Club vs Raiders Futsal Club, Saturday 24 November, 5:50pm, PCYC Hornsby
Raiders Futsal Club head north, looking to get back on track against fellow top four contenders, Phoenix Futsal Club Saturday afternoon at PCYC Hornsby.
The gap between first and second grew to nine, after Boomerangs FS completed a season sweep against Raiders Futsal, 4-3 while Phoenix Futsal Club produced a superb comeback, three goals in the second half to defeat Crusaders 3-2.
Last week’s magnificent comeback can act as a springboard for Phoenix to get back on track, consigning their three straight losses to history. They will a huge effort from Eri Arikawa in goal against the potent Raiders attack and Hannah Mcnulty and Isabel Gomez to continue find the net upfront.
Despite their loss, Raiders Futsal still had a starring night from Cassidy Chidgey. She piled home a hat-trick, and with their prolific offense, they should be able get themselves back to track and put some distance between themselves and the rest of the top four.
Sydney Futsal Club vs Sydney City Eagles, Saturday 24 November, 7:20pm, National Centre of Indigenous Excellence
In the late kick-off, two sides trying to find some form clash as Sydney Futsal Club welcome Sydney City Eagles to the National Centre of Indigenous Excellence on Saturday.
Both sides come off last start losses, the Eagles were plagued with injuries fell 4-nil to South Coast Taipans, whilst Sydney Futsal Club fell to their seventh loss of the season, 6-1 against a surging SD Raiders.
The Eagles hope to welcome back their group of injured and suspended players, in a contest where they should be able to find enough space for Jess Beale and Tameeka Thomson to build on their combination and possibly see the Eagles soar back into finals contention.
Sydney Futsal has had a torrid time this season, they sit rock bottom and playing for pride in the last six weeks of the season. They can still play spoiler for sides and if the Eagles don’t show up, Rochelle Johnson and Hannah-Rose Davey could shock them.
West City Crusaders vs SD Raiders, Saturday 24 November, 4:50pm, Hawkesbury Indoor Stadium
Fifth place SD Raiders go west in their search for a third straight victory, as they take on West City Crusaders struggling in seventh position, Saturday night at Hawkesbury Indoor Stadium.
Led by another impressive haul from Vesna Milivojevic, SD Raiders piled the goals on Sydney Futsal, in a 6-1 success. Now they take on a Crusaders side, jaded from their second half collapse against Phoenix Futsal, 3-2 in an intriguing match-up.
There were bright moments from Crusaders, they looked comfortable in the first half, swinging the ball across the court and the combination between Stefanie Trovato and Dimitie Whiteman was a highlight. If they can turn that possession into goals, this will be a mouth-watering contest.
SD Raiders have found themselves an outlet in Vesna Milivojevic, she has eleven goals on the season now, and alongside Justine Vella finding goals could lead to the visitors recording a third straight game and possibly, bolt into the top four.
Boomerangs vs South Coast Taipans was played Sunday afternoon, will be included in this weekend’s review.
-By Justin Davies
