SELECT Futsal Premier League 2 – Rounds 10 and 11 Open Women’s Preview
This weekend represents a huge opportunity for teams to get themselves set up perfectly for the run into the final few weeks of the SELECT Futsal Premier League 2 season.
We have eight fantastic futsal fixtures to enjoy and see plenty of goals fly as teams chase that feeling.
Round 10: Match of the Round – Sydney City Eagles vs SD Raiders, Saturday 1 December, 4:20pm, Michael Clarke Recreation Centre
Sydney City Eagles kick off the weekend of futsal action with a clash against the surging SD Raiders FC side as the Eagles look to shuffle into the top four at Michael Clarke Recreation Centre.
The Eagles had lift off again with a 6-2 success against Sydney Futsal Club, which showed their capabilities when the home side is at full strength. For SD Raiders, they hit six as well, in their 6-4 win against West City Crusaders that was their fourth game without defeat in the league.
SD Raiders have a potent one-two punch in attack, Vesna Milivojevic has been on a remarkable scoring run and has an able deputy in Victoria Guzman, with a hat-trick in her maiden voyage, that means they could extend their streak to five against a tough Eagles side.
Now is the time for Sydney City Eagles. Jess Beale is back, alongside Tameeka Thomson, as they sit two points off the fourth spot. So this double header represents a chance to springboard into the top four and grab pole position in the mad dash to the final few weeks.
Boomerangs FS vs Sydney Futsal Club, Saturday 1 December, 5:20pm, AIS Training Halls
Runaway leaders Boomerangs FS start off their busy weekend with the visit of the bottom placed Sydney Futsal Club to the nation’s capital, as the AIS Training Halls will be rocking on Saturday afternoon.
The Boomerangs will be well rested after a week break, after taking six points in their previous double header which included a top of the table 4-3 success against Raiders FC and Sunday delight against the Taipans. Their attack led by top scorers Ellen Brown and Michaela Day will be keen to not have a sluggish start and further their grip on the premiership.
It has been a wretched season for Sydney Futsal Club, they have a single victory to their name and now, take on the formidable, Boomerangs. They can play spoiler and send shockwaves through the competition if they can find some early goals through Hannah-Rose Davey or Rochelle Johnson.
Raiders Futsal Club vs West City Crusaders, Saturday 1 December, 5:40pm, Thomas Hassall Anglican College
Stung in recent weeks, Raiders FC want to get back their dominant form as a solid West City Crusaders side rock up to Thomas Hassall Anglican College Saturday afternoon, to spoil the party.
The hosts are in a lean patch after their defeat to Boomerangs in Round 8 then they fell behind 3-nil before a storming comeback clawed back a point in a spirited affair against Phoenix Futsal Club. For Crusaders, they played their part in a ten-goal thriller in their loss to SD Raiders FC.
Whilst it was frustrating to drop points against Phoenix, Raiders potent attack remained well charged and were denied by some superb last-ditch challenges from the defence. Hannah Voloder and Cassidy Chidgey’s combination has produced 22 goals through nine weeks, and could add to their tally against the Crusaders.
The Crusaders have fluctuated wildly themselves. It looked like they were in control against Phoenix two weeks ago before collapsing then had a wild affair vs SD Raiders FC. Sitting in seventh, they need to get a move on to figure in the final calculations for the top four and if Stefanie Trovato and Kaitlin Harms are on target they can find more success in front of goal.
Phoenix Futsal Club vs South Coast Taipans, Saturday 1 December, 6:40pm, PCYC Hornsby
A resurgent Phoenix Futsal Club face a tough task as they welcome third place South Coast Taipans, fresh their mini-break to PCYC Hornsby for a vital fixture for the texture of the top four on Saturday.
This game brings together a Phoenix Futsal side with back-to-back positive results including a 3-3 draw against the top-drawer Raiders FC side. Taipans have already taken part in a double header this season after they split results – 4-nil vs Eagles on Saturday then a 4-3 loss on Sunday to the Boomerangs – so will be keen to get back into the action.
After a lull through the mid-season, Hannah Mcnulty underlined her quality with a pair of quality goals last weekend including a rocket free-kick that nestled in the bottom corner. Alongside the keeping from Eri Arikawa makes them a tough prospect for any side coming into PCYC Hornsby.
Taipans have been the quiet accumulators this season. They have racked up four impressive victories and two solid draws. Danielle Wise continues to be their leading marksman but with the support of Cayla Constable, Danika Matos and Elise Battin mean there will be fireworks on Saturday night.
Round 11: Match of the Round – Raiders Futsal Club vs SD Raiders, Sunday 2 December, 5:40pm, Thomas Hassall Anglican College
Kicking off Sunday is a local rivalry between Raiders Futsal Club and SD Raiders FC as the two sides take to Thomas Hassall Anglican College court to jostle for their position in the top four.
It is second taking on fourth, so we’re promised some fireworks between two sides that boast plenty of attacking talent as they also sit in the top half for goals scored this season. SD Raiders FC are keen for revenge after Raiders Futsal Club defeated them 6-3 on their home court back in Round 4.
With the finals fast approaching, this can also act as a dress rehearsal for the two sides in case they have a third meeting in the post-season. Sunday will be about separation, as a win for Raiders FC puts them five clear but if SD Raiders FC take the chocolates, they can jump above their rivals at the end of an important weekend.
Sydney City Eagles vs Boomerangs FS, Sunday 2 December, 3:30pm, Michael Clarke Recreation Centre
Sydney City Eagles face a tough task in the second half of their double header, as they welcome top of the table Boomerangs FS to Michael Clarke Recreation Centre for an intriguing fixture on Sunday afternoon.
Besides their one blip against the Taipans, stopping the Boomerangs has been a herculean task for SELECT Futsal Premier League 2 sides this season. In their previous meeting, the Canberra outfit put nine on the Eagles down in the capital which served as rock bottom for the Eagles in a topsy-turvy season to date.
This fixture features four of the top ten in the goalscoring charts so there should be a guarantee of goals in this contest. Boomerangs have shared their goals around with 14 different scorers this season while Eagles is much more focused on poachers Beale and Thomson, as the two styles clash and rock the Recreation centre.
South Coast Taipans vs West City Crusaders, Sunday 2 December, 3:50pm, UOW Sports Hub
The Taipans will be happy for home, sweet home as they welcome West City Crusaders to UOW Sports Hub on Sunday afternoon for a fixture that could create separation between the top four and the chasing pack.
These two couldn’t be separated in their Round 4 meeting, with the only 0-0 draw thus far this season. On the larger court down at the university, the Taipans could benefit from the space to add to the 15 goals they had piled on in their last three games.
West City Crusaders since their draw have shown their attacking chops as well. They have 19 goals in the next five games, so we’re set for an offensive showpiece down in the ‘gong between two sides that know they need three points desperately headed into the home stretch.
Sydney Futsal Club vs Phoenix Futsal Club, Sunday 2 December, 7:20pm, National Centre of Indigenous Excellence
We finish off the weekend at the National Centre of Indigenous Excellence, as fifth place Phoenix Futsal Club travel to face the bottom team in Sydney Futsal Club on a late kick-off Sunday night.
Sydney Futsal Club have lost that winning feeling. Their sole success came against the Eagles back in Round two, so they will be hungry to add three more points to their ledger. In patches, they have shown they can mount pressure but it will be turning that into goals for the lowest scorers in the competition that will see them put together results.
Phoenix though will be a tough prospect coming from two positive results against 2nd and 7th the latter, a second half comeback in the Match of the Round. Isabel Gomez and Hannah Mcnulty account for much of the majority of the visitor’s goals so they need to be contained if Sydney want to take a big scalp to end the weekend.
-By Justin Davies
