SELECT Futsal Premier League 2 – Round 13 Open Men’s Review
It was another weekend of fantastic action in the SELECT Futsal Premier League 2 competition, as the top four is mostly set for the final series.
The last spot will be determined under a triple threat between Crusaders, Taipans and Raiders FC in the last round rumble. Regarding this weekend there were victories for Phoenix Futsal, Raiders FC, South Coast Taipans and West City Crusaders. Let’s get onto the review!
Match of the Round: Sydney City Eagles 4 defeated by West City Crusaders 9
West City Crusaders have thrown down the gauntlet to the rest of the finals chasers, as they hammered Sydney City Eagles, 9-4, in a frantic futsal contest at Michael Clarke Recreation Centre on Saturday night.
It was a masterful performance from West City Crusaders. They kept their foot on the throat across the 50 minutes of the contest – Benjamin Lam, Ryan Faulkner and Greg Kondek all got themselves braces – while Simon Zahra and Alexander Murrell rounded off the fantastic display which has them in the box seat for the top four in a chaotic final weekend.
For the Eagles, they have top spot sewn up, but the recent performances have been disappointing for Roy Perre and his side. The home side had a brief comeback in the second, Judah Cleur and Aaron Cimitile fired home to make it 4-3 but overall, they were second best on Saturday night. Sam Perre scored the opener before he received a red card then Michael Cimino found a late consolation as they lick their wounds and onto next week.
After a lengthy delay due to the wet weather which saw Eagles players and officials work hard to get the contest on, in slightly altered conditions. Once the game started, Aaron Cimitile teed up the first chance which wasn’t able to be finished.
Sam Perre followed that chance up with a fierce effort that was safely taken by Crusaders ‘keeper Daniel Schwarzer. The shotstopper couldn’t do much from Perre’s second effort at goal, as the Eagles surged into a 1-nil lead.
Michael Cimino looked to continue the Eagles fast start, as he dazzled past several Crusaders defenders but his low shot is well smothered by Schwarzer. Next up, Perre curled wide from a Cimino won free-kick as the home side seemed to find their rhythm again.
Crusaders found theirs ten minutes into the contest, Simon Zahra denied from a well-worked corner then a combination move saw Ryan Faulkner scoop over after bright work from Benjamin Lam and Tobias Elliot-Orr.
Faulkner made up for that error in the 14th, the took advantage of some slack defending from the Eagles, he slammed home for 1-1. It was double delight for the Crusaders as Greg Kondek initiated a quick free-kick to Alexander Murrell, the attacker swept home, suddenly it was 2-1 to the visitors.
From that point, it was all Crusaders. Kondek had a full-blooded shot saved by Eagles ‘keeper John Dimitrakas. The visitors found a third from some determined defensive effort, as Lam poked the ball away from an Eagle to slot home, 3-1.
They continued that aggression two minutes into the second half, Simon Zahra stepped up on a free-kick and walloped the ball high into the net, 4-1. Their day was made better when Eagles sharpshooter, Sam Perre was shown a second yellow, and the Eagles were down a man for two minutes.
In that period, Murrell was denied by a superb stop from Dimitrakas then showing the hunger to lock down fourth, a Crusaders defender threw out a desperate leg to deny the Eagles a follow-up opportunity as the game ticked on.
Eagles did find some joy in the 33rd minute, Judah Cleur curled home his 11th of the season for 4-2 then Aaron Cimitile brought them within one after he completed a smooth one-two, to give the home side some hope.
Lachlan Rose went close to bringing them back to parity but the youngster cracked an effort against the post agonisingly for the Eagles before Crusaders Kondek slammed home to make it a two-goal advantage again.
It was all Crusaders now. Faulkner completed his brace in the 43rd minute then Lam joined him in that column with a second time finish in the 45th minute. Crusaders were rolling and enjoying themselves on enemy turf.
Greg Kondek completed a fine display as he rolled home an eighth goal for the Crusaders then he contributed to the ninth goal, as his deflected strike flew into the net for an improbable, 9-3 scoreline.
Michael Cimino gave Eagles the last say in the contest. He chested home a fourth goal, although a consolation as a horror afternoon for Eagles, was delight for the visiting Crusaders, as they remain in the box seat for the top four.
Speaking afterwards a jubilant Gregory Kondek spoke glowingly of the display from the West Crusdaders as they piled on the goals in their chase for the top four.
“We were happy to come away with the win. Playing on the shorter court definitely suited us, everything seemed to come off today,” said Kondek.
“It is all in our hands now. We just have to put in another performance, and sneak into the finals after that, hopefully.” finished the Crusaders player.
A dejected Roy Perre reflected on his side’s loss, back-to-back ones, as they just weren’t at the races this afternoon and didn’t adapt to the conditions.
“Nothing went for us today. I wasn’t comfortable with the size of the court. They were stronger, faster and smarter whilst we were dumb,” said Perre.
“I’ve got the same players for next week and hopefully we don’t have much to worry about next week with some results going our way.” he finished.
Match Stats
Saturday 15 December 2018
Michael Clarke Recreation Centre
Referee: D. Allatt
2nd Referee: J. Adabjou
3rd Referee: P. Brown
Sydney City Eagles 4 (Cimino, Cimitile, Cleur, Perre)
West City Crusaders 9 (Faulkner 2, Kondek 2, Lam 2, Murrell, Zahra, OG)
Sydney City Eagles: 1. DIMITRAKAS John, 6. ROSE Lachlan, 7. PERRE Sam, 9. CLEUR Judah, 10. CIMITLE Aaron, 12. ALSFORD Jordan, 14. PELEKANOS Peter, 18. CIMINO Michael, 22. PARKES Nikita, 28. FERNANDEZ Martin, 32. GAFA William
Yellow cards: Perre
Red cards: Perre
West City Crusaders: 1. SCHWARZER Daniel, 5. KONDEK Gregory, 13. O’NEILL Brodie, 14. ELLIOT-ORR Tobias, 16. PERRI Antonio, 20. MALECKI Peter, 26. LAM Benjamin, 29. FAULKNER Ryan, 30. MURRELL Alexander, 31. ZAHRA Simon, 32. MILLER Raymond
Yellow cards: nil
Red cards: nil
Rest of Round 13 Results
For the first time in the season, we have a new side in second position. Phoenix Futsal Club tonked Boomerangs FS, 5-nil down in the nation’s capital in their third consecutive success to finish the season with a bang. They were ruthless through the entire contest, rushed out to a 2-nil lead, thanks to goals from Jordan Smylie and Tom Louw. Phoenix kept their foot on the gas in the second as Smylie returned in style, completed his hat-trick then Joshua Mathie kept his streak intact with a goal completing a wonderful display which puts them into second. Phoenix coach Elliot Jurd was pleased with the execution in both attack and defense as they get themselves primed for the finals.
In the street fight for fourth, Raiders Futsal Club will live to fight another week, after a 6-3 success in a nine-goal contest against the dogged Sydney Fustal Club at the National Centre of Indigenous Excellence in the late kick-off. A four-goal first half saw Adam Savetta and Slaven Ljuboja net for Raiders FC for an early lead before Nelson Louang-Amath and Seyfullah Eser for the home side pulled it back to 2-2 at the break. Daniel Espejel briefly gave Sydney the lead in the 29th minute before Raiders FC got themselves going again – Adam Savetta and Slaven Ljuboja completed their braces – but Hassan Jalloh put the icing on a fantastic futsal cake, as the visitors were clinical in their execution.
The dream remains alive for South Coast Taipans as well. They triumphed 5-3 in a high-scoring affair against SD Raiders FC, at UOW Sports Hub on Saturday afternoon. In another wonderful performance, Matthew Mazevski got his first hat-trick of the season; Cody Waller and Mitchell Ferraro supplied the other goals in their fourth straight victory. This loss made it one win in five in the last month for SD Raiders FC as they have slumped at the wrong time of the season. They did find the net three times to play their part in the entertaining eight-goal contest.
-By Justin Davies
