Round 1 Review – Futsal Premier League 2 Open Men’s
Goals were on the menu in a jam-packed first weekend of the Futsal Premier League 2 competition – 32 goals found the back of the net in four entertaining contests that saw table split with two wins and two draws between them. Let’s get onto the review!
Match of the Round: Sydney City Eagles 6 defeated SD Raiders Futsal 3
The Sydney City Eagles have started the 2019 season with a comfortable 6-3 result tonight against SD Raiders Futsal at Michael Clarke Recreation Centre.
A first half hat-trick from Lachlan Rose powered Sydney City Eagles then Paul Ragonese fired home a fourth before the break. Sam Perre gave them a cushion with his brace in the second half as they soared to a first up win this season.
SD Raiders Futsal hit the lead twice through Patrick Antelmi’s brace before they wilted. His brother, Bruno Antelmi added a late consolation goal to round off their scoring. It capped off a large weekend for the club on a slightly down note but they will be there when the whips crack.
The first half was a sprint race between two sides looking to get the advantage. Aaron Cimitile had a pair of early chances denied for Sydney City Eagles then Joshua Da Silva fired the first shot for SD Raiders Futsal.
Da Silva’s combination with Matias Paz prised some opportunities for the visitors where the former ended up shooting wide of the mark. Da Silva then almost nabbed a goal from a steal but couldn’t finish.
It was a familar face that opened the scoring for SD Raiders Futsal. Patrick Antelmi was on hand to thrust home the opener after the ball broke to him after a blocked shot, 1-nil SD Raiders Futsal.
Sydney City Eagles flew down the other end and equalised within 60 seconds. Some dogged work in the right corner dug the ball out for Lachlan Rose to volley home, 1-1.
In a tightly contested first half, SD Raiders Futsal retook the lead from a set piece. Antelmi stepped up again and blasted a free-kick into the top corner, making it 2-1 to the visitors.
From there, the first half became the Rose show. The attacker firstly curved home on a Sydney City Eagles breakaway to make it 2-2 then pounced on a defensive error from the visitors to give the Eagles their first lead at 3-2.
The Eagles added a cushion to their lead when Paul Ragonese slammed home their fourth goal of the first half and made coach Roy Perre’s half-time talk much easier after the bright start from SD Raiders Futsal.
After the fierce start to the first, the second half was much more measured. Both sides looked to retain possession and try to prise an opening from the other. Matthew Trotter arrowed wide after some patient build up from Sydney City Eagles.
Sam Perre created the fifth goal for Sydney City Eagles when he was found in wide open space from a kick-in. The attacker thrashed an effort that rippled into the net, 5-2 to the home side.
Not content with his first, Perre struck again in the 37th minute. SD Raiders Futsal brought on Declan Cotter as the extra man to find a route back into the contest but their play broke down and allowed Perre to roll home for 6-2.
From there, the contest became a battle between the SD Raiders Futsal attackers trying to find a way past Andres Nolan between the Eagles sticks. Nolan made a series of terrific saves to deny a prolific SD Raiders attack.
SD Raiders Futsal did find some late consolation from Bruno Antelmi. He tapped home smartly after patient build up to make it 6-3. James Letta did have a late chance to reduce the deficit further but the Eagles held on for an opening weekend three points.
Speaking afterwards Sydney City Eagles coach Roy Perre was delighted with the result: “I told the boys we had to weather the storm in the first half. Once we got in behind, we started to create chances and got the result.”
“Tonight, we had one of our youth boys playing between the sticks. The boys have baptised him as our regular keeper now but I think he did well tonight, kept us in the game with some of his saves in that second half.” finished Perre.
For SD Raiders Futsal boss Sergio Malfara tonight’s result was disappointing but there is plenty to build on for future weeks: “We didn’t show up today. We were patchy tonight and it gives us enough to work on for the future. Credit to Eagles, they are a quality side.” said Malfara.
Match Stats
Sunday 23 September 2019
Michael Clarke Recreation Centre, Carnes Hill
Referee: C. Lee
2nd Referee: J. Katz
3rd Referee: J. Rose
Sydney City Eagles 6 (Rose 3, S. Perre 2, Ragonese)
SD Raiders Futsal 3 (P. Antelmi 2, B. Antelmi)
Sydney City Eagles: 3. MORABITO John, 4. PELEKANOS Peter, 5. ROSE Lachlan, 7. PERRE Sam, 8. CIMINO Michael, 9. RAGONESE Paul, 10. CIMITILE Aaron, 15. PERRE Robert, 19. TROTTER Matthew, 21. NOLAN Andres, 40. GAFA William
Yellow cards: nil
Red cards: nil
SD Raiders Futsal: 1. IORFINO Adrian, 5. ANTELMI Patrick, 6. MONGE Adrian, 8. LETTA James, 9. ANTELMI Bruno, 10. BARKHO Matthew, 11. VARAS Steven, 15. COTTER Declan, 17. MOLINA Diego, 92. DA SILVA Joshua, 99. PAZ Matias
Yellow cards: Molina
Red cards: nil
West City Crusaders 4 drew with Raiders Futsal Club 4
West City Crusaders produced a stirring second half comeback to earn a point in a 4-4 draw against Raiders Futsal Club tonight at Hawkesbury Indoor Stadium.
The visitors were the quickest out of the blocks tonight, Raiders Futsal Club strode out to a 2-nil lead before they were pegged back. Adolph Koudakpo starred for Raiders Futsal Club with a hat-trick in a weekend filled with goals alongside Adam Voloder with a goal to open his season.
Regarding the home side, the second half performance was reminiscent of their surge in the late stages of the season last year. West City Crusaders were led by a Simon Zahra double with Abdul Mohseni chipped in a goal combined with an own goal made it a successful start to their season.
South Coast Taipans 5 defeated by Dural Warriors 6
Sending a message in their first game in Futsal Premier League 2, Dural Warriors won a rollercoaster contest 6-5 in the final minute against South Coast Taipans today at UOW Sports Hub.
South Coast Taipans looked in firm control of the contest. The home side led both 2-1 and 3-1 before the game was broken open and looked headed to a draw at 5-5. Kota Odakura fired home a brace in the Taipans five goal haul with Kyle Del, Klime Sekutkoski and Cody Waller rounded off the rest of the scoring.
The visitors showed the steel which took them to the Grand Final last season. Dural rode a four goal second half performance which included a goal with 37 seconds left in the contest to begin life in Futsal Premier League 2 with a victory.
Talking post-match, Taipans coach Bobby Mazevski was “gutted about the result. We worked hard today and a few errors cost us. I thought we thoroughly deserved something from the game. I am truly gutted after that.”
Sydney Futsal Club 2 drew with Phoenix Futsal Club 2
It was points shared in a tight tussle between Sydney Futsal Club and Phoenix Futsal Club which ended 2-2 tonight at the National Centre of Indigenous Excellence.
Sydney Futsal Club stormed out of the blocks and snatched a two-goal lead against a tough Phoenix side. Patrick Pace fired home the opener then was followed up Andrew Mousallem as Sydney looked to cause the first upset of the season.
Being behind by a pair of goals at the break, Phoenix Futsal Club awoke from their slumber in the second half to claw their way back. Issac Wylie clawed one back from a well worked team goal in the 30th minute which gave them the thrust to snatch a draw.
Phoenix Futsal Club continued to push forward but they left it late. Issac Sweedan smashed home to make it 2-2 then there was one final chance. A ten-metre free-kick in the final moments to the visitors was blocked twice as Sydney Futsal Club held on for the point.
By Justin Davies (@JustDavies90)
