Round 5 Review – Futsal Premier League 2 Open Men’s
There were plenty of goals for fans to enjoy across Round 5 of the Futsal Premier League 2 in a shortened fixture list which saw Sydney City Eagles, SD Raiders Futsal and Raiders Futsal Club pick up important victories in an exciting Saturday of action.
Match of the Round: Phoenix Futsal Club 4 defeated by Sydney City Eagles 5
It was another dramatic chapter of the Phoenix Futsal Club vs Sydney City Eagles rivalry. The Eagles triumphed in a 5-4 classic contest that lit up PCYC Hornsby on Saturday night.
Sydney City Eagles made heavy weather of the success. They dominated the opening exchanges and scored through Aaron Cimitile but were pegged back for 1-1 at the break. From there, the second half was a wild ride where they fell behind twice but Lachlan Rose’s brace alongside goals from Paul Ragonese and Matthew Trotter’s late winner saw them home.
Whilst Phoenix Futsal Club lost, they went out on their sword. Coach Elliot Jurd was proud of his side’s effort against a quality team in Sydney City Eagles. Jordan Smylie scored in either half with Todd Nelson and Issac Wylie’s second half strikes – one on the powerplay – made tonight look much more like Phoenix futsal.
Primed from their success last weekend, Sydney City Eagles pounced out of the box. The visitors peppered the Phoenix Futsal Club goal but were denied. The best two chances fell to Aaron Cimitile and Matthew Trotter at the near post.
Cimitile confirmed the hot start for the Eagles with the opening goal after they dominated the possession in the opening stages. He slammed home after an incisive move which made it 1-nil to Sydney City Eagles.
Phoenix Futsal Club caught their breath and responded with a thunderbolt. Jordan Smylie took a smart touch before he thrashed the ball into the top corner of the net, making it 1-1 after ten minutes of action.
The action continued at pace with Eagles cutting open Phoenix with another move for Cimitile to miss the net followed by Issac Wylie for Phoenix to miss the net.
Both keepers Jack Vandervelde for Phoenix Futsal Club and club legend Zlatko Joseski for Sydney City Eagles were kept busy and made some important saves which ensured the contest went to the break deadlocked at 1-1.
Coming out for the second half, Eagles maintained their pressure from the first half. They worked a pair of openings which were denied by Vandervelde as the frustration grew for the visitors looking to edge ahead again.
This time it was Phoenix Futsal Club that took the lead. Once again, it came from Smylie. He created space for himself then arrowed into the bottom corner courtesy of the post which made it 2-1 for Phoenix.
Trotter tried to respond on the breakaway for the Eagles but he lifted his effort over the bar. Next, Smylie tried to complete his hat-trick but his volley fizzed wide of the post. Phoenix would take the lead for the first time in the 37th minute.
It came through a smooth full court move from Todd Nelson and Jordan Metcalf. The two rampaged downfield with the former the man to take the final touch which made it 3-1 Phoenix Futsal Club as the crowd roared into action.
A sense of urgency flowed through the Eagles as they searched for a route back into the contest. It came from the set piece, Paul Ragonese stood over it and launched it into the net, brought the contest back to life at 3-2.
Smylie who has been the major target for Phoenix had the chance to put the contest to bed. He was denied twice by Joseski. The first came on a breakaway which was stoned then a thunderous volley was punched away.
Catching their breath after remaining in the contest, Sydney City Eagles levelled the contest in the 44th minute. It came from Lachlan Rose who strode confidently on the right, and rolled an effort into the net, 3-3.
The game continued to ebb and flow between two heavyweight sides slugging away. Phoenix Futsal Club had a breakaway which was cut out by brave defending then Smylie was once again denied by Joseski.
Eagles took their second lead of the contest in the 48th minute. Once again, it came through Lachlan Rose, to score his seventh of the season. His first effort was blocked away but the ball came back to him and thrashed home, 4-3.
Phoenix responded immediately by going on the powerplay to give themselves more attacking thrust. It worked immediate wonders when Issac Wylie found the back of the net as the home crowd erupted, 4-4.
They decided to remain on the powerplay and go for the jugular. Phoenix worked the ball around, waiting for an opening but it gifted the Eagles a chance through Robert Perre to roll into the open net but it bent wide.
Eagles remained patient like they had across the contest and took the last gasp victory. It came through Matthew Trotter who pounced on the attacking breakdown from Phoenix, rolled home and it showed in the celebration afterwards how much the 5-4 win meant to the visitors.
Speaking afterwards, Eagles coach Roy Perre was delighted with his side’s effort and credited the character of his side in getting the three points:
“I think we were five or six goals better than that team tonight. That first half is what happens when you don’t put the chances away. There is a lot of character in this team and the credit comes to the team remaining the same each week.” said Perre.
“Also I brought Zlatko Joseski out of retirement last weekend, this was his second game and he was a brick wall for us tonight. I think he might be the best keeper in the league and made some great stops tonight.” finished the Eagles coach.
Phoenix Futsal Club coach Elliot Jurd remained positive despite the defeat as his side has started to find their groove after a slow start to the season:
“We went for the win and you live by the sword and die by the sword. I am happy we went for it. The effort was there tonight and I think we’re going to be a different side coming into the second half of the competition.” said Jurd.
“Sydney City Eagles are a great side and know what to do. On the balance of play, we scored some good goals and played some good futsal. What I am happy about is that we played well tonight and it is always a great game against the Eagles.” finished Jurd.
Match Stats
Saturday 19 October 2019
PCYC Hornsby, Waitara
Referee: P. Di Matteo
2nd Referee: K. Hockings
3rd Referee: J. Brett
Phoenix Futsal Club 4 (Smylie 2, Nelson, Wylie)
Sydney City Eagles 5 (Rose 2, Cimitile, Ragonese, Trotter)
Phoenix Futsal Club: 4. MATHIE Josh, 5. DENIS Ethan, 6. CHANCE Angus, 7. NELSON Todd, 9. SWEEDAN Ibrahim, 10. LUTTRINGER Matthew, 11. WYLIE Issac, 15. VANDERVELDE Jack, 17. SLATER Connor, 24. METCALF Jordan
Yellow cards: nil
Red cards: nil
Sydney City Eagles: 1. JOSESKI Zlatko, 2. NOLAN Andres, 3. MORABITO John, 5. ROSE Lachlan, 7. PERRE Sam, 9. RAGONESE Paul, 10. CIMITILE Aaron, 11. BRECKENRIDGE Vincent, 15. PERRE Robert, 19. TROTTER Matthew
Yellow cards: S. Perre
Red cards: nil
SD Raiders Futsal 5 defeated South Coast Taipans 3
SD Raiders Futsal completed a stirring second half comeback to put together a 5-3 result against a disappointed South Coast Taipans on Saturday night.
It was looking bright for South Coast Taipans. The visitors were 3-1 up against SD Raiders Futsal in the second half with Ricky Goodchild scoring a brace then Klime Sekutkoski continued his scoring form with a strike himself.
From there, SD Raiders Futsal roared back into the contest. Joshua Da Silva and Diego Molina fired home braces with Bruno Antelmi the other man on the scoresheet. The comeback victory was the second of the season and moved them into fifth, just outside the top four.
Taipans coach Bobby Mazevski called it the game that got away: “It’s yet another game we looked in complete control then let the opposition change the momentum. Credit to SD Raiders who rolled the dice and got the points but this will go down as the one that got away.” said Mazevski.
Raiders Futsal Club 9 defeated Sydney Futsal Club 1
That is a way to bounce back in style! Raiders Futsal Club thrashed Sydney Futsal Club 9-1 in a dominant performance Saturday night at Thomas Hassell Anglican College.
After their defeat to Dural, Raiders Futsal Club put in a complete team performance in the rout. They led 5-1 at the break before piling on another four in the second to remain in second position and a pair of points behind leaders Dural.
The scoresheet was jammed tighter than a jam lid for Raiders Futsal Club. The hosts had nine different scorers in the largest result in Futsal Premier League 2 thus far. Adolph Kaudakpo returned to the list while Christopher Godoy-Bascur and Tomas Medimurac made it back-to-back goals after scoring against Dural.
Kodai Hayashi, Adam Savetta, Goran Ljuboja, Cameron Wright and Nicholas Marco were the others to celebrate a massive win with a goal. For Sydney Futsal Club, that was a reality check after their strong showing last weekend with Alexander Nicolosi the man to get their sole strike in the first half.
Dural Warriors vs West City Crusaders was postponed.
By Justin Davies (@JustDavies90)
