Round 9 Review – Futsal Premier League 2 Open Women’s
Round 9 saw the status quo of the Futsal Premier League 2 Open Womens competition remain as through the four contests that played out across Saturday night were filled with goals, drama and excitement as the competition heads into the final stage. Let’s get onto the review!
Match of the Round: Sydney City Eagles 0 defeated by South Coast Taipans 4
South Coast Taipans bounced back in style with a comfortable 4-nil success against Sydney City Eagles on Saturday night down at Michael Clarke Recreation Centre.
Taipans coach Bobby Mazevski described Saturday’s victory as “one of the best results of the season” for South Coast Taipans as they moved a point behind Sydney Futsal Club in second. Ashley Kotevski led the way with a brace with Jinneecka Klenka and the consistent Kya Stewart helping them to move a step closer to the finals.
For Sydney City Eagles, they were brought back to earth after their breakthrough result last weekend but again, the home side battled throughout the contest. Jessica Beale and Melina Manna were consistent threats but were unable to breakdown the Taipans defense.
Starting with gusto, Taipans had a shot in the first minute when Lisa Prior latched onto an errant pass from the Eagles defense but lifted the effort over the bar. Eagles responded with Jessica Beale free-kick that was blasted high.
Taipans made use of their fast start with the first goal in the fifth minute of the contest. Kya Stewart uncorked a cross-court pass that found Ashley Kotevski in stride, the attacker fired home smartly to make it 1-nil visitors.
Buoyed by her goal, Kotevski followed it up with a pair of chances where she lifted the first effort over the bar then a combination with Sarah Johnston before she thrashed wide of the post. Taipans were in firm control of the contest.
Beale continued to be the fulcrum of the Eagles attack as she used a deft touch to open up the space for Melina Manna to poke wide. Chances came mostly from the set piece with Beale trying to find her range in the first half.
The visitors kept surging forward with purpose as Johnston, Jinneecka Klenka and Stewart all had chances which were denied by superb keeping from the Eagles shot stopper as Taipans pushed on for more goals.
It came in the final minute of the first half. Stewart was a constant nuisance through the contest and earnt a goal when she broke free and sent a low effort crashing into the net to make it 2-nil headed into oranges.
Picking up where they left off, Taipans delivered a double dose of goals in the five-minute interval after the break. Kotevski swept home for her brace after Johnston’s shot was blocked into her path for 3-nil Taipans.
The fourth came from a smart piece of work from the kick-in. Johnston picked out Klenka perfectly from the set piece, the Taipan flicked home for her maiden goal of the season and confirmed a sixth win of the season.
Manna had a pair of late chances to grab a consolation goal. Her first was volleyed over then a laid-off free-kick was hit high into the wall behind the goal. Beale tried to force the issue with a fierce shot that bent wide.
Taipans remained compact and comfortable taking home the three points in the middle of their away trip gauntlet. Their coach Bobby Mazevski echoed that statement in his post-match comments where the boss paid tribute to his side bouncing back:
“I was very pleased with their performance. We had control of the game from the start, scored some goals and could’ve had a few more. We expect any players that play in this grade to perform and the girls bounced back well and we got back into training to do similar next week.” said Mazevski.
Match Stats
Saturday 16 November 2019
Michael Clarke Recreation Centre, Carnes Hill
Referee: Jamie Ewin
2nd Referee: Rowan Fisher
3rd Referee: Kyle Hockings
Sydney City Eagles 0
South Coast Taipans 4 (Kotevski 2, Klenka, Stewart)
Sydney City Eagles: 1. MORABITO Laura, 3. ANDERSON-SHARP Belinda, 4. MANNA Melina, 5. BOLZAN Montana, 6. SPURWAY Kayla, 12. SOLLECITO Isabella, 13. BEALE Jessica, 18. NICHOLAS Alanah
Yellow cards: Beale
Red cards: nil
South Coast Taipans: 1. BARTLETT Miriam, 3. STEWART Kya, 4. KLENKA Jinneecka, 5. JOHNSTON Sarah, 7. KOTEVSKI Ashley, 16. BRATJANSCAK Ursula, 20. GREW Megan, 23. PRIOR Lisa
Yellow cards: nil
Red cards: nil
SD Raiders Futsal 1 defeated by Raiders Futsal Club 11
It was back-to-back successes for Raiders Futsal Club as they thumped SD Raiders Futsal 11-1 Saturday afternoon at Fairfield Youth & Leisure Centre to remain in the top four.
Coming off their big win against Crusaders, Raiders Futsal Club picked up right where they left off plundering goals. They strode out to a 6-1 lead then added a further five goals to move their goal difference into the positives.
Nicole Ossio took center stage with her hat-trick with Talie Walton and Vanessa Ciabatti contributed braces in the ten-goal result. Amanda Radmillo fired home her fifth of the season alongside Emma Voloder, Mia Conners and Sophia Hamilton strikes.
Paulina Labra scored in the first half for SD Raiders Futsal for their only goal of the contest as they fell to another defeat which leaves them in seventh position just ahead of the Sydney City Eagles and the chance to play spoiler later this season their bright spot.
Dural Warriors 4 defeated Phoenix Futsal Club 0
Continuing on their merry way Dural Warriors swept past Phoenix Futsal Club with a 4-nil result on Saturday afternoon down at The Centre – Dural.
An eighth straight success opened up a five-point gap on the chasing pack for Dural Warriors. Golden Boot leader Rachel Perrins gave them the perfect start with goals in the fifth and sixth minute to take her to 16 for the season.
Phoenix Futsal Club were able to blunt the Warriors attack for the rest of the first half but the Warriors found further joy in the final ten minutes of the contest. Abbey Lemon got herself into double figures with a goal as Ellen Wheatley iced the game with her 46th minute strike.
Sydney Futsal Club 3 drew with West City Crusaders 3
West City Crusaders became the first side in ages to take points off Sydney Futsal Club in a 3-3 draw on Saturday evening at All Sorts Indoor Sports Centre.
Coming into the weekend, Sydney Futsal Club had reeled off five straight victories and scored 33 goals during those contests. Tonight wasn’t a defeat but the Crusaders were brave in their second half comeback to claw back a point.
For Sydney Futsal Club, they were cruising at 2-1 up before they were pegged back. Jess Meads got her fifth goal of the season alongside strikes from the consistent Morgan Maxwell and Tanya Marjanovic kept their free-scoring form going.
Crusaders bounced back from their defeat in the Match of the Round with an industrious performance which was their first point in three weeks. Dione King slotted her sixth of the season with Hollie Wilson and Jennifer Bennett contributed the others in an entertaining game Saturday night.
By Justin Davies (@JustDavies90)
