Round 11 and 12 Preview – Futsal Premier League 2 Open Women’s

It is the most wonderful time of the year! No not the holiday season, it is a smorgasbord of Futsal Premier League 2 Open Womens contests. Eight games to devour across Saturday and Sunday will help to decide the fate of the teams fighting for the finals spots.

Round 11 Match of the Round: SD Raiders Futsal vs Phoenix Futsal Club, 3:20pm, Fairfield Youth & Leisure Centre

Finals chasing Phoenix Futsal Club look to get themselves in the hunt when they face SD Raiders Futsal in Saturday’s Match of the Round at Fairfield Youth & Leisure Centre.

Both sides come into the contest buoyed by their recent results. SD Raiders Futsal thumped West City Crusaders 6-1 whilst Phoenix Futsal Club took a big scalp in South Coast Taipans 5-1 back at PCYC Hornsby.

It was a drought breaking result for SD Raiders Futsal with their first win in seven weeks coming in an emphatic style. Youngster Paris Kambouris led the charge with a hat-trick and if the home side can take full points this weekend, they could be back in the hunt.

Phoenix Futsal Club are another side that sit on the outside looking in but come into this contest with two big scalps against Taipans and Raiders Futsal. They will need their main marksman Isabel Gomez on song to make it back-to-back victories and see the Phoenix rise.

Dural Warriors vs Raiders Futsal Club, Saturday 30 November, 3:50pm, The Centre – Dural

Leaders Dural Warriors start their weekend at The Centre – Dural taking on fourth place Raiders Futsal Club on Saturday afternoon.

The Warriors flexed their might against their nearest challengers Sydney Futsal Club, defeating them 9-nil in last weekend’s Open Womens Match of the Round. Raiders Futsal Club won a wild contest 5-3 against Sydney City Eagles.

First it has already been a huge week for Raiders Futsal Club. They booked their spot in the Futsal Cup Final with their golden goal success against UTS Northside and face the prospect of Inner West Magic in the final. Back to the league they look to test themselves against the unbeaten leaders on Saturday night.

Everything is coming up Milhouse for Dural Warriors thus far this season. Undefeated through 10 games, only three goals conceded and Rachel Perrins is running away with the Golden Boot with 21 goals has them primed to possibly join their men’s side in going through the season undefeated starting with Raiders Futsal Club.

Sydney City Eagles vs West City Crusaders, Saturday 30 November, 4:30pm, Michael Clarke Recreation Centre

Seventh takes on eighth at Michael Clarke Recreation Centre when Sydney City Eagles host West City Crusaders on Saturday afternoon.

Whilst both sides are out of the finals hunt, they both showed they won’t go quietly into the end of the season last weekend. Sydney City Eagles battled hard before they fell 5-3 to Raiders Futsal Club whilst Crusaders lost 6-2 to SD Raiders Futsal.

The Eagles will spy a chance to move themselves closer to seventh spot after this weekend’s double-header of fixtures. Sydney City haven’t struggled to find the back of the net but some kudos needs to go to their custodian Laura Morabito who has produced some stunning saves this season.

For the traveling Crusaders, they started the season with a stunning upset but have failed to rise back to those heights since. They do have two sharpshooters in Dione King and Kaitlin Harms who could see them pick up their third win of the season.

South Coast Taipans vs Sydney Futsal Club, Saturday 30 November, 4:40pm, UOW Sports Hub

South Coast Taipans host Sydney Futsal Club in a top four contest which will light up UOW Sports Hub on Saturday afternoon to see who takes the bragging rights before the finals.

Both teams will be looking to redeem themselves after downbeat results last weekend. Sydney Futsal Club were swept aside by Dural Warriors 9-nil and South Coast Taipans put in a “Jekyll and Hyde” performance in their 5-1 loss.

The Taipans have set high standards for themselves this season and will want to get back to that against one of the other contenders this season. They will want some revenge after Sydney gave them their first loss of the season 8-4 back in Round 4.

Sydney Futsal Club have had a slight blip in the last fortnight with 12 goals conceded and only a single point taken against West City Crusaders. They have added Kathryn Mladineo for some more firepower on their quest for silverware this season.

Round 12 Match of the Round: Sydney City Eagles vs Phoenix Futsal Club, 5:30pm, Michael Clarke Recreation Centre

Phoenix Futsal Club look to rise into the top four this weekend after their double-header which concludes with a trip to Michael Clarke Recreation Centre against Sydney City Eagles.

This weekend as mentioned earlier is a prime chance for the visitors to move themselves into the top four with two winnable games away from home. Alongside that is the varied scoring from Phoenix Futsal Club could see them victorious in the Match of the Round.

Sydney City Eagles won’t be a pushover though. In Jessica Beale and Montana Bolzan they have two consistent goal threats that will keep the Phoenix custodian busy. If the Eagles can put together a full 50 minute effort they might cause the upset on Sunday night.

South Coast Taipans vs SD Raiders Futsal, Sunday 1 December, 3:50pm, UOW Sports Hub

South Coast Taipans take on sixth place SD Raiders Futsal in the second half of their double-header down at UOW Sports Hub on Sunday afternoon.

The Taipans are on track to have a chance to repeat their Grand Final appearance sitting comfortably in third spot. The form of Kya Stewart, Lisa Prior and Sarah Johnston should fire them to another result which will please coach Bobby Mazevski for his young side.

For the visiting SD Raiders Futsal, much like Jim Carey in Dumb & Dumber there is a chance for them to feature in the finals. It will take maximum points this weekend against two tough opponents but if Sergio Malfara can have them fire like last weekend – so you’re saying there’s a chance.

Sydney Futsal Club vs Raiders Futsal Club, Sunday 1 December, 5:30pm, National Centre of Indigenous Excellence

It is another top four clash for Sydney Futsal Club when they host Raiders Futsal Club on Sunday afternoon at the National Centre of Indigenous Excellence.

Sydney Futsal Club has the toughest schedule in this double-header weekend with contests against third and fourth in the table. The surprise packet of the season is powered by Morgan Maxwell and Georgia Manos to try and consolidate themselves in second spot.

They face a tough task in overcoming last year’s Grand Finalists Raiders Futsal Club. They have started to fire on all cylinders with joint top scorers Mia Conners and Nicole Ossio in form alongside sharpshooter Amanda Radmillo could see them take early bragging rights against a finals rival.

West City Crusaders vs Dural Warriors, Sunday 1 December, 3:50pm, Hawkesbury Indoor Stadium

Competition leaders Dural Warriors take the show on the road to Hawkesbury Indoor Stadium to take on the struggling West City Crusaders on Sunday.

Dural Warriors hold an eight-point lead over the rest of the top four rivals and this weekend could push their advantage further if they can pick up maximum points. Abbey Lemon has provided a stable one-two punch with Rachel Perrins and will be a tough duo for any Futsal Premier League 2 side to deny them chances.

Crusaders face a tough task against the leaders and will need to produce some magic similar to their result against Raiders Futsal Club to take anything from the contest. The second most porous defense will need to take their chances and throw out the formbook to do so.

By Justin Davies (@JustDavies90)