Inner West Magic crowned Futsal Cup Open Women’s Champions
Futsal Premier League side Inner West Magic added to their bursting trophy cabinet with a tense 1-0 success to lift the Futsal Cup against Raiders Futsal Club in the Womens final at Valentine Sports Park.
Futsal Premier League outfit Inner West Magic dominated the chances but left the winner late with Ceyda Cambas’ deflected strike enough for the side to pick up their seventh trophy in five years and become the first side to go back-to-back in the Futsal Cup.
For Raiders Futsal Club, the Futsal Premier League 2 side can hold their head high. They were tenacious in defense and found their opportunities on the counter with Amanda Radmillo going closest late in the first half. Focus for them turns to their finals decider against Phoenix Futsal Club on Saturday night.
The tone for the contest was set in the opening exchanges. The Magic held the ball well, worked for their chances to prise open the defense with sharpshooters Rhianna Pollicina and Tori Tumeth ready to pounce.
Their first shot came through Ceyda Cambaz whose effort was saved well by Raiders Futsal Club custodian Mariella Hurtado. Next up Pollicina had a pair of chances which were flew wide of the net as Magic tried to stamp their authority.
Raiders Futsal Club looked to play on the counter and worked a pair of chances in the opening ten minutes with Mia Conners testing the Magic keeper then Amanda Radmillo broke quickly on an advantage but slid her effort wide.
Magic continued to try and break open the contest with Tumeth provided the hold-up play for firstly Cambas to thrash wide then late in the half Cambas was denied at point blank range by Hurtado who was a brick wall in front of goal to go in 0-0 at the break.
Coming out of the break and feeling just fine, Inner West Magic kept up the pressure. Amy Dadah snatched the ball well and forced Hurtado into a tough save then Cambas couldn’t poke home from close range.
Sensing they needed to start to open up, Raiders Futsal Club posted the ball forward. They went direct to their potent attack with Emma Volder unable to carve home the best of their chances as the final looked set for extra time.
Dahdah looked to have found the opening with some swift feet creating space for Pollicina to try and rifle an effort at the net but Hurtado punched it over. Next Tumeth broke free but was also stopped by the Hurtado wall.
Headed to the prospect of extra time, up stepped Cambas. She cut inside well, swung her foot ferociously with an effort that took a helpful deflection off a defender into the net for 1-nil Inner West Magic.
They had to withstand a late onslaught from Raiders Futsal Club who moved into breakneck speed to find an equaliser but the time expired and Inner West Magic collected back-to-back Futsal Cip trophies to add to their burgeoning cabinet.
Speaking afterwards a jubilant Inner West Magic coach Matteo Maiorana remarked on the superb achievement from his side and the achievement of becoming the first side to win the trophy back-to-back:
“It’s a special group of players, we’ve achieved a lot in the last few years and win this trophy back-to-back is truly special. I think it was richly deserved. It was an even start to the game but we were comfortable and should’ve won by more. In the end, it’s another trophy for the club.” said Maiorana.
For Raiders Futsal Club coach Bernard Volder despite the loss he remained upbeat at the performance and the growth in his side since the start of the season:
“I’m proud of them. We had nothing to lose coming into the game and it was an end-to-end contest. If we take that performance into the Futsal Premier League 2 competition, I think we’ll take it out but mostly, I’m proud of the girls tonight.” said Volder.
On custodian Mariella Hurtado: “Mariella is one of the forefronts of our side. She saves us and we score the goals for her. She is the backbone of our side.” finished Volder.
Match Stats
Wednesday December 11 2019
Valentine Sports Park, Glenwood
Referee: A. Brett
2nd Referee: J. Rose
3rd Referee: L. Hockings
Timekeeper: M. Liminos
Inner West Magic 1 (Cambaz)
Raiders Futsal Club 0
Inner West Magic: 4. TUMETH Tori 7. OSMAN Doris 8. CAMBAS Ceyda 10. POLLICINA Rhianna 20. RAYMOND Gillian 22. SCHEMBRI Olivia 23. GRAY Gemma 25. MCDONAGH Allish 50. HOLDER Clare 99. HALPIN Courtney
Yellow cards: Dahdah
Red cards: nil
Raiders Futsal Club: 6. RADMILLO Amanda 28. BUCHANAN Kaiya 33. TAVARES Erin Lea 34. SMYTH Elie 38. WALTON Talie 39. BUCHANAN Tamsin 42. VOLDER Emma 43. OSSIO Nicole 44. CONNERS Mia 45. CIABATTA Vanessa 46. HAMILTON Sophia 51. TAYLOR Stephanie 61. HURTADO Mariella
Yellow cards: nil
Red cards: nil
By Justin Davies (@JustDavies90)
