Round 14 Review – Futsal Premier League 2 Open Men’s
Like Christmas presents, the Futsal Premier League 2 Open Mens season was wrapped up neatly with four exciting contests in Round 14.
We saw 38 goals scored across Saturday as the eight teams try to finish on a high. Let’s get onto the review!
Match of the Round: Sydney City Eagles 1 defeated by Dural Warriors 5
Mission Complete: Dural Warriors go through the Futsal Premier League 2 Open Mens season undefeated after their 5-1 success against Sydney City Eagles Saturday night.
Fourteen straight victories are no mean feat and Dural Warriors showed their mettle after conceding early to pile on five straight goals on a talented Eagles side. Carlos and Samuel De Oliveira both scored goals with Gregory Giovenali and Nathan Niski the other scorers with an own goal thrown in as well.
Sydney City Eagles remain bullish on their chances against Dural if they get another shot. They opened the scoring through Robert Perre but were pegged back by the fluid Warriors attack and now focus shifts to their semi-final match-up against SD Raiders Futsal.
A game between the top two kicked off in fast style, both sides looked to stamp their authority on the contest early. Sydney City Eagles struck the first blow with Robert Perre slotted home first after four minutes to make it 1-nil.
Dural Warriors shook the cobwebs out and got themselves into their game. They stroked the ball across the court, probed for the opening which came through Carlos De Oliveira swept home after some precise build up for 1-1.
From there, Dural took the game by the scruff of the neck. Gregory Giovenali made it 2-nil after he arrowed home well as they completed the turnaround against the Eagles.
Sydney City Eagles tried to respond through their own sharpshooter Lachlan Rose. Rose got onto the end of a move which he blazed over then another quick chance that the blonde-headed star sliced wide of the post.
The Premiers finished the first half in a flurry of goals. Nathan Niksi made it 3-1 when he finished well from the point quickly followed by Samuel De Oliveira poking home despite some desperation from the Eagles defense to make it 4-1.
Dural rounded off an impressive half with their fifth goal which was put down as an own goal to make it 5-1 that is doubly impressive after the visitiors went behind early to the Eagles but showed their clinical finishing for a four-goal lead.
In the second half, Dural looked to add to further to their dominance but some key saves from Sydney City Eagles custodian Zlatko Joseski denied them. Both Brendan Hoyer and Wade Giovenali tried to walk the ball in but a flying stop denied them.
Youngster Brayson Wickham-Hill had a few chances to get himself on the scoresheet but was denied at point-blank range by Joseski. Dural Warriors will take the points and confirm their unbeaten season with a 5-1 result at Thomas Hassell.
Speaking afterwards Dural Warriors coach Rob Varela paid tribute to the mentality of his side to go through the season unbeaten against sides that will be pumped up:
“All the pressure is on us to perform each week. For every team we play, it is a Grand Final for them and we have to embrace that fact. The pressure is on us to win but we can withstand that pressure, like today, and did it off good results for both sides. Having every side in the finals was our goal and anything else is icing on the cake for us.” said Varela.
For Sydney City Eagles coach Roy Perre remained upbeat about his side’s chances if they get another chance against Dural after their defeat Saturday:
“In the first half we were vulnerable and had a good talk at half-time which helped us improve. Going forward I think the boys know what to do. I’m looking forward to playing them again on hopefully a bigger court.” said Perre.
Match Stats
Sunday 15 December 2019
Thomas Hassell Anglican College, Middleton Grange
Referee: A Mansour
2nd Referee: S Aly
3rd Referee: L Hockings
Sydney City Eagles 1 (R. Perre)
Dural Warriors 5 (C. De Oliveira, S. De Oliveira, G. Giovenali, Niski, OG)
Sydney City Eagles: 1. JOSESKI Zlatko, 2. NOLAN Andres, 3. MORABITO John, 4. PELEKANOS Peter, 5. ROSE Lachlan, 7. PERRE Sam, 10. CIMITILE Aaron, 13. CALIGIURI Cameron, 15. PERRE Robert, 18. LANE Brendan, 26. MILLER Jake
Yellow cards: Caligiuri
Red cards: nil
Dural Warriors: 1. STARR Nicholas, 7. GIOVENALI Wade, 8. NISKI Nathan, 9. DE OLIVEIRA Samuel, 14. HOYER Brendan, 19. KELSHAW Glen, 21. BRENNAN Brayden, 22. DE OLIVEIRA Carlos, 23. VELLA Brandon, 32. GIOVENALI Gregory, 60. WICKHAM-HILL Brayson, 63. SWEEDAN Ahmed
Yellow cards: W. Giovenali, Vella
Red cards: nil
SD Raiders Futsal 9 defeated Sydney Futsal Club 5
Getting prepared for the finals, SD Raiders Futsal defeated Sydney Futsal Club 9-5 in an exhibition of futsal at Fairfield Youth & Leisure Centre Saturday afternoon.
SD Raiders Futsal have scored for fun this season. They finished with a nice 69 goals scored across the season and fired home five in the first half Saturday then added a further four to get ready for their showdown with Sydney City Eagles in the semi-finals.
The home side were at the double in the contest. Matthew Barkho, Matias Pas, Sebastian Cal and Nicholas Kambouris all scored braces in the success. James Letta was the other goal scorer in SD Raiders Futsal ninth win of the season.
Sydney Futsal Club have fought hard all season and finished the contest with five goals in what was an open contest between the two sides. Alexander Nicolosi led the way with a brace for nine goals this season alongside Patrick Pace, Dion Kellis and Anthony Musumeci.
South Coast Taipans 9 defeated West City Crusaders 2
South Coast Taipans finished their season in style triumphing 8-2 against West City Crusaders in a goal bonanza at UOW Sports Hub on Saturday afternoon.
The game might have meant little in terms of the makeup of the finals but both sides displayed some superb futsal to round off their Futsal Premier League 2 campaigns. Taipans coach Bobby Mazevski was happy for his side to end the season “on a positive note.”
Taipans had their shooting boots on in the open contest. Kyle Del headlined the performance with the hat-trick with Rick Goodchild and Klime Sekutkoski both picked up braces. Cody Waller and Bradley Peryman rounded off the performance with single strikes.
For West City Crusaders they finish the season on a downbeat note. They did find goals twice in the second half for some scant consolation. The Crusaders started their season with the 4-4 draw against Raiders Futsal but never got to their best this year as they aim to rebuild for the next campaign.
Phoenix Futsal Club 2 defeated by Raiders Futsal Club 5
Putting the cherry on top of their finals qualification, Raiders Futsal Club had a 5-2 success against Phoenix Futsal Club on Saturday night at PCYC Hornsby.
Knowing that could play with freedom in their last game of the season, Phoenix Futsal Club took a shock lead into the half-time break. Sharpshooter Jordan Smylie fired home in the 21st minute to give them some joy in their final home game.
Showing the resilience that has featured across their season, Raiders Futsal Club scored five consecutive goals to secure their seventh victory of the season. Adam Voloder started the run before Christopher Godoy Bascur, Kodai Hayashi, Cameron Wright and Adolph Koudakpo all found the scoresheet.
Smylie completed his brace late on for Phoenix Futsal Club but their season came to an end with a ninth loss of the campaign. It will be one of missed opportunities for the home side while Raiders Futsal Club get ready to enter the finals gauntlet next weekend.
By Justin Davies (@JustDavies90)
