Round 1 Review – Futsal Premier League Open Men’s
Big win’s, late goals, and stoic defensive performances, Round one of the Open Men’s Futsal Premier League had enough to please the masses as we returned to the pitch.
Mountain Majik and Inner west played out a 7-goal thriller, UTS Northside and Enfield Allstars showed off their goalscoring capabilities with big wins while Mascot Vipers edged Hakoah. Check out the review below.
Dural Warriors 1 (Niski OG 39’) v UTS Northside Futsal Club 5 (Borg 2’, Rainbird 14’ 47’, Whalley 17’, Lynch 23’)
UTS Northside opened their season in the best fashion possible putting five past Dural Warriors at the Centre, Saturday evening.
Scoring four unanswered goals in the opening half, Northside found plenty of joy with Michael Borg, Nick Rainbird, Mitchell Whalley and Grant Lynch all finding the target in the opening 25 minutes. With Rainbird later completing his brace in the second period.
However it was the work without the ball from UTS which impressed those in attendance. With their energy in defense and efficiency in taking their chances proving the difference over their hosts.
For Dural, they just couldn’t match their opponent’s desperation without the ball, Carlos De Oliveira played a part in their goal, but they just couldn’t turn their control of possession onto the scoreboard.
Dural face an away trip against Enfield Allstars next weekend, while UTS Northside are looking forward to a tough test when they face Mascot Vipers.
Inner West Futsal Club 3 (Nicolosi 27’, Haddad 38’, Barzel 45’) v Mountain Majik Futsal Club 4 (Zeballos OG 12’, Dib 32’, Guerreiro 44’ 48’)
Mountain Majik won a thriller at Valentine Sports Park prevailing 4-3 over Inner West Futsal Club in a ding-dong affair.
With six second half goals, the two sides took a while to get going but once they did, it rained goals with Mountain Majik eventually claiming a decisive goal with three minutes remaining courtesy of Jordan Guerriero.
In what was described as a high intensity match with both sides having multiple chances, it was an own goal on twelve minutes which saw the scoring start with the Majik taking the advantage. A score line which would remain to the break before the floodgates opened in the second half.
Indeed, the theme of the fixture was Majik taking the lead before Inner West struck back, Alexander Nicolosi with their first reply two minutes into the second period.
However, the Majik were just that little more clinical in front of goal taking the decisive lead with three minutes to go. With Jordan Guerriero and Jamie Dib singled out as standout performances, Guerriero picking up a brace with their third and fourth goals, while Jamie Dib got their second just after the half hour.
For Inner West, there were some encouraging signs after not playing a fixture leading into the season. Their second and third goals coming through Jonathan Barzel and Anthony Haddad, goals which nearly saw them take away a point.
Inner West next face Campbelltown City Quake in round two action. While Mountain Majik will host a game at the same venue against Eastern Suburbs Hakoah.
Mascot Vipers 1 (Plataniotis 46’) v Eastern Suburbs Hakoah Futsal Club 0
In a meeting between two sides who had recently tasted silverware, Mascot Vipers opened their season with a 1-0 victory over Eastern Suburbs Hakoah, Saturday evening.
In a disciplined defensive performance, the Vipers were able to mitigate the visitors attack before striking late in the second half to ensure a first start victory.
Eastern Suburbs Hakoah came away frustrated by the result yet happy with their performance as they spent long periods controlling possession without an end product.
The match began as a nervous and tight affair with few chances coming for either side. Hakoah controlled the possession for most of the first half with Lucas Brandow and Robbie Ezekiel looking threatening. However, neither player was able to break the deadlock and both teams went into halftime even at nil all.
The second half saw Vipers start strong as they threatened to score on the counterattack several times, before a breakaway goal from Yanni Plataniotis opened their account. That led to a nervous final period with Hakoah dominating possession and peppering the goals. However, they were unable to find their way past Vipers goalkeeper Shane Watson who pulled off several saves in the dying stages of the match.
Mascot Vipers will face UTS Northside at the same venue next weekend. While Eastern Suburbs Hakoah have plenty to build upon as they look ahead to a clash with Mountain Majik next weekend.
Enfield Allstars 7 v Campbelltown City Quake Futsal Club 3 (Osmond, Clissold)
It was raining goals at Morris Iemma Indoor Sports Centre as Enfield AllStars put in a performance befitting of their name in a high scoring victory over Campbelltown City Quake.
The win puts Enfield equal top after the first-round victory. They got off to a flier scoring four unanswered goals in the first half.
While for Brett Hewit’s Quake side, there were a lot of positives as they look to grow into season 2022. Rhys Osmond scored a brace for them, while Bradon Clissold also found the net in a tighter second half.
Enfield Allstars face Dural Warriors next weekend. Whereas it’s a first home game for the Quake as they host Inner West.
Enfield Allstars goal scorers not available at time of writing.
By Futsal Premier League Writer Justin Smith
