Round 7 Review – Futsal Premier League Open Men’s
Absolute Chaos! There’s only one way to describe the weekend just gone in the Futsal Premier League Open Men’s competition this weekend.
An eyewatering 35 goals came in four games (yes, you read that right) in an unforgettable weekend of FPL action.
Dural Warriors 7 v Inner West Futsal Club 3
Best performance of their season so far? Dural Warriors picked up a much-needed victory over Inner West Futsal Club in a ten-goal thriller at the Centre.
Key to the victory was how clinical they were in front of goal early in the contest, the Warriors racing out to a five goal advantage before the half time break. Wade Giovenali with the first, an own goal the second, Joshua Montgomery the third before Carlos De Oliveira and Hamza Sweedan found the net just before the half time break.
At this point, it was about how Inner West were going to respond and credit to them they showed improvement in the second half. Tightening up defensively while Anthony Haddad and Jonathan Barzel scored in the opening 15 of the second half.
Jacob Basden and Carlos De Oliveira the other goal scorers for Dural who made sure they kept their opponents at an arm’s length.
The result is an important one for Dural as they look to make up some ground on Inner West who sit in fourth halfway through the season.
Mascot Vipers 3 v Enfield Allstars 4
Enfield Allstars survived a scare in overcoming Mascot Vipers in a close game in Sydney’s North-West.
With four goals coming in the opening seven minutes, you certainly can’t accuse either side of not going for it early with both Timothy Scott and Ethan De Melo finding the goal for the Vipers, while Shervin Adeli grabbed two at the other end in response.
From there, the Allstars took the lead for the first time in the contest through Dominic Cox just before the break, with Cox adding a second to his personal tally after 40 minutes as he chases the golden boot at the club. A lead which was halved late on by a Nicholas Morales goal in the dying stages.
Enfield Allstars have an important two games next weekend facing both Campbelltown City Quake and Eastern Suburbs Hakoah. While Mascot Vipers will look to respond when they meet up with Eastern Suburbs Hakoah.
Mountain Majik Futsal Club 7 v Campbelltown City Quake Futsal Club 4
Mountain Majik claimed their fourth victory of the season with three late goals allowing them to edge out Campbelltown City Quake at Valentine Sports Park.
Yeah, it’s the kind of weekend whereas a writer you need to come to terms with the fact it’s hard to do it justice with words. Anyway, moving on with the report, it’s an important win for the Majik who solidified their position in the top two.
It started off as a see-sawing affair with the Quake responding quickly following a Majik goal twice in the opening 15 minutes. Jordan Guerreiro and Jamie Dib scoring for the Majik, Harrison James and Amir Ajaj finding the net for the visitors.
In fact, the Majik must have been wondering whether it was destined to finish a draw shortly after 40 minutes when a two goal half time lead was again pegged back. Robson De Souza and Jamie Dib giving them that advantage before Harrison James added a third and fourth goal to complete his hat trick.
However, they weren’t going to be pegged back a third time as Jordan Guerreiro, Marko Filipovic and Andrew Luttringer all found the net in the final four minutes. And yes you read that right, five goals in the final ten minutes.
Caught up? Go and give it a watch on youtube, it’s well worth the time!
Eastern Suburbs Hakoah Futsal Club 4 (Feilich 15’, Swartz 29’ 38’, Lees 37’) v UTS Northside Futsal Club 3 (Whalley 28’, Rainbird 40’, 48’)
Eastern Suburbs Hakoah withstood a late UTS Northside charge to emerge victorious in our feature match from the weekend.
The host started the better of the two sides creating multiple opportunities in the opening ten minutes, with Emmanuel Tzanakes in particular at the heart of their early attacks. With James Reed often on the end of them.
UTS Northside on the other hand were seeing their main threat on the counter with Michael Borg having their first chance of the game.
It took till the 13th minute for a clear cut chance to come though, Josh Shubitz denied by a sharp save after a one on one chance was created down the left. Shortly followed again in similar circumstances, Jake Lees this time denied by Dylan Niski.
At which point, you felt something special was going to be needed for Eastern Suburbs Hakoah to open the scoring. And so something special was provided through Noel Feilich who not only saved an opportunity at the other end. But showed terrific awareness to tun it into a chance of their own. Feilich seeing the opposition goal empty before dropping it onto his foot to find the net at the other end. 1-0 Hakoah.
A lead which was maintained till the second half. Where UTS Northside hit back shortly after the break. A quick passing move seeing Nathan Amore pick out Mitchell Borg on the right who centered it for Mitchell Whalley who tapped home at the back post.
That once again clicked the hosts into action with Gilad Scwartz scoring two of the next three goals for Hakoah. Firstly, from around 10 metres in a central position. Before adding their fourth from closer range on the break. Jake Less scoring the third in between, with Mitchell Lowe playing a part in that goal with some clever awareness. 4-1 Hakoah.
Three goal lead would lead to a bit of comfort, right? Wrong as UTS Northside then came at the hosts in the final minutes. Lucas Rainbird ramping up the tension with his sides second with ten minutes left, Rainbird slipping it home after Saxon Hillyer found him with a through ball. Before tension was really ramped up after Rainbird got a second chance in front of goal, his first denied by the keeper before heading home.
They couldn’t find a fourth late on though as Hakoah held on for a vital three points leading into the second half of the season.
Big thanks to FPL2 reporter Justin Davies for his help writing the previews/reviews this past couple of weeks.
By Justin Smith
