Round 9 Preview – Futsal Premier League Open Men’s
With November upon us, round nine of the Open Men’s Futsal Premier League season looks set to entertain us once again.
UTS Northside highlight the pickings this weekend hosting Mascot Vipers while Eastern Suburbs Hakoah also look to strike a blow to a top four opponent.
Dural Warriors v Enfield Allstars; Saturday 5 November, 4:50pm, The Centre Dural
Dural Warriors face the unenviable task of hosting Enfield Allstars to kick off round nice at The Centre – Dural.
After a victory the week previous, Dural Warriors were left frustrated after their game with UTS Northside last weekend. Holding an advantage at half time courtesy of goals to Brandon Vella and Tallon Zahra, they saw their lead slip away consigning them to their four defeat of the season. Every game is an important one from here on out as the club find themselves towards the bottom of the club championship, can the Warriors rise to the challenge here?
Five straight victories, the Enfield Allstars are flying currently in this futsal premier league season. Last weekend they took the maximum points on offer with victories over Campbelltown City Quake and Eastern Suburbs Hakoah. The highlight being their come from behind victory over Eastern Suburbs Hakoah with the trio of Charles Abou Serhal, Shervin Adeli and Luiz Lobo in particular impressing. With a six-point gap at the top, they’ll be keen to push on before their big clash with Inner West next weekend.
Previous Meeting: Enfield Allstars 3-1 Dural Warriors
Inner West Futsal Club v Campbelltown City Quake Futsal Club; Saturday 5 November, 5pm, Valentine Sports Park
Inner West Futsal Club will be looking to maintain their grasp on a top four spot when the boys from Sydney’s South West come to Valentine Sports Park.
It’s funny how things go in a close competition like this, one victory can change a team’s outlook very quickly. And for Inner West it was the big scalp of Mountain Majik at Valentine Sports Park. In a highly competitive game, Jonathan Barzel scored the all-important second half goal to give them the points after Facundo Benitez scored earlier. Five points ahead of fifth, back-to-back wins here would give them breathing space ahead of their game against Enfield Allstars next weekend.
Well, at least they’re not playing Enfield Allstars. After a big loss to the competition leaders last weekend, Campbelltown City Quake will be wanting to bounce back here. It was a tough afternoon for the youthful Quake who conceded eight goals before scoring a goal of their own through Amir Ajaj who scored twice in five minutes. How will they bounce back here? Join us on the review Sunday to find out.
Previous Meeting: Campbelltown City Quake 0-1 Inner West Futsal Club
UTS Northside Futsal Club v Mascot Vipers; Saturday 5 November, 5:30pm, PCYC Dee Why
UTS Northside will have to be on their game when they host Mascot Vipers in their 2nd straight home game.
The surprise packets of the competition, UTS Northside sit in second place on goal difference coming into round nine. And last weekends win against Dural Warriors was a good indicator as to why they sit in such a position. Comfortable with the ball in front of them in defense, they scored three goals in the second half to come from behind. Mitchell Borg was the standout with a brace, but it was an impressive performance all across the pitch.
They face a rejuvenated Mascot Vipers who threw themselves back into the finals race with a victory over Eastern Suburbs Hakoah last weekend. Bruno Mendes returned to the indoor pitch, scoring a goal within minutes of his return. But it was a team effort with Konstantinos Tsournakakis, Conor Quilligan and Timothy Scott also finding the net. While Sasha Chilas made good saves at crucial moments throughout. The start of an important run? Watch this space…
Previous Meeting: Mascot Vipers 2-3 UTS Northside
Eastern Suburbs Hakoah Futsal Club v Mountain Majik Futsal Club; Saturday 5 November, 6:50pm, Morris Iemma Indoor Sports Centre
It’s another big game in the race for finals as 4th placed Mountain Majik travel to Riverwood to take on a Eastern Suburbs Hakoah side sitting on the edge of the four.
Before a three-game road trip, this shapes as an important game for the hosts if they hold finals aspirations. In a rough weekend of action, they came out second best against both Mascot Vipers and Enfield Allstars last weekend. Still we know this side is capable with Robert Ezekial in particular impressing in both fixtures last weekend. Not quite in the must win category, but it’s important that this Hakoah team don’t drop points in this one.
What did I say earlier, one result can change things very quickly in this competition. Going into last weekend on the back of two wins in second place, Mountain Majik now find themselves in a vulnerable position on the edge of the four. In a close fought battle against fellow top four side Inner West, they just came up short despite a goal from Nicholas Bakopoulos. They’ll be eyeing revenge after going down to their opposition first time round, however it’s crucial that they don’t lose here.
Previous Meeting: Mountain Majik 3-5 Eastern Suburbs Hakoah
By Justin Smith
