Round 9 Review – Futsal Premier League Open Men’s

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Forty-Four goals! Yes, you read that right, The Futsal Premier League Open Men’s Competition goes from strength to strength with an outrageous amount of entertainment in Round Nine action.

Dural Warriors shocked the competition leaders, Mascot Vipers snuck into the top four and Eastern Suburbs Hakoah proved you can never have too much of a good thing with another round nine upset over Mountain Majik.

Dural Warriors 9-3 Enfield Allstars

Having entered must-win territory in the race for finals, Dural Warriors scored a huge win over competition leaders Enfield Allstars at the Centre.

Knowing the do-or-die nature of the task ahead of them, the Warriors knew they had to be up for this one and didn’t they deliver with a convincing first half performance.

Executing their game plan throughout the first half, they saw themselves with a four-goal lead at the break. Jacob Basden scoring the first and last goal of the half with goals to Brandon Vella and Joshua Moran sandwiched in between.

Despite the lopsided score line, Enfield Allstars were still showing how threatening they can be and they found three goals in the second half courtesy of one to Bruno Pivato and two for Dominic Cox who has scored in five consecutive games (10 goals).

However they were always kept at an arm’s length by the hosts whose lead never dropped below three goals. Tallon Zahra scoring a second half hat-trick while Paolo Pusateri and Hamza Sweedan joined him with goals of their own.

Warriors coach Alastair Bruce also paid special mention to Jacob Sullivan who on debut prevented a goal at one end while setting another up at the other.

Inner West Futsal Club 8 v 4 Campbelltown City Quake Futsal Club

It’s time to clear your Saturday plans next weekend. Inner West Futsal Club set up an enticing top of the table clash with a victory over Campbelltown City Quake.

Surviving a first half scare, Inner West were rampant in and around the half time break scoring four goals in that period to set themselves up for victory.

Inner West did open the scoring though through Jamal Belkadi seven minutes into the match. That was followed by two first half Quake goals to give them a shock lead midway through the half, Richard Shoueiki scoring both for the visitors.

However Inner West responded well to going behind. Scoring four goals before the break after a few tactical tweaks… Alexander Nicolosi with their second before Jamal Belkadi completed a hat-trick to give them a three-goal lead.

A lead which was extended by goals to Daniel Fornito and Anthony Haddad shortly after the break putting the game beyond reach. Fornito’s goal perhaps the pick of the bunch launching a rocket from outside the circle.

Inner West opted to then play a powerplay in the final fifteen minutes, but the Quake held firm and scored two goals to bring the score back to 8-4, Jaidyn Dunn with one of those goals.

The hosts now go on to a top of the table clash next weekend while Quake line up against Eastern Suburbs Hakoah next weekend.

UTS Northside Futsal Club 3-6 Mascot Vipers

No Mendes, no problem! UTS Northside and Mascot Vipers played out a dour nine goal affair as Mascot Vipers continue their surge up the table. (Intro line may not be serious).

In the match most resembling a tactical battle across the weekend, goals still flowed early with two coming in the opening five minutes.

The goals were flowing early in this one with UTS Northside with the first goal. Nathan Amore on hand to put it into the net after an initial Michael Borg shot was saved.

Vipers were quick to respond though as they wrestled into the upper hand of the contest. Thomas Quilligan scoring the goal with Ethan De Melo playing a part in the buildup.

Following this, we saw three goals in as many minutes around the quarter hour. The first two for Vipers courtesy of Yanni Plataniotis and Conor Quilligan who combined nicely with his brother for their third. Before UTS hit back Michel Borg exercising a turn of pace before slotting it past the keeper.

The big difference maker in the game though was the return of Konstantinos Tsournakakis who made a case for man of the match on his return. Scoring their fourth of the game to put them up by two.

A lead which was extended out to four courtesy of two goals to Ethan De Melo late on, while Lucas Rainbird scored a late consolation for the hosts.

Eastern Suburbs Hakoah Futsal Club 7-4 Mountain Majik Futsal Club  

With results elsewhere, it was crucial that Eastern Suburbs Hakoah came away with victory from their game with Mountain Majik. And so they did prevailing 7-4 in a frantic finish.

Conceding first, the hosts then scored four goals in eight minutes late in the first giving them a lead to hold onto in the second period.

Majik started the game the better of the two sides, jumping out to a goal lead inside three minutes. Aaron Cimitile taking it past his marker on the right before applying the finish across goal.

That good work would be undone though late in the half. Emmanuel Tzanakes picking up the ball high before going through 1-on-1. His first shot saved before converting the rebound.

After their positive start to the match creating multiple opportunities, things started to unravel for the Majik as the half played out. Another error costing them dearly three minutes later. This time Lucas Vidal the recipient scoring Hakoah’s second.

Three errors, three goals. The third goal was as easy a goal as James Reed is going to score from close range after things broke down for the Majik on a kick in deep in their half.

A fourth then came from a ten-metre penalty, Tzanakes making no mistake.

The sides then matched each other’s efforts in the second half scoring three goals each. Hakoah scoring through Gilad Swartz, keeper Noah Feilich and Robert Ezekial.

While the Majik exercised a power play late on after bringing it back to 5-3 at one point. Cimitile picked up a brace for them while Nicholas Bakopoulos and Robson De Souza also found the net.

By Justin Smith