Semi-Final Review – Futsal Premier League 2 Open Men’s
Both semi-finals in the Futsal Premier League 2 Open Mens competition were pulsating contests which helped us to find our two Grand Finalists. Raiders Futsal Club and Boomerangs FS will play out the decider tomorrow afternoon at the Centre, Dural.
Let’s get onto the review!
SD Raiders Futsal vs Raiders Futsal Club
Raiders Futsal Club move into the Grand Final after their 5-2 win over SD Raiders Futsal at Morris Iemma Indoor SC on Saturday afternoon.
SD Raiders Futsal pushed hard after a frustrating first half but were unable to close the margin further than two goals all afternoon. Diego Molina and Clay Tanti both found the back of the net while SD Raiders Futsal went for the extra man but there season ends with this loss.
For Raiders Futsal Club, it was a superb bounce back after their loss in the Minor Premiership decider last weekend. Christopher Godoy Bascur led the way with a hat-trick while Luis Ferreira and ‘keeper Ibrahim Daniel both scored.
Befitting a semi-final, the game started out a cagey affair between two sides wanting to make an appearance in the Grand Final and took time to settle in.
Raiders Futsal Club were the first team to hit the scoreboard. It was a solid move from the kick in which saw Christopher Godoy Bascur poked the ball home to make it 1-0.
SD Raiders Futsal almost responded in kind through their skipper Simon Nicholas. He found some space behind the defence but swept the ball wide of the mark.
The game settled into a pattern which had Raiders Futsal Club with the better chances. Tomas Medimurac scooped an effort over then Thomas Todd had a pair of efforts which weren’t able to add to the score line.
SD Raiders Futsal had themselves a solid sequence of probing possession with the ball before it ended with Matthew Joseph having a shot straight at Raiders Futsal Club keeper Ibrahim Daniel.
Being behind on the scoreboard, SD Raiders Futsal finished the first half with a flurry of chances to equalise. Nicholas went close again before James Letta and Matthew Barkho both shot straight as Raiders Futsal Club held their lead into the break.
Coming out of the break, SD Raiders Futsal had another chance through Barkho then Nicholas was blocked well by Daniel after Godoy Bascur went close down the other end.
Despite their pressure, it was Raiders Futsal Club that doubled their delight. Terry Bradshaw piloted a ball right onto the foot of Luis Ferreira to flick home for 2-0.
Raiders Futsal Club quickly made it 3-0 and had one foot in the Grand Final. SD Raiders Futsal were caught on the break and Godoy Bascur had a delightful chip for the third goal.
SD Raiders Futsal went for the travel keeper and it helped them find the back of the net and make it 3-1. They stroked the ball around quickly before Diego Molina touched home.
They continued to press forward to set up a grandstand finish. Joseph poked one straight then a free-kick routine ended with Barkho flashing an effort wide.
Having the extra man leaves the net empty and Raiders Futsal Club custodian Daniel went close to scoring a goal but his long range kick rattled the post.
He didn’t miss a second opportunity though. SD Raiders Futsal had a shot right at the custodian then he lobbed the ball into the empty net and celebrated in style, making it 4-1 after making some important saves.
SD Raiders Futsal refused to die wondering in this game. They pulled another goal back through Clay Tanti who rolled home the ball to make it 4-2.
There was one final moment of magic in the contest. Godoy Bascur completed his hat-trick after he thrashed the ball home to make it 5-2 and seal a spot in the Grand Final.
Post match, SD Raiders Futsal goal scorer Clay Tanti reflected on the contest and the loss which had ended their season:
“It was a good game and we could’ve played better. We didn’t take our runners and we lost the game but it has been a good season for the club. We had non-stop ball movement in the last few minutes and did what we could in the defeat.” said Tanti.
For Raiders Futsal Club coach and birthday boy Slaven Ljuboja, he was delighted with his team’s effort to make the big dance:
“It was a good win and the boys definitely stepped up for the semi-finals. It was a tight game with only a 1-0 lead going into the break. We found a few more goals and SD Raiders Futsal play the fifth man well but the boys stepped up for my birthday.” said Ljuboja.
MATCH STATS
Saturday 17 December 2022
Morris Iemma Indoor SC
SD Raiders Futsal 2 (Molina and Tanti)
Raiders Futsal Club 5 (Godoy Bascur 3, Ferreira, Daniel)
SD Raiders Futsal: 2. TANTI Clay, 6. NICHOLAS Simon, 8. LETTA James, 10. BARKHO Matthew, 22. IBRAHIM Daniel, 23. MOLINA Diego, 33. JOSEPH Matthew, 111. BALDI Ryan
Yellow cards: Nicholas, Letta
Red cards: nil
Raiders Futsal Club: 1. DANIEL Ibrahim, 2. TODD Thomas, 3. HAYASHI Kodai, 5. FERREIRA Luis, 6. GODOY BASCUR Christopher, 7. MILADINOVIC Jovan, 8. LJUBOJA Goran, 9. MEDIMURAC Tomas, 10. LJUBOJA Slaven, 12. BRADSHAW Terry, 83. WATSON Shane
Yellow cards: Hayashi
Red cards: nil
Sydney City Eagles defeated by Boomerangs FS
Boomerangs FS booked their spot in the Grand Final with a 5-1 win against Sydney City Eagles at Valentine Sports Park on Saturday afternoon.
The visitors had to ride a way of early momentum from Sydney City Eagles before they settled into their work and took a 1-0 advantage into the break. Benjamin Basser Silk fired home the goal while coach Nick Van Aalst once again praised custodian Ashley Collins for some vital saves.
In the second half, Boomerangs put the contest to bed with four more goals. Jake Wilsener, Elie Darwich, William Manalo and Leon Michl all found the back of the net which sent the Canberra side into the big dance tomorrow.
Sydney City Eagles did find a goal to bring it back to 2-1 which was an own goal and also saw Sam Perre shown a red card in the final minute for two yellows. The Eagles still had a successful season as they were crowned Minor Premiers last weekend.
Raiders Futsal Club vs Boomerangs FS, Sunday 18 December, 5pm, The Centre – Dural
After 15 weeks of fantastic futsal we have our Grand Final between Boomerangs FS and Raiders Futsal Club at The Centre – Dural on Sunday afternoon.
Raiders Futsal Club will head into this game confident after taking four points from Boomerangs FS in the regular season. Their strike weapon in Christopher Godoy Bascur is in fine form for the final after his hat-trick on Saturday afternoon.
For Boomerangs FS, this Grand Final in the FPL2 Open Mens season can cap off a wonderful season for the club overall. One feature in their run to the Grand Final has been the work of Ashley Collins between the sticks and he might be busy again on Sunday.
By Justin Davies (@JustDavies90)
