Futsal Premier League Open Men’s Round 2 Review
It’s not over till it’s done! Round two of the Futsal Premier League Open Men’s competition saw plenty of stop clock drama across the three games.
One of which saw Macarthur Quake score three goals in the final minute of action to claim victory.
While Mountain Majik and Mascot Vipers also scored round two victories.
Match of the Round: Eastern Suburbs Hakoah Futsal Club 2-3 Macarthur Quake Futsal
Three goals in the final minute saw Macarthur Quake pull off a remarkable comeback against Eastern Suburbs Hakoah at Heffron Centre.
A demonstration of what a stop clock can do in futsal, the Quake were rewarded for their perseverance with three quick goals to secure their 2nd win in three seasons.
For Eastern Suburbs Hakoah, they were in control for large parts of the fixture but couldn’t get a crucial third goal to put their opponents away.
This one started with the intensity we’ve come to expect in the Open Men’s division, with Hakoah having the opening two chances of the contest. Both falling to Emmanuel Tzanakes, both missing the target.
While Quake drew the first save of note at the other end when a direct low ball found Daniel Goni, his shot stinging the palms of the keeper.
The first five minutes of action curtailed by the first save by the Quake keeper to prevent Jonathan Lynch.
It was the hosts who had settled the better of the two sides and they were rewarded with a goal inside 10 minutes. A Mitchell Lowe cross finding Vinicius Costa Janjacomo who made no mistake putting them into the lead.
In saying that, the Quake finished the first half with a few good chances of their own with Kingston Luburic and Lury Dorneles both hitting the goal frame in the final five minutes of the half.
Mitchell Lowe also doing the same at the other end around the same period.
Quake then carrying that momentum into the second half in an intense contest. Hakoah getting their second three minutes into the second half. César Perego the scorer after the ball was worked in from the right.
Credit must go to the Quake however as they never gave up in this one as tensions threatened to boilover at points in the second half.
Noah Fellich coming up with a big couple of saves before a remarkable final minute of action…
Macarthur Quake scoring three goals in the last minute to steal just their second victory since the start of the 2019 season.
The first coming through Daniel Goni who finally was able to open the floodgates with a finish slotted past the keeper with 40 seconds left. 2-1 Hakoah
Scott Rogan scoring the equaliser from the penalty spot after a shot on the left wing caught the hand of a Hakoah defender. Rogan’s penalty just a bit too powerful for the keeper to save. 2-2!
Before a third came with just over a second on the clock! Alexander Nicolosi with the cross for Daniel Goni to finish from close range. The game finishing 3-2 to the Quake in a dramatic comeback.
Eastern Suburbs Hakoah 2 (Vinicius Costa Janjacomo 8’, César Perego 23’)
Macarthur Quake Futsal 3 (Daniel Goni 40’ 40’, Scott Rogan 40’)
Elsewhere
UTS Northside Futsal Club 4 defeated by Mascot Vipers 5
Not to be outdone in their comeback, Mascot Vipers scored five second half goals to overcome UTS Northside away from home.
In truth, it was a case of getting out of jail for the visitors who were second best for a large part of the fixture particularly in the first half. Nathan Amore and Benjamin Waller giving them a two-goal advantage.
However, a couple of early errors in the second half proved costly for the hosts. The Vipers experience bringing them back into it with Ethan De Melo and Jonathan Barzel finding the net.
UTS taking the lead once again through Grant Lynch but by this point, they were fighting an uphill battle with the Vipers having the momentum.
Jonathan Barzel adding a third before Nathan Niski and Thomas Quilligan also found the goal for their 4th and 5th. Grant Lynch adding a consolation late on.
UTS Northside take on Dural Warriors next weekend, while Mascot Vipers host Mountain Majik in round three action.
Enfield Allstars 5 defeated by Mountain Majik Futsal Club 7
Finally in our review, Mountain Majik pulled out a good performance to just get the better of Enfield Allstars at Morris Iemma SC.
The highest scoring game of the weekend, the lead changed on multiple occasions in this one before eventually finishing 7-5 in favour of the visitors.
Central to the Majiks win was the performance of Jordan Guerreiro who found the back of the net on five separate occasions. Guerreiro joined by Nicholas Bakopoulos with a brace. Two wins from their opening two games, the building blocks are in place for Brett Hewit’s side.
Enfield Allstars on the other hand definitely played their part in the enthralling action. They scored five goals through four players. Dominic Cox, Peter Grozos, Harrison James and Michael Kouta all opening their accounts in 2023.
Macarthur Quake awaits the Allstars next weekend while Mountain Majik face another away game against Mascot Vipers.
Boomerangs FS v Dural Warriors postponed. Keep an eye out on the competition’s website for a rescheduled date.
By Justin Smith
