Futsal Premier League 2 Open Men’s Round 4 Review
The Futsal Premier League 2 Open Mens competition was in full flow for Round 4 which saw APIA FC Futsal, South Coast Taipans, West City Crusaders and SD Raiders Futsal pick up wins.
The highlight of the four games on Saturday night was the Match of the Round between Sydney City Eagles and APIA FC Futsal. Let’s get onto the review.
Sydney City Eagles vs APIA FC Futsal
APIA FC Futsal won 6-4 in a fierce encounter with Sydney City Eagles at Morris Iemma Indoor SC on Saturday night.
The Eagles put in a solid performance in this top of the table clash. They opened the scoring through Judah Cleur in the first minute. Bruno Antelmi, Simon Simonoski and Cameron Caligiuri found the back of the net in the game. They did also have Patrick Antelmi get a red card.
For APIA FC Futsal, it was a fighting away performance that earned them three points. Guilherme Mazurkievicz led the way for the visitors with four goals while Arthur Dembri and Christian Dos Santos were their other goal scoers. Italo Wanderley also saw red for the visitors.
Sydney City Eagles started the game off with a bang. They whipped the ball around the pitch before Judah Cleur rolled the ball home for 1-0.
The Eagles pushed forward to double their delight. They worked an opening which saw Patrick Antelmi denied by APIA FC Futsal keeper Caleb Ashton.
APIA FC Futsal took their time to find their rhythm. Guilherme Mazurkievicz Pansonato was found well by a direct pass and it was blocked by Sydney City Eagles keeper John Dimitrakis.
The visitors did find an equaliser in the 5th minute. Italo Wanderley provided the pass for Pansonato who arrowed into the bottom corner for 1-1.
These two high powered attacks continued to trade shots. John Morabito flashed wide then Pansonato drove an effort past the post.
The Eagles used the kick-in to their advantage for their second goal. The kick from their own end found Bruno Antelmi who whipped it home for 2-1 in the 7th minute.
Pansonato replied quickly for APIA FC Futsal. He provided a delightful chip over Dimitrakis in the 11th minute to make it 2-2.
That goal kicked APIA FC Futsal into gear. Wanderley strode forward on the break and was denied then followed it up with a kick-in chance.
APIA FC Futsal had their first lead in the 14th minute. Pansonato cut inside several defenders before he fired home to make it 3-2.
The game ignited after a tackle soon after the goal. It saw Wanderley and Patrick Antelmi both shown a straight red card which left both teams with three outfield players for a few minutes.
Both Bruno Antelmi and Pansonato continued to star for their sides. Antelmi had his effort tipped over by Ashton then Pansonato fizzed one wide.
Sydney City Eagles thought they found an equaliser right on half-time. Their free-kick went in directly from the taker but it was ruled to be an indirect free-kick.
Coming out of the break, APIA FC Futsal felt just fine. Welkson shot one straight at Dimitrakis then Pansonato sent a free-kick wide.
The Eagles kept their rhythm and passed the ball around the pitch. It ended with Bruno Antelmi rattling the crossbar with a powerful effort.
APIA FC Futsal absorbed the pressure from the Eagles and made it 4-2. Arthur Dembri finished off a move which saw him arrow into the bottom corner in the 31st minute.
Sydney City Eagles hit back immediately to make it 4-3. Stefan Simonoski got the final touch on the ball which set up a grandstand finish.
The game remained an open contest. Dembri hit the crossbar for APIA FC Futsal then Antelmi couldn’t slide home for the Eagles.
APIA FC Futsal restored their two-goal advantage in the 37th minute. Dembri provided the pass for Christian Dos Santos to tap home for 5-3.
The visitors had a chance to finish the game after being given a 10 metre shot for their sixth foul. Pansonato took the spot kick and hit the right post.
Sydney City Eagles built on that chance and made it 5-4. They swept the ball across the pitch before Cameron Caligiuri touched home in the 40th minute.
APIA FC Futsal were given a second chance at the 10 metre foul late in the game. Pansonato was the taker again and he rolled it home this time for 6-4.
Post match Sydney City Eagles coach Roy Perre reflected on the pulsating game and remained proud of his team:
“It was a frustrating game for us thorough the game but we lost it against the better team. I really enjoyed playing against them tonight and I am proud of the boys and look forward to the next game against them.” said Perre.
For APIA FC’s Jonas Rodrigues, he reflected on a tough game which saw the team come away with three points:
“It was a very tough game which was made harder after losing Italo Wanderley in the first half. The opponent was a tough one but I’m proud of the boys who helped to pick up the win tonight.” said Rodrigues.
MATCH STATS
Saturday 7 October 2023
Morris Iemma Indoor SC
Sydney City Eagles 4 (Cleur ‘1, B. Antelmi ‘7, S. Simonoski ‘31, Caligiuri ‘40)
APIA FC Futsal 6 (Pansonato ‘5, ‘11, ‘14, ‘40 Dembri ‘31, Dos Santos ‘37)
Sydney City Eagles: 1. John Dimitrakis, 2. Leandro Carle, 3. Stefan Simonoski, 4. Louis Hall, 8. Dejan Simonoski, 9. Bruno Antelmi, 10. Judah Cleur, 13. John Morabito, 15. Robert Perre, 20. Michael Cimino, 24. Cameron Caligiuri, 29. Patrick Antelmi, 64. Markos Galla
Yellow cards: B. Antelmi, Caligiuri
Red cards: P. Antelmi
APIA FC Futsal: 2. Arthur Dembri, 4. Giacomo Di Mento, 5. Guilherme Mazurkievicz Pansonato, 8. Welkson Souza Bispo, 11. Italo Wanderley, 15. Christian Dos Santos, 60. Caleb Ashton
Yellow cards: Welkson, Ashton
Red cards: Wanderley
South Coast Taipans 3 defeated Sydney Futsal Club 1
South Coast Taipans were comfortable 3-1 winners against Sydney Futsal Club at Illawarra Hockey Centre on Saturday night.
It was another workmanlike performance from the Taipans who registered back-to-back wins to cement themselves in the top four. The first half was a tight affair with Jacob Gjorsevski scoring the only goal in the 18th minute to make it 1-0 for Taipans.
The game opened up more in the second half. Matthew Mazevski doubled the Taipans delight in the 23rd minute before Adin Scalone pulled a goal back for Sydney Futsal Club. Taipans controlled the rest of the game and Tyson Black fired home their third goal in the 36th minute to collect three points.
West City Crusaders 9 defeated Raiders Futsal Club 4
West City Crusaders defeated Raiders Futsal Club 9-4 in their game down at PCYC Hawkesbury on Saturday night.
The Crusaders celebrated their home opener in style with a five-goal win. Tomas Medimurac opened the scoring the visitors before Kurt Elborough responded for the Crusaders. Terry Bradshaw put Raiders Futsal Club again before an Arsallan Mangal double gave the Crusaders their first lead. Medimurac levelled things up at 3-3 again but Crusaders led 5-3 at the break thanks to Zachary Reardon and Alexander Murrell in a wild first half.
Crusaders pushed their lead out to three goals when Stuart Gosling found the back of the net in the 23rd minute. Luis Ferreira gave Raiders Futsal Club some life with his goal to make it 6-4 but goals from Gosling, Elborough and Murrell rounded out a solid win for the Crusaders.
SD Raiders Futsal 8 defeated Phoenix Futsal Club 6
SD Raiders Futsal won 8-6 against a dogged Phoenix Futsal Club side at Thomas Hassell Anglican College on Saturday night.
The hosts bounced back in style in a tough game. Dimi Petratos and Connor Spurway gave them an early 2-0 lead after five minutes before Joshua Moore pulled back a goal for Phoenix Futsal Club. Ibrahim El Khoury restored their two-goal lead for a 3-1 half-time lead.
The second half was a parade of goals for both teams. Matthew Barkho scored in the 25th minute for SD Raiders Futsal then Moore responded again for Phoenix Futsal Club. Petratos and Richard Lee traded goals to make it 5-3 for the hosts.
SD Raiders Futsal fired home three goals quickly to extend their lead out to 8-3. Petratos completed his hat-trick then added another in the quickfire scoring while Barkho added the other. Phoenix Futsal Club stormed back into the game through a Jay Azzopardi double then Matthew Luttringer in a pulsating contest.
By Justin Davies (@JustDavies90)
