Futsal Premier League 2 Open Men’s Round 7 Review
Round 7 in the Futsal Premier League 2 Open Mens competition might have only had three games but it didn’t lack any drama in the contests played across Saturday. There were wins for Raiders Futsal Club, South Coast Taipans and APIA FC Futsal. Let’s get onto the review.
Match of the Round: Raiders Futsal Club 6 defeated SD Raiders Futsal 2
Raiders Futsal Club won 6-2 against SD Raiders Futsal down at Thomas Hassell Anglican College on Saturday afternoon.
The hosts bounced back in style and kept up their hunt for the top four. Tomas Medimurac and Christopher Godoy Bascur led the way with braces while Thomas Todd and captain Slaven Ljuboja also found the back of the net.
For SD Raiders Futsal, it will be a frustrating game because they had chances but couldn’t find their way past the Raiders Futsal Club defence often. Franco Maya and an own goal were the goals for the visitors in the loss.
In a very back and forth start to the game, it was SD Raiders who began to look more dangerous in front of goal.
Despite this, it was Raiders that opened the scoring first through Tomas Medimurac in the 9th minute to make it 1-0 for the hosts.
Ibrahim Daniel was up to his usual tricks in net, using his acrobatic skill set to deny anything the SD Raiders attack sent at him.
After a tight middle sector of the first half, Raiders once again pounced on the counterattack on the back of a sensational solo run from Chris Bascur for 2-0.
The two main focal points in attack, Slaven Ljubola and Franco Maya continued to trade blows in front of goal through the first half.
With both men frustratingly denied by some outstanding saves, the game continued to hang in the balance.
Raiders took firm control of the contest as Bascur set up Thomas Todd for his side’s third goal. SD Raiders managed to get one back before the break as Matthew Barkho finished off a clever set play from a corner to make it 3-1.
Barkho was agonisingly denied by the bar moments later in what would be the final chance of the half and saw Raiders Futsal Club go into the halftime break up 3-1.
Starting off the second half with intent, SD Raiders quickly looked to reduce the deficit. Barkho was frustratingly denied by the bar again as SD continued to look for an answer.
Waiting for an opportunity to pounce, Bascur picked out a poorly timed back pass before surging towards the goal and sending Raiders Futsal Club to 4-1.
The lead was quickly extended to 5-1 as Medimurac expertly finished off his chance. With nothing to lose, SD Raiders sent everyone forward in search of a much-needed goal.
The persistence paid off quickly when a forceful shot deflected in off the boot of Ryan Henderson for 5-2 and set up a grandstand finish.
Spending the majority of the second half camped in the Raiders’ half, SD were left vulnerable to a quick-fire counterattack.
After missing a few chances at an empty net, Ljuboja put the result beyond doubt with his strike from within his own half to make it 6-2.
It was a disappointing result for SD Raiders with luck on their side in front of goal, as Raiders enjoyed a near perfect day on both sides of the court.
Big thanks to Dominic Criniti for putting together this report
MATCH STATS
Saturday 28 October 2023
Thomas Hassell Anglican College
Raiders Futsal Club 6 (Medimurac 2, Godoy Bascur 2, Todd, S. Ljuboja)
SD Raiders Futsal 2 (Maya, OG)
Raiders Futsal Club: 1. Ibrahim Daniel, 6. Christopher Godoy Bascur, 7. Jovan Miladinovic, 8. Goran Ljuboja, 9. Tomas Medimurac, 10. Slaven Ljuboja, 12. Terry Bradshaw, 17. Thomas Todd, 20. Jackson Jarnet, 25. Javier Morales, 30. Ryan Henderson
Yellow cards: S. Ljuboja
Red cards: nil
SD Raiders Futsal: 6. Ramiz Goria, 7. Dimi Petratos, 9. Franco Maya, 10. Matthew Barkho, 11. Ryan Baldi, 13. Simon Nicholas, 18. Ibrahim El Khoury, 30. Connor Spurway, 98. Peter Daniel
Yellow cards: Barkho
Red cards: Maya
South Coast Taipans 3 defeated Sydney City Eagles 2
South Coast Taipans won 3-2 against a gritty Sydney City Eagles side at Illawarra Hockey Centre on Saturday afternoon.
The Taipans remain at the top of the FPL2 Open Mens table after their fifth straight win but didn’t have it all their own way against the Eagles. Matthew Mazevski made it 1-0 for the hosts in the 12th minute before Markos Galla equalised late to make it 1-1 at the break.
It continued to be a tight affair in the second half between two sides hungry for semi-finals football in 2023. Taipans stretched their advantage to 3-1 after Rick Goodchild and Mazevski struck in the 33rd and 36th minute. The Eagles fought until the bitter end with Cameron Caligiuri pulling a goal back before the Eagles saw three players dismissed in the final minute.
Sydney Futsal Club 2 defeated by APIA FC Futsal 7
APIA FC Futsal won 7-2 in an entertaining game against Sydney Futsal Club at NC of Indigenous Excellence on Saturday afternoon.
The visitors bounced back with three points which keeps them in fourth spot on the FPL2 Open Mens ladder. Mark Symington put APIA FC Futsal ahead in the 11th minute before Gustav Soerensen equalised in the 14th. APIA FC Futsal took a slender lead into the break after Symington’s second made it 2-1.
APIA FC Futsal ran rampant in the second half and took the win after Sydney Futsal Club’s Bruno Lariccia was given his marching orders. Danny Martinez made it 3-1 before Christian Dos Santos added the fourth in the 33rd minute.
Martinez notched his second to make it 5-1 then Adin Scalone pulled one back for Sydney Futsal Club in the 40th minute. Martinez rounded off his superb display with his third and fourth to round off the scoring in the high scoring affair.
By Justin Davies (@JustDavies90)
