Futsal Premier League 2 Open Women’s Round 7 Review
Round 7 in the Futsal Premier League 2 Open Womens was another thrilling weekend of action which saw the top four continue to roll ahead. The four matches saw wins for SD Raiders Futsal, South Coast Taipans, Sydney Futsal Club and West City Crusaders. Let’s get onto the review.
Match of the Round: Raiders Futsal Club 3 defeated by SD Raiders Futsal 4
SD Raiders Futsal held off a fast-finishing Raiders Futsal Club for a 4-3 win at Thomas Hassall Anglican College on Saturday afternoon.
Raiders Futsal Club will be disappointed to not take anything from the contest after their late surge got them back into it. Gemma Bartolillo tallied twice in the loss while Rebecca Norman struck in the first half.
That is back-to-back positive results for SD Raiders Futsal who sit on the edge of finals contention. Jessica Neville pulled the strings again with two goals while Dione King and Abigail Boag were the other scorers in the win.
It was a relatively even start to the game with the defences coming out on top in the opening stages.
The opening goal of the game came six minutes in as Jessica Neville put the ball on a platter Abigail Boag to make it 1-0 in the eighth minute.
After making several saves to keep her side ahead SD Raiders Futsal custodian Elana Topalidis was finally beaten in the 11th minute by the hosts.
It was a sensational solo run from Rebecca Norman which put her through on goal where she neatly picked out the bottom corner to make it 1-1.
With the game held at a deadlock, the introduction of Dione King sparked a period of attacking dominance for SD Raiders.
Leading her side going forward, King found the back of the net to give SD Raiders Futsal a 2-1 lead and was unlucky to not have doubled her tally before the half ended.
King’s opposite number, Nicole Ossio was crucial in keeping the deficit to just one, making three goal line clearances as the first half came to an end.
Heading into to break up 2-1, SD Raiders were firmly in the driver’s seat and looked set to inflict more pain in the second half.
Neville got the second half off on the right track for SD Raiders, getting a well-deserved goal in the opening stages after capitalising on a defensive mistake for 3-1.
SD Raiders continued their dominate start and made it 4-1 as Neville bagged a quick fire double on the back of some stellar buildup play.
With the game hanging in the balance, another inspirational clearance from Ossio sparked a promising counterattack that led to Raiders’ second goal of the day for Gemma Bartolillo making it 4-2.
Surging forward with intent, Ossio set up again Bartolillo with a near open net to give Raiders a chance at a memorable comeback at 4-3.
With the seconds ticking away, Raiders went all out in search of a fourth goal. Raiders were left to rue a couple of missed chances in the final moments as, SD Raiders held on for a 4-3 win
Big thanks to Dominic Criniti for putting together this report
MATCH STATS
Saturday 28 October 2023
Thomas Hassall Anglican College
Raiders Futsal Club 3 (Norman ‘10 Bartolillo ‘30, ‘35)
SD Raiders Futsal 4 (Boag ‘8 King ‘12 Neville ‘21, ‘28)
Raiders Futsal Club: 2. Jasmine Crouch, 3. Jessica Burke, 5. Nicole Ossio, 7. Gemma Bartolillo, 10. Olivia Burke, 11. Niamh Nolan, 13. Alicia Bartolillo, 14. Rebecca Norman, 20. Ivana Franulovic
Yellow cards: Ossio
Red cards: nil
SD Raiders Futsal: 5. Dione King, 6. Angelina Powell, 10. Jessica Neville, 12. Aleesha Santos, 15. Maritsa Tamayo, 21. Elana Topalidis, 23. Georgia Bromfield, 24. Tayla Garifalakis, 30. Delta Garifalakis, 33. Abigail Boag
Yellow cards: nil
Red cards: nil
South Coast Taipans 3 defeated Sydney City Eagles 2
South Coast Taipans won 3-2 against a dogged Sydney City Eagles team at Illawarra Hockey Centre on Saturday afternoon.
The Taipans recorded their fourth straight win on the bounce to consolidate their spot in the FPL2 Open Womens top two. There was only one goal in the first half which came from Taipans Jordan Baker to make it 1-0 at the break.
Sydney City Eagles flew out of the blocks in the second half and equalised in the 24th minute through Kelsea Nash. Taipans nudged ahead again through Lulu Lozano before Sheiden Jabour made it 2-2 in the 32nd minute. It was the hosts who took home three points after Bronte Trew found the back of the net in the 36th minute.
Sydney Futsal Club 4 defeated APIA FC Futsal 2
Leaders Sydney Futsal Club won 4-2 against APIA FC Fustal down at NC of Indigenous Excellence on Saturday afternoon.
The train continues to roll on for Sydney Futsal Club who notched up their fourth win in succession and remain at the top of the ladder. The hosts took a 1-0 lead into the break after a tight affair due to Liana Calabro’s ninth minute strike.
APIA FC Futsal equalised early in the second half through Isabelle Antoniou to make it 1-1. A pair of goals from Annalise Schiraldi in the 25th and 27th minute put Sydney Futsal Club ahead 3-1 before Mia Nataly stretched it to a three-goal lead. Walsh scored a late consolation for APIA FC Futsal to round out the scoring.
West City Crusaders 4 defeated Phoenix Futsal Club 2
West City Crusaders were 4-2 winners against Phoenix Futsal Club down at PCYC Hawkesbury on Saturday afternoon.
The Crusaders pick up their first win of the campaign on their home pitch. They took the lead through Emily Fenn in the 13th minute before Phoenix equalised from an own goal then completed the turnaround through Chaeli De Brincat for 2-1. Paris Vinuya made sure the teams went into the break locked up after her goal in the 19th minute for Crusaders made it 2-2.
All the goal scoring in the second half came from the home side. Grace Chambers found the back of the net in the 21st and 33rd minute for a 4-2 lead. Phoenix Futsal Club were down on troops but battled until the final whistle.
By Justin Davies (@JustDavies90)
