Futsal Premier League 2 Open Men’s Round 8 Review
Round 8 in the Futsal Premier League 2 Open Mens competition was filled with goals and drama across the four games across Saturday. The wins for SD Raiders Futsal, Sydney Futsal Club and Raiders Futsal Club helped to shake out the top four. Let’s get onto the review.
Match of the Round: APIA FC Futsal 6 drew with South Coast Taipans 6
It was honours even for APIA FC Futsal and South Coast Taipans in their 6-6 draw at Valentine Sports Park on Saturday night.
APIA FC Futsal had the lead several times in the contest but will be frustrated not to take all three points in the game. Guilherme Mazurkievicz Pansonato led the way with a hat-trick while Danny Martinez registered a double and Arthur Demberi rounded off the scoring.
For South Coast Taipans, they showed their spirit in the draw but also held a lead late in the game which might’ve seen them through. Jyden Harb led the way with a brace which included a superb back heel alongside goals from Ricky Goodchild, Adam Voloder, Matthew Mazevski and Giovanni Panuccio.
This was first facing off against second in the FPL2 Open Mens competition and the contest lived up to the billing across the 40 minutes.
South Coast Taipans were on the front foot from the opening whistle, holding the ball well before Adam Voloder curled one wide of the mark.
APIA FC Futsal were patient in their build up which led to their opening goal. It was a determined effort from Danny Martinez who toed home on the second chance for 1-0.
The Taipans went close through Giovanni Panuccio who was denied by APIA FC Futsal keeper Joshua Da Palma from close range.
They did find an equaliser in the 7th minute. It was a wonderful finish from Jyden Harb who backheeled the ball home for 1-1.
Both teams kept the tempo high with chances at either end of the pitch. Italo Wanderley poked wide for APIA FC Fustal then Harrison James drove forward and was denied for Taipans.
The hosts restored their lead again through Martinez. He was on the spot to nod home to make it 2-1 in the 12th minute.
Taipans once again hit back in the 14th minute. Ricky Goodchild found some space and arrowed into the bottom corner to make it 2-2.
APIA FC Futsal took the lead for the third time in the game in the 17th minute. Guilherme Mazurkievicz Pansonato thrashed home from some Wanderley work for 3-2.
It felt like a tennis match as the Taipans again found the equaliser. It was a solo effort from Adam Voloder who turned and fired into the net for 3-3.
The teams traded chances late in the first half but went into the break level. Welkson Souza Bispo rattled the bar then Panuccio had a free kick deflect wide.
Coming out of the break, Taipans felt fine. James used some good footwork to separate from his defender and hit the base of the post.
Pansonato tried to put APIA FC Futsal back in the lead with a solo effort. He weaved past the Taipans defence but was denied by Taipans Brandon Groom.
They did take the lead in the 24th minute. Arthur Demberi was on the end of a slick move and slammed home to make it 4-3.
The pattern of the game continued in the second half with quick response goals. Harb started the move at midfield then tapped home for 4-4 in the 27th minute.
APIA FC Futsal turned to their main man to get the lead back. Pansonato hit the crossbar in his attempt to put them back ahead.
Taipans took their first lead through Matthew Mazevski. He found some space before he drilled the ball into the bottom corner for 5-4 in the 29th minute.
Wanderley helped to put APIA FC Futsal back on level terms. He snatched the ball and laid it off to Pansonato to roll home for 5-5.
The visitors dug deep and fired home their sixth goal in the 31st minute. Panuccio was played into space and kissed the ball off the post to make it 6-5.
APIA FC Futsal went for the extra attacker to look for the equaliser. They remained patient in their movement then struck through Pansonato in the 39th minute for 6-6.
Speaking post-match APIA FC Futsal’s Jonas Rodrigues reflected on a tough game for his side where they managed a draw:
“I think we played much better in the game and we punished the opponents when we could. They came at us very tough with fouls and stopped Pansonato. It was a tough game between two of the top teams in the competition and I think our boys did well.” said Rodrigues.
For South Coast Taipans coach Bobby Mazevski he was delighted with the effort from his side and taking home a point:
“We have come a long way as a team showing great character, having come from behind four times. To be fair, I don’t think either side deserved to lose, and a draw was a fitting result for what was a pulsating encounter.” said Mazevsi.
MATCH STATS
Saturday 4 November 2023
Valentine Sports Park
APIA FC Futsal 6 (Martinez ‘2, 12 Pansonato ‘17, ‘29, ‘39 Demberi ‘24)
South Coast Taipans 6 (Goodchild ‘14 Voloder ‘18 Harb ‘7, ‘27 Mazevski ‘29 Panuccio ‘36)
APIA FC: 2. Arthur Demberi, 3. Shaun Irwin, 5. Italo Wanderley, 7. Guilherme Mazurkievicz Pansonato, 8. Welkson Souza Bispo, 11. Luiz Claudio Dos Santos Pereira Filho, 15. Christian Dos Santos, 17. Danny Martinez, 99. Joshua Da Palma
Yellow cards: Pansonato Martinez
Red cards: nil
South Coast Taipans: 1. Brandon Groom, 2. Riley Nicholl, 3. Adam Voloder, 4. Tyson Black, 5. Matthew Mazevski, 8. Rick Goodchild, 16. Daniel Merola, 17. Jyden Harb, 24. Harrison James, 33. Giovanni Panuccio
Yellow cards: Panuccio
Red cards: nil
SD Raiders Futsal 10 defeated Sydney City Eagles 8
SD Raiders Futsal won 10-8 in a pulsating game against Sydney City Eagles at Thomas Hassall Anglican College on Saturday afternoon.
The hosts bounced back from their Match of the Round defeat with a strong performance which moved them into second spot on the ladder. Simon Nicholas led the way with four goals while Matias Paz got a hat-trick on his return while Matthew Barkho, Peter Daniel and youngster Phoenix Molloy were the other goal scorers.
Sydney City Eagles battled hard and were close to taking something from the game. Bruno Antelmi, Anthony Tomelic and Dean Pelekanos all scored twice. Michael Cimino and Peter Pelekanos chipped in with a goal each in the defeat.
West City Crusaders 2 defeated by Sydney Futsal Club 10
Sydney Futsal Club thumped West City Crusaders 10-2 in their game at PCYC Hawkesbury on Saturday afternoon.
The visitors picked up their second win of the season and kept their finals hopes alive in the process. Sydney Futsal Club did most of their damage in the first half. Adin Scalone opened the scoring then Lucas Bond doubled the delight. Scalone added a second to make it 3-0 then Praniel Manandhar, Dion Kellis and Omid Mokhtar rounded it to 6-0.
They kept their foot on the pedal in the second half. Mokhtar made it 7-0 then Scalone completed his hat-trick in the 23rd minute. Crusaders did pull back two goals through Kurt Elborough and Benjamin Lam to make it 8-2. Mokhtar then completed his hat-trick in the 30th minute and Scalone put the icing on the win with his fourth goal for 10-2.
Phoenix Futsal Club 3 defeated by Raiders Futsal Club 4
Raiders Futsal Club won 4-3 against a dogged Phoenix Futsal Club at The Centre – Dural on Saturday night.
The result helps Raiders Futsal Club back into the top four and helps break the logjam they were involved in for the semi-finals. Phoenix Futsal Club fought until the final whistle and their goals came from Richard Lee, Daanish Awaz and Maisam Awaz in the defeat.
For Raiders Futsal Club, it makes it back-to-back wins for the defending Champions and gets them on track. The goals for the visitors were scored by captain Slaven Ljuboja, Thomas Todd, Luis Ferreira and Jovan Miladinovic in an intense contest.
By Justin Davies (@JustDavies90)
