Futsal Premier League 2 Open Women’s Round 8 Review
Round 8 in the Futsal Premier League 2 Open Womens competition was a weekend which saw a few shocks and strong results from the top four teams. The four games saw South Coast Taipans and Raiders Futsal Club emerge as winners. Let’s get onto the review.
Match of the Round: APIA FC Futsal 1 defeated by South Coast Taipans 9
South Coast Taipans were 9-1 winners against APIA FC Futsal down at Valentine Sports Park on Saturday afternoon.
That is the Taipans fourth straight win and moves them within a point of the leaders. It was doubles all round for the visitors with Ashley Kotevski, Bronte Pyke, Bronte Trew and Nicole Besz all scoring twice while Jordan Baker thrashed one an effort.
APIA FC Futsal were down on troops but fought valiantly until the final whistle. They did find a late consolation goal to Lauren Featherstone in the 36th minute. The hosts remain in third spot on the FPL2 Open Womens ladder.
This was a game between second and third on the FPL2 Open Womens ladder and it was a key game to help them cement their top four hopes.
The Taipans were rolling from the opening whistle. Ashley Kotevski was alert from the kick in and fired home to make it 1-0.
APIA FC Futsal started to find their rhythm and registered their first shot. Lauren Featherstone unfurled an effort then followed up with another.
The visitors surged forward in search of their second goal. Jordan Baker which were stopped by APIA FC Futsal shot stopper Jessica Urquhart.
Taipans find their second goal in the 12th minute. Bronte Pyke had a determined effort which saw her sweep home and make it 2-0.
It was a good minute for goal scorers named Bronte. Trew got involved in the scoring when she curled home to make it 3-0.
Taipans were in full flow and they almost opened up APIA FC Futsal for the fourth. It was a slick move which ended with Nicole Besz hitting the post.
APIA FC Futsal went close to opening their account through Isabelle Antoniou. She drove down the field before she scooped the shot over the bar.
The visitors ended the half with a pair of goals which made it 5-0. Trew was on hand to sweep home then Besz tapped home in the 18th minute.
Coming out of the break, Taipans felt just fine. Baker got herself on the scoresheet with a scorching effort which rattled the net for 6-0.
Taipans kept pushing forward for more goals. Kotevski picked up her second in the 26th minute for 7-0 then Pyke doubled her delight for the eighth goal.
Caitlin Russell tried to get in the act with her attempts. She had a pair of efforts which fizzed wide of the mark.
The visitors added a ninth goal in the 34th minute. It was another slick movement which ended with Besz tapping home at the far post for 9-0.
APIA FC Futsal did get a consolation goal in the 36th minute. Lauren Featherstone drove forward and curved the ball into the net for 9-1.
South Coast Taipans coach Bobby Mazevski was delighted with the performance from his team including a few well worked goals:
“I thought we dominated from start to finish in this game. We played a bit of futsal in the game and scored some good goals from it. I am disappointed to concede the goal but considering we lost to them back in Round 1, I am pleased.” said Mazevski.
APIA FC Futsal’s Jonas Rodrigues reflected on the game and how the undermanned team performed against one of the leading teams:
“We were very down without players tonight and we brought up some of the youth players. There was not much for us to and it was a tough opponent for us to deal with.” said Rodrigues.
MATCH STATS
Saturday 4 November 2023
Valentine Sports Park
APIA FC Futsal 1 (Featherstone ‘36)
South Coast Taipans 9 (Kotevski ‘1, ‘26 Pyke ‘12, 30 Trew ‘12, ‘17 Besz ‘18, ‘35 Baker ‘23)
APIA FC Futsal: 3. Zoe Zaczek, 6. Rosie Sullivan, 8. Lauren Featherstone, 12. Isabelle Antoniou, 13. Saskia Emery, 17. Claudia Pickett, 20. Jessica Urquhart,
Yellow cards: nil
Red cards: nil
South Coast Taipans: 2. Nicole Besz, 4. Ashley Kotevski, 5. Jordan Baker, 7. Ebony Freeman, 8. Bronte Pyke, 9. Bronte Trew, 10. Lulu Lozano, 11. Poppy Johnson, 24. Caitlin Russell
Yellow cards: nil
Red cards: nil
SD Raiders Futsal 4 drew with Sydney City Eagles 4
SD Raiders Futsal and Sydney City Eagles had a 4-4 draw in their game at Thomas Hassall Anglican College on Saturday afternoon.
It is a point which benefits the Eagles more than SD Raiders Futsal who remain on the outside looking in for the top four. The visitors scored first through Kelsea Nash in the 3rd minute and held firm for much of the first half.
They did lose Jorja Smith to a red card in the 16th minute while having an outfield player between the sticks after an injury. SD Raiders Futsal fired home twice through Maritsa Tamayo and Rojin Polat to lead 2-1 going into the break.
The second half was an exciting affair between the finals chasing sides. Tayla Garifalakis made it 3-1 for the hosts before Melina Manna pulled one back in the 28th minute. Georgia Bromfield restored the advantage then the Eagles swooped late through Jamaica Marshall and Tania Baban to rescue a point in an entertaining game.
West City Crusaders 4 drew with Sydney Futsal Club 4
Points were shared in a dramatic 4-4 draw between West City Crusaders and Sydney Futsal Club at PCYC Hawkesbury on Saturday afternoon.
Sydney Futsal Club remain on top of the FPL2 Open Womens ladder by a single point after their dramatic draw against the Crusaders. The visitors opened the scoring through Emily Fenn in the second minute before Abbey Harrison equalised for Sydney Futsal Club. Crusaders took a 2-1 lead into the break after Grace Chambers strike.
The leaders came out of the block firing and turned the game around. Leila Szszepanik equalised in the 24th minute then a pair of goals from Liana Calabro made it 4-1. Fenn was the hero for the Crusaders with her two goals which completed her hat-trick and got the Crusaders a point.
Phoenix Futsal Club 0 defeated by Raiders Futsal Club 7
Raiders Futsal Club won 7-0 against Phoenix Futsal Club in their game at The Centre – Dural on Saturday afternoon.
The result keeps Raiders Futsal Club in the hunt for the top four and gives them a boost to their goal difference. It is also their third win of the FPL2 Open Womens season and moves them into sixth spot on the ladder.
Raiders Futsal Club shared the scoring around in the one-sided win. Nicole Ossio starred for the side with a hat-trick while Gemma Morgan scored twice. Olivia Burke and Rebecca Norman rounded out the scoring with a goal each.
By Justin Davies (@JustDavies90)
