Futsal Premier League 2 Open Women’s Round 9 Review
We have a new leader in the Futsal Premier League 2 Open Womens competition after an intense Round 9 was completed. South Coast Taipans lead the way after their win in a weekend which featured three fantastic futsal matches. Let’s get onto the review.
Match of the Round: Sydney Futsal 6 drew with SD Raiders Futsal 6
Sydney Futsal Club and SD Raiders Futsal shared the points in a thrilling 6-6 draw at Thomas Hassall Anglican College on Saturday afternoon.
The draw could be a big point for Sydney Futsal Club at the end of the season coming back from being 6-2 down in the second half. Charlotte Heath and Liana Calabro got braces in the draw while Leila Szszepanik and Abbey Harrison also found the back of the net.
SD Raiders Futsal might rue two dropped points in their chase for the top four after having such a solid lead in the game. Rojin Polat led the way with a hat-trick while Jessica Neville scored twice and there was an own goal.
It was the visitors who had the first chance of the contest. Rojin Polat whipped her shot from the kick-in against the post in a warning shot.
Sydney Futsal Club struck first in the 2nd minute. Annalise Schiraldi put the ball on a plate for Leila Szszepanik to tap home for 1-0.
SD Raiders Futsal responded with a goal to Jessica Neville. She finished off a slick move in the 3rd minute to make it 1-1.
The visitors took the lead soon after through Polat. She showed off some quick feet to beat her defender then arrowed home to make it 2-1 for SD Raiders Futsal.
Chances continued to pile up for both teams. Abigail Boag forced Sydney Futsal Club keeper Natalie Milenkovski into a stop then Jetta Cootee responded for the hosts.
SD Raiders Futsal made it 3-1 in the 8th minute. Again, Polat weaved past the defence before she rolled home for her second goal of the game.
They remained in firm control and made it 4-1 in the 16th minute. Neville found some space and found the back of the net.
Sydney Futsal Club tried to get themselves back in the contest late in the first half. Schiraldi tapped wide from good work by Charlotte Heath.
The task did get harder for Sydney Futsal Club when Cynthia Coghlan saw red after a handball when she was trying to defend a shot.
Milenkovski kept the game at 4-1 headed into the break. She stood tall from the penalty kick and denied Abigail Boag to a huge cheer from the home fans.
Coming out of the break, SD Raiders Futsal felt just fine. Polat made it 5-1 with a lovely volley after a good team move in the 24th minute.
Sydney Futsal Club had an immediate response through Heath. She fired into the back of the net to make it 5-2.
SD Raiders Futsal added a sixth from the spot eventually. Neville scored the goal on the third time of asking after the first was chalked off for encroachment then the second was taken quickly but it was 6-2 for the visitors.
The hosts didn’t drop their head after conceding and kept fighting for something from the game. They pulled a goal back through Liana Calabro for 6-3.
That gave Sydney Futsal Club belief and they used that to make it 6-4 in the 34th minute. This time it was Heath who slammed home from close range.
All the momentum was with Sydney Futsal Club. Schiraldi snatched the ball from the defence and whistled one wide.
Sydney Futsal Club set the game up for a grandstand finish in the 35th minute. Calabro had a penalty and fired home to make it 6-5.
The comeback was complete soon after. Harrison with some dogged work to chase down the ball, stuck a leg in and poked the ball home to make it 6-6.
Both teams had chances to snatch a late winner. Harrison again was central to the action after hitting the side netting with a shot then Neville shot over for SD Raiders Futsal.
The final whistle meant everyone could take a breath after a pulsating game of futsal which ended 6-6 between two quality sides.
MATCH STATS
Saturday 11 November 2023
NC of Indigenous Excellence
Sydney Futsal Club 6 (Szszepanik ‘2 Heath ‘24 ‘34 Calabro ‘31 ‘35 Harrison ‘35)
SD Raiders Futsal 6 (Neville ‘3 ‘25 Polat ‘6 ‘8 ‘24 OG ‘16)
Sydney Futsal Club: 1. Natalie Milenkovski, 3. Charlotte Heath, 6. Liana Calabro, 7. Mia Nataly, 10. Mya Callil, 12. Jetta Cootee, 13. Abbey Harrison, 14. Cynthia Coghlan, 16. Annika Hansen, 17. Leila Szszepanik, 18. Annalise Schiraldi, 29. Neisha Monteleone
Yellow cards: Schiraldi
Red cards: Coghlan
SD Raiders Futsal: 4. Rojin Polat, 6. Angelina Powell, 7. Natalie Randall, 10. Jessica Neville, 12. Caitlin Britton, 13. Aleesha Santos, 21. Elana Topalidis, 23. Georgia Bromfield, 24. Tayla Garifalakis, 30. Delta Garifalakis, 33. Abigail Boag
Yellow cards: Polat
Red cards: nil
Raiders Futsal Club 3 defeated by APIA FC Futsal 4
APIA FC Futsal inched past Raiders Futsal Club 4-3 at Thomas Hassall Anglican College on Saturday afternoon.
The visitors bounce back from two straight defeats for an important three points in their chase for finals football this season. APIA FC Futsal started off with a bang as Rosie Sullivan and Zoe Zaczek scored in the first two minutes. Ivana Franulovic brought it back to 2-1 late in the first half for Raiders Futsal Club.
Raiders Futsal Club came out of the break and felt just fine. Nicole Ossio made it 2-2 in the 22nd minute with her ninth goal of the season. Taiana Almeida Silva put APIA FC Futsal back ahead then Angelina Foley made it 4-2 in the 31st minute. Jessica Burke scored for Raiders Futsal Club to make it 4-3 and set up a grandstand finish but APIA FC Futsal held on for the win.
West City Crusaders 0 defeated by South Coast Taipans 12
South Coast Taipans thumped West City Crusaders 12-0 in their game at PCYC Hawkesbury on Saturday afternoon.
The Taipans move back to the top of the FPL2 Open Womens ladder with this crushing win on their travels to Windsor. Bronte Pyke made it 1-0 in the fourth minute before she added a second within the same minute. Bronte Trew and Lulu Lozano both found the back of the net for a 4-0 half-time lead.
It was all Taipans in the second half as they romped to their seventh win of the campaign. Ebony Freeman made it 5-0 in the 27th minute before it was the Lozano show. She fired home three times to make it four goals on the day for her followed by a double for Nicole Besz. Lozano added a fifth in the 38th minute alongside a second goal from Trew.
Sydney City Eagles vs Phoenix Futsal Club was postponed
By Justin Davies (@JustDavies90)
