Futsal Premier League 2 Open Women’s Round 11 Review
Round 11 in the Futsal Premier League 2 Open Womens competition was another highlight filled weekend of action. There was a top of the table clash to enjoy alongside some other quality games on Saturday. Let’s get onto the review.
Match of the Round: Sydney Futsal Club 2 defeated by South Coast Taipans 3
South Coast Taipans won 3-2 in a pulsating game against Sydney Futsal Club at NC of Indigenous Excellence on Saturday afternoon.
The win puts one hand on the Championship for South Coast Taipans. They hold a four-point advantage over the hosts with three games to play. Lulu Lozano led the way with a pair of goals while Jordan Baker scored the opener.
Sydney Futsal Club battled hard but couldn’t get anything from the contest. Layla Hamdan equalised for them in the first half then Mia Nataly brought them back within one with her goal in the 27th minute to set up a grandstand finish.
Both Sydney Futsal Club and South Coast Taipans headed onto the NC of Indigenous Excellence pitch looking for success in this top of the table clash.
The Taipans came firing out of the blocks. Jordan Baker had a shot in the first minute which Sydney Futsal Club shotstopper Natalie Milenkovski tipped over.
Sydney Futsal Club responded with a pair of shots of their own. Cynthia Coghlan turned wide then Leila Szszepanik shot right at Taipans keeper Caitlin Russell.
Chances continued to flow between the two teams. Annalise Schiraldi poked wide for the hosts and Baker was denied again for the Taipans.
Milenkovski was called upon again to keep the game at 0-0. She made two superb saves from the potent Taipans attack.
Taipans did make it 1-0 in the 8th minute. The ball was scrambling around the box and Baker was on hand to thrash the ball home.
The hosts pushed forward looking for the equaliser. Liana Calabro had a chance then Zoe Henderson volleyed wide from a kick-in.
Sydney Futsal Club kept finding opportunities from the kick-in. Nataly nodded over from it then she was denied on the break.
They did find an equaliser in the 15th minute. It was a good combination move from Sydney Futsal Club which saw Layla Hamdan fire home for 1-1.
The Taipans responded immediately to make it 2-1. Lulu Lozano was on the end of the move and arrowed into the bottom corner in the 17th minute.
Sydney Futsal Club went close to another equaliser. They whipped the ball around the pitch before Henderson fizzed wide.
South Coast Taipans made it 3-1 just before half-time. It was Lozano again who rolled home in the 19th minute for her second goal.
The hosts tried to work back in the game early in the second half. Szszepanik was found with a well-timed pass and shot right at Russell.
Sydney Futsal Club did pull one back in the 27th minute. Annika Hansen stole the ball from a defender and played in Nataly to shoot home for 3-2.
That lit a fire in the hosts who tried to roar back and equalise. Calabro hit the post with a free kick then Nataly shot straight.
The final chance for Sydney Futsal Club fell to Calabro. She found some space and volleyed her effort wide of the mark.
South Coast Taipans held on for a vital win and move closer to taking home the FPL2 Open Womens title.
MATCH STATS
Saturday 25 November 2023
NC of Indigenous Excellence
Sydney Futsal Club 2 (Hamdan ‘15 Nataly ‘27)
South Coast Taipans 3 (Baker ‘8 Lozano ‘17 ‘20)
Sydney Futsal Club: 1. Natalie Milenkovski, 3. Charlotte Heath, 6. Liana Calabro, 7. Mia Nataly, 8. Layla Hamdan, 12. Jetta Cootee, 13. Abbey Harrison, 14. Cynthia Coghlan, 16. Annika Hansen, 17. Leila Szszepanik, 18. Annalise Schiraldi, 29. Neisha Monteleone, 35. Zoe Henderson
Yellow cards: Henderson Hamdan
Red cards: nil
South Coast Taipans: 2. Nicole Besz, 4. Ashley Kotevsi, 5. Jordan Baker, 9. Bronte Trew, 10. Lulu Lozano, 14. Romany Janssens, 15. Sofia Kent, 24. Caitlin Russell
Yellow cards: Trew Lozano
Red cards: nil
Raiders Futsal Club 3 defeated West City Crusaders 2
Raiders Futsal Club won 3-2 against a dogged West City Crusaders side at Thomas Hassall Anglican College on Saturday afternoon.
They kept their chase for the top four alive with these three points at home. Gemma Bartolillo set the tone in the first minute with her goal to make it 1-0 Raiders Futsal Club. Jessica Burke doubled their delight in the 2nd minute before Charlotte Owen pulled one back to 2-1 for Crusaders going to half-time.
The second half was a tense affair between two sides chasing a win. Both goals came in the same minute being the 30th. Emily Fenn levelled up the game at 2-2 for the Crusaders then Burke found the winner for the hosts right after.
Phoenix Futsal Club 2 drew with SD Raiders Futsal 2
It was honours even between Phoenix Futsal Club and SD Raiders Futsal in their 2-2 draw at The Centre – Dural on Saturday afternoon.
It is a missed opportunity for SD Raiders Futsal to leap back into the FPL2 Open Womens top four after their fifth draw of the season. The visitors did open the scoring through Abigail Boag in the 2nd minute before Laura Wilson tied it up for Phoenix Futsal Club for 1-1 at the break.
Both teams fought hard to take three points in the second half. SD Raiders Futsal looked to have secured it with Rojin Polat’s goal in the 35th minute which made it 2-1. Wilson was the late hero for Phoenix Futsal Club and earned them a point.
APIA FC Futsal 9 defeated Sydney City Eagles 5
APIA FC Futsal were 9-5 winners against Sydney City Eagles at Valentine Sports Park on Saturday afternoon.
Most of the damage for APIA FC Futsal was done in the first half. Taiana Almeida Silva opened up the scoring in the second minute followed by Kalize Jarvis in the 7th minute. Lauren Featherstone made it 3-0 before Maya Abidin and Featherstone again completed the first half scoring.
The Eagles came soaring out from half-time and cut into the deficit. Kelsea Nash and Alessia Perre both found the back of the net for 4-2. They brought it back to 5-4 with Nash netting her second and Jorja Smith scoring.
APIA FC Futsal regained control of the game in this open contest. Silva scored her second alongside Featherstone completing her hat-trick. An Own goal and one from Alyssa Thomson made it 9-4 before a late Melina Manna goal rounded out the scoreline.
By Justin Davies (@JustDavies90)
