Futsal Premier League Open Women’s Round 11 Review
Five points separate our top five sides as the Futsal Premier League Open Women competition reaches the business end.
With three of the top four dropping points, next weekend’s double header weekend could be a crucial one in both the semi-finals and club championship race.
Featured Match: Enfield Allstars 2-2 Eastern Suburbs Hakoah Futsal Club
Enfield Allstars and Eastern Suburbs Hakoah shared the points in a hard-fought contest at Morris Iemma Indoor SC.
Yes, on reflection both sides felt they could’ve won it in a sometimes-feisty clash between the two sides.
The first minute of this one saw a quick chance at either end. Gisella Pipino shooting wide right for the visitors. While Enfield responded a few minutes later, Llara Llorente’s poked effort under pressure faced a similar fate soon after.
Indeed, both sides were set up well defensively early in this one as chances were hard to come by. Kathryn Mladineo next up for the hosts who couldn’t steer a header on target, the ball coming in from the right.
Ashley Purcell denied the Allstars again soon after sweeping behind the defense to deny Llara Llorente.
Hakoah responding following that when Kiara Holyoake-Caceda won the ball inside the attacking circle, her shot saved by Issabella Coelho in goal.
The breakthrough finally came in the 14th minute of play. Lorena Munoz Bravo won the ball in her own half before breaking forward and slotting home under the keeper, the finish with an attacker either side of her keeping the defense guessing.
One last chance coming for the visitors to equalize before halftime, Antonia Sharp unable to finish from close range after a substantial period of pressure.
Chances were now flowing at either end of the pitch as the second half kicked off. Former Allstar Ashley Purcell denied her old team early in the second half, Estelle Fragale with the shot this time.
Gisella Pipino having the visitors first shot soon after combining with Tamires Souza.
Their breakthrough coming on the half hour as both sides exchanged periods of pressure. Souza the scorer finishing into the bottom right of the target, Pipino with the assist on the right wing after winning the ball.
Perhaps the standouts in this one were the goalkeepers, Allstars keeper Issabella Coelho saving her side once again soon after denying Pipiino.
A save which was even more crucial as the Allstars scored a second go ahead two minutes later. Lorena Munoz Bravo scoring her second from close range, Jordan Janos with the assist.
However, with tensions rising the hosts found themselves down a player a minute later. Estelle Fragale seeing a second yellow card.
That red gave the visitors Hakoah the chance to push for a second. Their pressure eventually telling with another Tami Souza goal.
Souza showing composure taking it around the keeper before finishing past a defender on the line.
The visitors continued that momentum with a few chances late, Issabella Coelho standing tall to prevent a Hakoah winner.
Securing their third point of the season, Enfield Allstars face UTS Northside next weekend. While Eastern Suburbs Hakoah take on Mascot Vipers.
Enfield Allstars 2 (Lorena Munoz Bravo 14’ 32’)
Eastern Suburbs Hakoah 2 (Tamires Souza 30’ 36’)
Elsewhere:
Macarthur Quake Futsal 2-1 Mountain Majik Futsal Club
Macarthur Quake secured an important 2-1 victory over competition leaders Mountain Majik at Minto Indoor Sports Centre.
Led by an outstanding goalkeeping performance from Dana Buttigieg, the Quake were able to overcome the competition leaders for a crucial win.
The first half had few chances between the two sides, although those that came were good chances. Nevertheless, neither side could break through with the half time scoreline of 0-0.
That all changed with three goals in a quick flurry just before the half hour. Danielle Cannarella changed the game in the hosts’ favour with an assist for Helena Halios-Lewis who finished from an acute angle.
Quickly followed by a second for the hosts through Maddie Malone. Malone turning her marker before hitting the top corner with her shot to double their lead.
Mountain Majik weren’t going to die wondering however, Clare Holder cutting the deficit in half with another memorable goal, a toe poke finish finally beating Buttigieg in goal.
Momentum on their side, they continued to push for an equalizer, but the hosts were stoic in holding out the visitors.
Just three points separate these two going into our double header weekend. Mountain Majik next facing Dural Warriors while the Quake next take on Boomerangs FS at the same venue.
Mascot Vipers 7-5 Dural Warriors
A rampaging Mascot Vipers side scored six first half goals against Dural Warriors before seeing out a 7-5 victory at the Heffron Centre.
Needing a win to keep their charge for the final’s places going, the home side were ruthless in establishing a six-goal lead before the 17th minute. Hannah Charak the star scoring a couple of goals as well as assisting others. Trudy Camilleri scoring two with Maryam Mostaghimi and Sarah Moore also finding the back of the net.
However, Dural Warriors were able to score a momentum changing goal in the final seconds of the half through Kayla Osborn. Before Samantha Nagy, Nikkita Fazzari and Emma Hurley all scored within three minutes.
The Vipers crucially stemmed the tide to make it 7-4 before the half hour with Nikkita Fazzari scoring in the 36th minute for the Warriors to make it 7-5.
Trudy Camilleri earned a mention post-match for defensive work rate as well as scoring a brace. They featured again this weekend against the Boomerangs. While Dural Warriors take on Mountain Majik in a top three clash next weekend.
Boomerangs FS 5-2 UTS Northside Futsal Club
It was a big weekend for Boomerangs FS who scored the first of two victories in the Open Women competition over UTS Northside, Saturday afternoon.
A hard fought first half saw both clubs go into the break level. Emily Bastow opened the scoring with one for the highlights reel with a lovely outside of the foot flick goal to put the visitors ahead.
A lead which they held to the final stages of the half as the Boomerangs equalized. That goal seemingly changed the momentum, scoring again in the first minute of the second half. Boomerangs going on to pick up a crucial win. Stella and Natalie De Marco both scored a brace before Ayla Robertson rounded things out in a fantastic performance.
While Emily Bastow doubled her account for the visitors at the other end.
A shock result in the competition, Boomerangs would go on to take another crucial three points in the club championship survival race. While UTS Northside next face Enfield Allstars on their return home.
Mascot Vipers 5-9 Boomerangs FS
It was a weekend to remember for Boomerangs FS who scored a 9-5 victory over Mascot Vipers in our final round one fixture for 2023.
This one had plenty of goals with 14 all up in an enticing fixture with the Boomerangs securing a crucial victory.
In truth the game finished closer than it could have been with four of the Vipers’ goals coming in a five-minute spell where their visitors switched off. Boomerangs leading 5-0 after 25 minutes through goals to Nikita Perry, Natalie De Marco, Dianne Wilson and Ayla Robertson.
The Vipers’ four goals came from a Sarah Moore brace as well as Trudy Camilleri and Hannah Charak.
The final ten minutes seeing Dianne Wilson scored her third and fourth goal joined by Natalie De Marco who completed her hattrick. With Sarah Moore doing the same for the Vipers.
They face Eastern Suburbs Hakoah next Saturday, while Boomerangs take on Macarthur Quake in a crucial game regarding the club championship.
By Justin Smith
