Futsal Premier League 2 Open Men’s Round 12 and 13 Previews
It is double header weekend in the Futsal Premier League 2 Open Mens competition with eight exciting futsal games across two days. This is a big weekend to help determine the top four and get us set up for the finals. Let’s get onto the preview.
Round 12:
SD Raiders Futsal vs South Coast Taipans, Saturday 2 December, 4:50pm, Thomas Hassall Anglican College
SD Raiders Futsal host South Coast Taipans in their game at Thomas Hassall Anglican College on Saturday afternoon.
The hosts were pegged back in a 5-5 draw against a spirited Phoenix Futsal Club at The Centre – Dural last weekend.
It will be an important game for SD Raiders Futsal who need three points to continue their chase of the leaders for the title.
Custodian Ryan Baldi will need to have a big game against the Taipans and try to repel their potent attack.
South Coast Taipans maintained their charge to the title after their 4-2 win against Sydney Futsal Club in the Match of the Round.
The Taipans have found goals from their whole team this season shown by Tyson Black scoring twice in the win.
This is a big weekend for South Coast Taipans because they can cement first position in the FPL2 Open Mens ladder with six points.
Sydney City Eagles vs Raiders Futsal Club, Saturday 2 December, 5pm, Morris Iemma Indoor SC
Sydney City Eagles face off against Raiders Futsal Club down at Morris Iemma Indoor SC on Saturday night.
The Eagles will want to shake off their 7-2 loss to APIA FC Futsal which was played at Valentine Sports Park last weekend.
While they might be out of the chase for the finals, Sydney City Eagles can play spoiler across the last three games.
They will also look to avenge their defeat to Raiders Futsal Club back in Round 5 and dent the visitors title hopes.
Raiders Futsal Club battled to a 5-3 win against West City Crusaders at Thomas Hassall Anglican College last Saturday.
Tomas Medimurac led the way in goalscoring for Raiders Futsal Club with 13 goals and will look to add to his tally on Saturday.
The visitors sit in third spot in the FPL2 Open Mens ladder and hope to solidify their position with three points.
Sydney Futsal Club vs Phoenix Futsal Club, Saturday 2 December, 5pm, NC of Indigenous Excellence
Sydney Futsal Club welcome Phoenix Futsal Club to NC of Indigenous Excellence for their game on Saturday night.
The hosts were beaten 4-2 in the Match of the Round against leaders South Coast Taipans last weekend.
Sydney Futsal Club showed in that game they can put together good performances and hope to provide another one on Saturday.
They will look towards Omid Mokhtar to lead the side around the pitch and add to his five goals for the season.
Phoenix Futsal Club picked up a big result in their 5-5 draw against Sydney City Eagles at The Centre – Dural last Saturday.
They will be buoyed by that point and hope to take some momentum into their final few games of the 2023 season.
Maisam Awaz scored twice in the draw and has helped to give Phoenix Futsal Club some more scoring punch in recent weeks.
APIA FC Futsal vs West City Crusaders, Saturday 2 December, 6:20pm, Valentine Sports Park
Rounding off Round 12 is APIA FC Futsal taking on West City Crusaders at Valentine Sports Park on Saturday night.
APIA FC Futsal were comfortable 7-2 winners against Sydney City Eagles at Valentine Sports Park last weekend.
The hosts regained their scoring touch last week with seven goals and remain in the FPL2 Open Mens top four.
Part of that was Christian Dos Santos scoring a hat-trick and taking his tally for the season to eight goals and looking for more.
The Crusaders surrendered a half-time lead before they lost 5-3 to Raiders Futsal Club at Thomas Hassell Anglican College.
Despite the loss, the Crusaders still have a chance at the top four and can jump over APIA FC Futsal with a win.
They will look to their top goal scorer in Stuart Gosling to lead the way. He has 14 goals for the season and ready to add to his tally.
Round 13:
Sydney Futsal Club vs Sydney City Eagles, Sunday 3 December, 4:20pm, NC of Indigenous Excellence
Kicking off Round 13 is Sydney Futsal Club against Sydney City Eagles at NC of Indigenous Excellence on Sunday afternoon.
Sydney Futsal Club had their only draw of the 2023 season in their previous game against Sydney City Eagles in a 5-5 game.
Custodian Ata Hoveidaeifar has been a rock between the sticks for Sydney Futsal Club and will need to be on form again.
Sydney City Eagles are a proud team and they will look to soar from the bottom of the FPL2 Open Mens ladder.
They will look to the dependable Robert Perre to lead the team on the pitch and help them towards a vital three points.
Raiders Futsal Club vs South Coast Taipans, Sunday 3 December, 4:30pm, Thomas Hassall Anglican College
Raiders Futsal Club take on leaders South Coast Taipans at Thomas Hassall Anglican College on Sunday afternoon.
They hope to avoid a repeat of their Round 6 game where South Coast Taipans won 9-2 down at Illawarra Hockey Centre.
Raiders Futsal Club are the reigning champions of the FPL2 Open Mens competition and hope to defend their title by making the top four.
South Coast Taipans are on the road for the rest of the regular season and hope to finish it with a flurry of wins.
Bobby Mazevski has done a wonderful job with the Taipans team and the whole club which is starting to reap the rewards in 2023.
Phoenix Futsal Club vs APIA FC Futsal, Sunday 3 December, 5:10pm, The Centre – Dural
Phoenix Futsal Club take on a surging APIA FC Futsal in their game down at The Centre – Dural on Sunday night.
The hosts will relish the chance to play spoiler against APIA FC Futsal on their home pitch and get three points.
This opposition was the team where Phoenix Futsal Club won their first game of the 2023 campaign and look to sweep the season series.
APIA FC Futsal have one of the most potent attacks in the FPL2 Open Mens competition and they will be primed to find the back of the net.
Guilherme Mazurkiewicz Pansonato is leading the Golden Boot race in the FPL2 Open Mens and looks to add to his 15 goals thus far.
West City Crusaders vs SD Raiders Futsal, Sunday 3 December, 5:20pm, PCYC Hawkesbury
Finishing off the double header weekend is West City Crusaders taking on SD Raiders Futsal at PCYC Hawkesbury.
The Crusaders lost this fixture which was featured as the Match of the Round in Round 5 and will be keen for some revenge.
Kwadwo Boahmah-Addai scored twice in their last game and he will look to push for more goals in this game.
SD Raiders Futsal got close to the grand final last season and hope they can build momentum towards another tilt this season.
Simon Nicholas has been a consistent performer for SD Raiders Futsal in 2023 and he will be key to their work on Sunday.
By Justin Davies (@JustDavies90)
