Futsal Premier League 2 Open Women’s Round 14 Review
Round 14 in the Futsal Premier League 2 Open Womens competition ended the regular season with another fantastic weekend of futsal. Saturday featured three games which saw the top four all play each other in a warmup for next week. Let’s get onto the review.
Match of the Round: APIA FC Futsal 2 drew with Sydney Futsal Club 2
Points were shared in a 2-2 draw between APIA FC Futsal and Sydney Futsal Club at Valentine Sports Park on Saturday afternoon.
APIA FC Futsal will take a boost into the rematch next weekend after coming back from 2-0 down to earn a point. Alyssa Walsh and Isabelle Antoniou both scored in the second half in what shapes up as a finals preview.
For Sydney Futsal Club, they might regret a chance to add another win to their season tally after a good regular campaign. Leila Szszepanik gave them the perfect start to make it 1-0 then Liana Calabro found the back of the net in the 12th minute.
Both APIA FC Futsal and Sydney Futsal Club headed onto the pitch at Valentine Sports Park looking to end the regular season with three points.
Sydney Futsal Club had the best start to the game and scored in the first minute. Leila Szszepanik unfurled a shot which rattled the bar and went in for 1-0.
APIA FC Futsal tried to answer back with a shot of their own. Claudia Pickett drove down the pitch and forced Sydney shot stopper Natalie Milenkovski into a save.
The visitors remained on the front foot to double their advantage. Szszepanki couldn’t clean up a rebound then Neisha Monteleone toe poked wide.
APIA FC Futsal kept up trying to find the equaliser. Kalize Jarvis strode through on goal and her toe poke hit the base of the post.
Sydney Futsal Club made it 2-0 in the 12th minute. Liana Calabro turned well and fired her shot into the net for her 10th of the season.
The hosts pushed forward to end the first half and find a goal. Zoe Zaczek had an effort quickly followed by Jarvis whistling one wide.
APIA FC Futsal had one final chance to end the first half. Zoe Zaczek was set up well but she was denied by Milenkovski.
Coming out of the break, APIA FC Futsal felt just fine. Angelina Foley was denied quickly followed by Zaczek having another effort.
Sydney Futsal Club pushed forward to score a third and end the game. Cynthia Coghlan cut inside her defender and shot straight.
APIA FC Futsal peppered the chances to get on the board. They had a pair of chances saved by Milenkovski then Eliana Tzouganatos was denied on the break.
They did make it 2-1 in the 31st minute. Tzouganatos battled through the defence and arrowed into the bottom corner.
Sydney Futsal Club tried to restore their advantage quickly. Monteleone strode forward and had her effort pushed away.
APIA FC Futsal drew level in the 37th minute. Lauren Featherstone snatched the ball and played it to Isabelle Antoniou who fired home for 2-2.
The game had a fast pace in the final few minutes. Zaczek had an effort punched away then Featherstone was denied.
Sydney Futsal Club had one more chance through Calabro. She unfurled a shot which fizzed wide of the mark as the teams ended the game 2-2.
MATCH STATS
Saturday 9 December 2023
Valentine Sports Park
APIA FC Futsal 2 (Walsh ‘32 Antoniou ‘37)
Sydney Futsal Club 2 (Szszepanik ‘1 Calabro ‘12)
APIA FC Futsal: 3. Zoe Zaczek, 8. Lauren Featherstone, 12. Isabelle Antoniou, 15. Angelina Foley, 17. Claudia Pickett, 18. Kalize Jarvis, 20. Paige Cuthill, 21. Alyssa Walsh, 31. Eliana Tzouganatos
Yellow cards: nil
Red cards: nil
Sydney Futsal Club: 1. Natalie Milenkovski, 3. Charlotte Heath, 6. Liana Calabro, 7. Mia Nataly, 8. Layla Hamdan, 9. Bailey Buckby, 11. Zoe Browne, 13. Leila Szszepanik, 14. Cynthia Coghlan, 18. Annalise Schiraldi, 28. Neisha Monteleone
Yellow cards: nil
Red cards: nil
Sydney City Eagles 2 defeated by South Coast Taipans 4
South Coast Taipans won 4-2 against a dogged Sydney City Eagles side at Morris Iemma Indoor SC on Saturday afternoon.
The Taipans rounded off their impressive regular season with their twelfth win of the campaign. All the scoring in the first half came in the final five minutes. Nicole Besz gave Taipans the lead before goals from Jorja Smith and Sheiden Jabour put the Eagles ahead 2-1 at the break.
They were made to work for the three points, but Taipans broke down the Eagles defence in the final ten minutes. Poppy Johnson tied the game at 2-2 in the 32nd minute then Bronte Pyke and Sofia Kent confirmed the win for the Taipans.
Phoenix Futsal Club 5 defeated by West City Crusaders 6
West City Crusaders won 6-5 against Phoenix Futsal Club down at The Centre – Dural on Saturday afternoon.
The Crusaders end their season on a high with another win. Phoenix Futsal Club scored first through Grace Gilhawley before Crusaders struck twice through Paris Vinuya and Tia Berg for 2-1.
It was an entertaining first half which ended up at 4-4. Ashley Limnios scored twice for Phoenix Futsal Club alongside Anjelica Williams then Crusaders drew level through Vinuya and Franks.
The second half was a tight affair between two teams trying to end on a high. Limnios completed her hat-trick for 5-4 Phoenix Futsal Club. Grace Chambers levelled again at five then Vinuya made it three goals for herself and three points for Crusaders at 6-5.
SD Raiders Futsal vs Raiders Futsal Club was cancelled due to extreme heat
By Justin Davies (@JustDavies90)
