Futsal Premier League 2 Open Women’s Semi-Finals Review
There were two pulsating semi-finals in the Futsal Premier League 2 Open Women’s competition which has set up our Grand Final match-up. It will see South Coast Taipans face off against APIA FC Futsal on Sunday afternoon.
Semi-final 1: South Coast Taipans 5 defeated Sydney City Eagles 3
South Coast Taipans won a thrilling game 5-3 against Sydney City Eagles at The Centre – Dural on Saturday afternoon.
The Taipans move a step closer to the icing on the cake of a tremendous season after their hard fought win. Braces from Jordan Baker and Ebony Freeman led the way while Bronte Trew also tallied in the win.
Sydney City Eagles can hold their heads high. They took the league leaders the whole way and led 2-1 at the break. Tania Baban and Arddun Surjan scored in the first half while Sheiden Jabour added their third early in the second half.
Both teams flew out of the blocks in this contest. Taipans had the first two shots of the game through Bronte Trew and Bronte Pyke.
Jordan Baker went close for the Taipans before Tania Baban responded in kind for the Eagles as the teams looked for the opener.
South Coast Taipans went up 1-0 in the seventh minute. Jordan Baker unfurled a strong shot which found the back of the net.
The Eagles had a quick response in the 9th minute. Some superb work on the break ended with Baban rolling home for 1-1.
Spurred by their equalizer, Eagles went ahead in the 11th minute. Arddun Surjan tucked the ball home to make it 2-1.
Taipans pushed forward to level up again. Pyke was denied then Trew rattled the post with her effort in close succession.
Sydney City Eagles weren’t shutting up shop. They had some chances to extend their lead but were denied by Taipans custodian Caitlin Russell.
Coming out of the break, the Eagles felt just fine. They made it 3-1 in the 22nd minute through Sheiden Jabour who arrowed home.
They went close to making it 4-1 soon after. Jabour was involved again and thrashed one against the post.
Taipans urged themselves forward and back into the contest. Russell went into the outfield and created the second goal.
Her combination with Trew saw them blaze down the pitch and ended with Trew hammering home to make it 3-2 in the 26th minute.
Taipans tied up the game in the 27th minute. It was persistence from Ebony Freeman who volleyed home the second time of asking for 3-3.
The two fives in the teams went close to breaking the deadlock. Baker slide an effort wide while Jabour shot straight.
Taipans finished the game off strongly and earnt their spot in the Grand Final. Baker rolled home to make it 4-3 then Freeman iced the game with a 40th minute effort for 5-3.
MATCH STATS
Saturday 16 December 2023
The Centre – Dural
South Coast Taipans 5 (Baker ‘7 ’37 Trew ’26 Freeman ’27 ‘40
Sydney City Eagles 3 (Baban ‘9 Surjan ’11 Jabour ’22)
South Coast Taipans: 1. Caitlin Russell, 2. Nicole Besz, 4. Ashley Kotevski, 5. Jordan Baker, 7. Ebony Freeman, 8. Bronte Pyke, 9. Bronte Trew, 10. Lulu Lozano, 11. Poppy Johnson, 14. Romany Janssen, 15. Sofia Kent, 16. Jessica Llewellin, 29. Lucy Baggio
Yellow cards: nil
Red cards: nil
Sydney City Eagles: 1. Isabella Sollecito, 4. Melina Manna, 5. Sheiden Jabour, 7. Kelsea Nash, 9. Sabine Lozina, 13. Sofia Sollecito, 14. Alessia Perre, 17. Olivia Cole, 18. Arddun Surjan, 20. Jorja Smith, 35. Jamaica Marshall, 37. Tania Baban
Yellow cards: nil
Red cards: nil
Semi-final 2: Sydney Futsal Club 3 defeated by APIA FC Futsal 5
APIA FC Futsal were comfortable 5-3 winners against Sydney Futsal Club in their game at The Centre – Dural on Saturday afternoon.
The damage was done in the first half for APIA FC Futsal who led 4-0 at the break before they added the fifth early in the second half. Taiana Almedia Silva had a brace in the win alongside goals from Maya Abidin, Lauren Featherstone and Alyssa Thomson.
Sydney Futsal Club battled hard but couldn’t find a way through the APIA FC Futsal defence until late in the contest. They brought it back to 5-3 in the final ten minutes. Neisha Monteleone scored twice while Liana Calabro was the other scorer.
These two sides knew each other well after playing last week which led to a cagey opening to the game as they felt it out.
Cynthia Coghlan had the first chance for Sydney Futsal Club as she drove forward and sent an effort right to the APIA FC Futsal custodian.
APIA FC Futsal were the first to hit the scoresheet. Maya Abidin was able to clean up the rebound from a shot to make it 1-0 in the 8th minute.
That set APIA FC Futsal on a rampage. Taiana Almeida Silva struck a double blow in the ninth minute with her pair of strikes to extend the lead to 3-0.
They continued to pile on the pressure. Lauren Featherstone found some space and had an effort blocked by Sydney Futsal Club keeper Natalie Milenkovski.
Featherstone wasn’t denied at the second time of asking. She arrowed the ball into the back of the net to make it 4-0 for APIA FC Futsal.
Sydney Futsal Club tried to claw their way back into the game before half-time but couldn’t get past the APIA FC Futsal defence.
APIA FC Futsal made it 5-0 quickly after half-time. Alyssa Thomson got involved in the action and hammered home in the 22nd minute.
Sydney Futsal Club did pull a goal back in the 31st minute. Neisha Monteleone found a way past Emilia Vidakovic for 5-1.
They pressed forward for more goals throwing on the extra attacker to help find some gaps in the APIA FC Futsal defence.
Sydney Futsal Club brought it back to 5-2 in the 37th minute. Liana Calabro added another to her season tally.
Monteleone rounded off the game with a brace in the 40th minute. She found the back of the net to make it 5-3.
MATCH STATS
Saturday 16 December 2023
The Centre – Dural
Sydney Futsal Club 3 (Monteleone ’31 ’40 Calabro ’37)
APIA FC Futsal 5 (Abidin ‘8 Silva ‘9 ‘9 Featherstone ’14 Thomson ’22)
Sydney Futsal Club: 1. Natalie Milenkovski, 3. Charlotte Heath, 6. Liana Calabro, 7. Mia Nataly, 8. Layla Hamdan, 2. Jetta Cootee, 13. Abbey Harrison, 14. Cynthia Coghlan, 16. Annika Hansen, 17. Leila Szszepanik, 18. Annalise Schiraldi, 29. Neisha Monteleone
Yellow cards: nil
Red cards: nil
APIA FC Futsal:
Yellow cards: nil
Red cards: nil
By Justin Davies (@JustDavies90)
