Round 9 Futsal Premier League 2 – Open Men’s Review

Round 9 in the Futsal Premier League 2 Open Men’s competition showed the full range of emotions across Saturday evening from late winners to pulsating draws. Our three games also helped shake out the race for the top four headed into the final stretch. The Match of the Round saw West City Crusaders host APIA FC Futsal.

Let’s get onto the review.

West City Crusaders 2 defeated by APIA FC Futsal 3

APIA FC Futsal won 3-2 against West City Crusaders down at PCYC Hawkesbury on Saturday afternoon.

The Crusaders dug deep in this game with a short bench and blocked a lot of shots. They scored their goals from Stuart Gosling in the 11^th minute and Samuel Young in the 20^th minute before they were pegged back by the visitors.

APIA FC Futsal left it late but moved into third spot on the Futsal Premier League 2 Open Men’s ladder after the win. Bilal Belkadi scored twice in the game while Jamal Belkadi fired home a winner in the 40^th minute which sparked huge celebrations.

The game started off in a fast pace from both teams as they worked the openings and tested the gloves of the respective custodians early.

Crusaders found their rhythm and authored their best chance through Alexander Murrell who was denied near post.

That effort pushed the Crusaders forward looking for an opener. Samuel Young couldn’t find a way past APIA FC Futsal custodian Zayd Husain then Ryan Faulkner fired over.

APIA FC Fustal held much of the ball and worked for openings. They were however met by a stoic Crusaders defence in front of keeper Shane Watson.

Malik Chamseddine drove wide for them before Gosling was on the end of a slick move which he poked wide of the mark.

APIA FC Futsal made it 1-0 in the 10^th minute through Bilal Belkadi. He broke quickly alongside Jamal Belkadi before the former headed home.

Crusaders soon levelled up in the 12^th minute. It was a fizzing move which ended with Stuart Gosling firing home for 1-1.

They continued to have chances as the game opened up.

While APIA FC Futsal finished the first half on the front foot. Bilal Belkadi fired over then Zac Pezzutto dragged an effort wide.

The hosts took the lead into the break due to a late goal. Samuel Young rolled home a goal from range to make it 2-1 in the 20^th minute.

Similar to the first half, the second half started in a similarly fast fashion. Tyson Savas was denied by a diving Watson then Young had a volley tipped away by Husain at the other end.

Murrell gave the Crusaders an opportunity for a two-goal cushion from the spot. APIA FC Futsal subbed in Isaac Mitchell whose presence saw Young fire wide for the Crusaders.

APIA FC Futsal went inches from an equalizer through Lucas Bond. He found space and rattled the post.

Next, Jamal Belkadi fired straight at Watson for APIA FC Futsal. The visitors were starting to take over the contest.

It was Bilal Belkadi again that made it 2-2. He was in the right spot to tap home from an incisive pass in the 30^th minute.

He tried to complete the hat-trick after the goal. Watson stood tall to deny Bilal Belkadi then Jamal was similarly denied.

Kurt Elborough had a big chance for the Crusaders to snatch the lead. He was open but poked the effort right at Husain.

Both teams surged up the pitch looking for a winner. Tobias Eliot-Orr fired home for Crusaders then he couldn’t find the mark from the kick-in.

APIA FC Futsal snatched the points in the final minute. Jamal Belkadi found space on the wing and rifled home for 3-2 in the 40^th minute and sparked huge celebrations.

Post match, West City Crusaders coach Benjamin Lam reflected on the late loss for his side on Saturday:

“I think it was a tough loss, the boys played well despite only having half a team out there tonight. We were unlucky to lose and we’ll look to bounce back next weekend.” said Lam.

For APIA FC Futsal coach Zoheir Belkadi, he reflected on the dramatic win for his side in a tight contest:

“It was a tough game, they are a good side and very technical. The boys worked hard and they got the result. We had to dig deep but got the win in the end thanks to the work of Steve Knight on the bench.” said Belkadi.

MATCH STATS

Saturday 2 November 2024

PCYC Hawkesbury

Referees: Mujtaba Ebrahimi, Rowan Fisher, Simon Ashari and Laura Hockings

West City Crusaders 2 (Gosling ‘11 Young ’20)

APIA FC Futsal 3 (B Belkadi ‘10 ‘30 J Belkadi ‘40)

West City Crusaders: 1. Shane Watson, 2. Kurt Elborough, 5. Alexander Murrell, 6. Stuart Gosling, 7. Ryan Faulker, 9. Samuel Young, 13. Malik Chamseddine, 21. Tobias Eliot-Orr

Yellow cards: Murrell ‘35

Red cards: nil

APIA FC Futsal: 1. Zayd Husain, 2. Isaac Mitchell, 3. Tyson Savas, 6. Lucas Bond, 7, Bilal Belkadi, 10. Jamal Belkadi, 11. Zac Pezzutto,12. Ryuki Hirota, 110. Adam Khalif

Yellow cards: Savas ’37

Red cards: nil

Macarthur Quake Futsal Club 5 drew with Raiders Futsal Club 5

Macarthur Quake Futsal Club and Raiders Futsal Club shared the points in a 5-5 draw at Minto Indoor Sports Centre on Saturday afternoon.

It was a game that has been regarded as one of the stand out thus far in 2024 which ended with both teams earning a point. Goran Ljuboja made it 1-0 for Raiders Futsal Club in the 5^th minute before Joel Bertolissio levelled for the Quake in the 11^th minute.

Mark Symington handed Quake their first lead in the 12^th minute for 2-1 then Slaven Ljuboja scored the equalizer for Raiders Futsal Club for 2-2 in the same minute. The team sides went into the break level again.

The second half saw Raiders Futsal Club snatch the lead back in the 25^th minute through Christopher Godoy Bascur but Symington levelled for Quake in the 29^th minute with his second goal of the afternoon.

Bertolissio gave Quake a 4-3 lead in the 33^rd minute then Sebastian Malfara once again levelled for the visitors in the 34^th minute for 4-4. Bertolissio made it 5-4 in the 36^th minute for his hat-trick but a 36^th minute goal from Terry Bradshaw saw the game end in a 5-5 draw.

SD Raiders Futsal 3 defeated by Phoenix Futsal Club 12

Phoenix Futsal Club won 12-3 against SD Raiders Futsal at Thomas Hassell Anglican College on Saturday afternoon.

The result moves Phoenix Futsal Club to the top of the Futsal Premier League 2 Open Men’s ladder after their win. Paul Lee made it 1-0 in the 5^th minute for Phoenix Futsal Club then Lachie Davis added the second in the 11^th minute before Connor Slater made it 3-0 in the same minute.

Joshua Moore made it 4-0 in the 15^th minute then Lee added the fifth and sixth goals in the 16^th and 19^th minute for a first half hat-trick and hit SD Raiders Futsal for six in the first half. The visitors responded and went for the extra man in the second half.

Phoenix Futsal Club kept their foot on throat in the second half. Andrew Ferrera made it 7-0 in the 22^nd minute then Slater fired home a second in the 23^rd minute for 8-0. Matthew Barkho got SD Raider Futsal on the board in the 23^rd minute for 8-1.

Slater brought up a hat-trick in the 23^rd minute for 9-1 then scored a fourth in the 28^th minute to make it 10-1. Ibrahim El Khoury and Luka Mandalinic found the back of the net for SD Raiders Futsal in the 31^st and 32^nd minute for 10-3. Moore and Lee each tallied again in the 34^th minute for a 10-3 final score.

Sydney Futsal Club has the bye

By Justin Davies (@JustDavies90)