Round 10 Futsal Premier League 2 – Open Men’s Review

Round 10 in the Futsal Premier League 2 Open Men’s competition was another thrilling weekend of futsal action to whet the whistle. The three games were decided by close margins and highlighted the close nature of the competition. Our Match of the Round saw Phoenix Futsal Club host Sydney Futsal Club. Let’s get onto the review.

Phoenix Futsal Club 8 defeated Sydney Futsal Club 5

Phoenix Futsal Club won 8-5 against Sydney Futsal Club at The Centre – Dural on Saturday afternoon.

They remain on top of the Futsal Premier League 2 Open Men’s ladder with a strong second half performance. Four players found the back of the net twice in the fixture. Those being Paul Lee, Connor Slater, Lachie Davis and Joshua Moore.

Sydney Futsal Club will be puzzled how they lost this game after their start. Jaime Gutierrez made it 1-0 in the first minute then goals from James Hyde and star player Michael Loupis made it 3-2 at the break. Loupis completed his hat-trick in the second half but they were unable to get the points.

The game started with a bang. Sydney Futsal Club made it 1-0 in the first minute with Jaime Gutierrez arrowing into the bottom corner.

Michael Loupis tried to double the delight for the visitors when he cut inside but his effort went straight at Phoenix Futsal Club keeper James Brunacci.

Phoenix Futsal Club then found their rhythm quickly. Lachie Davis with the next chance which was flicked right at Sydney Futsal Club keeper Wilson Howden.

Davis didn’t make the same mistake twice. Phoenix Futsal Club pressed well and he profited to tap home for 1-1 in the 5^th minute.

Phoenix Futsal Club once again surged forward for the lead. Connor Slater drove up the pitch and was denied then Edward Bacon and Paul Lee were repelled.

The game remained an open contest. Diego Goni headed straight followed by a Loupis shot for Sydney Futsal Club while Andrew Ferrara was turned away for Phoenix.

Phoenix Futsal club made it 2-1 in the 18^th minute. Lee saw space from his own end and was precise in putting the ball into the net.

Sydney Futsal Club fired back in rapid succession to lead 3-2 at the break. Loupis roamed forward then found James Hyde for the equalizer.

Next, it was a solo effort from Loupis. He cut inside the defender and rifled the ball home for 3-2 in the 20^th minute.

Phoenix Futsal Club gave the visitors a taste of their own medicine with an early goal in the second half.

Joshua Moore found some space and fired home for 3-3 in the 22^nd minute and set up a pulsating second half.

A set move from Davis and Slater from the kick-in saw the latter whip it home and make it 4-3 for Phoenix Futsal Club in the 23^rd minute.

Lee extended the lead for 5-3 for Phoenix Futsal Club. He was denied from long range then unfurled an effort into the top of the net in the 24^th minute.

Sydney Futsal Club remained confident and went forward looking for goals. Hyde found space and fired over.

Phoenix Futsal Club were clinical in front of goal. Slater smashed home again to make it 6-3 in the 30^th minute.

Loupis gave the visitors some hope bringing it back to 6-4 in the 30^th minute. He just weaved through the Phoenix defence to angle into the bottom corner.

That hope intensified when it became 6-5 in the 32^nd minute. Loupis took the free-kick from close range and hammered it into the net for his hat-trick.

Adin Scalone had a pair of chances to equalize from a set piece. He dragged both efforts past the post.

Phoenix Futsal Club made it 7-5 late in the game. Davis added his second goal with a smooth finish in the 37^th minute.

Moore put the icing on the cake with his late goal after catching out the Sydney Futsal Club defence for 8-5 in the 39^th minute.

Post game, Phoenix Futsal Club keeper James Brunacci reflected on the win which keeps the side top of the tree:

“It was a good game, similar to our first encounter.

“It was competitive and they play good futsal and was decided on small margins. Anything that keeps up top of the ladder is a good thing at this point of the season.” said Brunacci.

For Sydney Futsal Club coaching staff, they remained encouraged with their play despite the result. There were a few errors which cost them goals but the improvement from the side from last season, while down on numbers is great.

MATCH STATS

Saturday 9 November 2024

The Centre – Dural

Referees: Richard McGuiness, Cameron Lee, Rowan Fisher, Laura Hockings and Brendan Fotheringham

Phoenix Futsal Club 8 (Davis ‘5 ’37 Lee ’18 ’24 Slater ’23 ’30 Moore ’21 ’39)

Sydney Futsal Club 5 (Gutierrez ‘1 Hyde ’19 Loupis ’20 ’30 ’32)

Phoenix Futsal Club: 1. James Brunacci, 2. Joshua Moore, 7. Jay Azzopardi, 9. Connor Slater, 11. Lachie Davis, 13. Edward Bacon, 21. Angus Till, 22. Andrew Ferrara, 28. Paul Lee, 42. Daniel Mahoney

Yellow cards: Moore ’22 Slater ‘32

Red cards:

Sydney Futsal Club: 1. Wilson Howden, 7. Patrick Pace, 10. Giacomo Di Mento, 13. Jaime Gutierrez, 16. Oscar Setchell, 21. Mitchell Hawkins, 22. Michael Loupis, 23. Diego Goni, 26. Alessio Cencigh, 29. Adin Scalone, 30. James Hyde, 25. Pieter-Bas Dalebout, 39. Dominic Ofria

Yellow cards: Hyde ’20 Scalone ’28

Red cards:

APIA FC Futsal 4 defeated Macarthur Quake Futsal Club 3

APIA FC Futsal were 4-3 winners against Macarthur Quake Futsal Club at Valentine Sports Park on Saturday afternoon.

That makes it four wins in a row for APIA FC Futsal after a gritty win which keeps them in third on the Futsal Premier League 2 Open Men’s ladder. Bilal Belkadi scored the only goal of the first half in the 10^th minute to make it 1-0 for the hosts.

Quake started the second half strong with Shaun Irwin equalizing in the 25^th minute for 1-1 before Tyson Savas gave APIA FC Futsal the lead back in the 29^th minute for 2-1. Savas added a second for 3-1 in the 33^rd minute.

Jamal Belkadi got in the action with a goal in the 37^th minute for 4-1 which looked to have confirmed the points. Mark Symington scored in the 39^th and 40^th minute to bring it back to 4-3 and give them a late scare.

West City Crusaders 10 defeated SD Raiders Futsal 6

West City Crusaders won 10-6 against SD Raiders Futsal down at PCYC Hawkesbury on Saturday afternoon.

SD Raiders Futsal opened the scoring in the 8^th minute through Ibrahim El Khoury for 1-0 before Ryan Faulkner tied it up for the hosts in the 17^th minute. Matias Paz fired home for SD Raiders Futsal to give them a 2-1 lead in the 18^th minute.

Stuart Gosling equalized for Crusaders in the 18^th minute for 2-2 before Samuel Young gave the hosts their first lead of the game at 3-2 in the 20^th minute. Matthew Barkho ensured the game went into the break level at 3-3 with his late goal.

The second half had a flurry of goals so let’s dig in. Gosling made it 4-3 for Crusaders in the 22^nd minute before Barkho slammed home a penalty for 4-4 in the 25^th minute then goals from Jonathan Munoz Roberton and Phoenix Molloy made it 6-4 SD Raiders Futsal.

From there it was all Crusaders. Nathan Niski scored for 6-5 in the 31^st minute then Benjamin Lam made it 6-6 in the same minute. An own goal gave Crusaders the lead followed by goals from Gosling in the 37^th minute, Lam in the 37^th minute and Kurt Elborough in the 38^th rounded off the 10-6 win.

Raiders Futsal Club has the bye

By Justin Davies (@JustDavies90)