Futsal Premier League 2 Open Men’s Semi-Final Review

The Futsal Premier League 2 Open Men’s Grand Final is set after two fantastic semi final contests which were both decided in the final minute.
It was Macarthur Quake Futsal Club and Phoenix Futsal Club who won and advanced to this week’s Grand Final.
Let’s get onto the review.
Semi Final #1: Phoenix Futsal Club 4 defeated Raiders Futsal Club 3
Phoenix Futsal Club won 4-3 against Raiders Futsal Club down at Valentine Sports Park on Saturday afternoon.
The Premiers held off a persistent Raiders Futsal Club side taking the lead four times in the game and winning it late. Connor Slater led the way with a superb brace while Matthew Luttringer and Daniel Mahoney also found the back of the net.
Raiders Futsal Club gave it all they had but fell just short of a third straight Grand Final appearance in this competition. Sebastian Malfara fired home twice and captain Slaven Ljuboja tallied in the loss as well.
The game started in a fast fashion. Phoenix Futsal Club authored the first shot which was grabbed well by Raiders Futsal Club keeper Ibrahim Daniel.
Raiders Futsal Club responded with authority themselves. Judah Cleur wriggled free and rattled the left post.
Next, Cleur and Slaven Ljuboja had strong chances but Phoenix Futsal Club keeper James Brunacci came up trumps.
Raiders Futsal Club held most opportunities in the first half. Slaven Ljuboja had two efforts while Sebastian Malfara was denied at the far post.
Malfara had a free-kick next to open the scoring. He punched it low, but Brunacci was there to take the catch.
Joshua Moore tried to spark the Phoenix Futsal Club side. He turned well and unfurled a shot right at Daniel.
Both Malfara and Jovan Miladinovic tried to break open the game but fizzed their efforts wide of the mark.
Phoenix Futsal Club made it 1-0 in the 15th minute. Matthew Luttringer pinched it from a defender and curled it home.
That goal spurred Phoenix Futsal Club forward again. Connor Slater flashed wide then Moore was unable to convert again.
Raiders Futsal Club finally found a way through in the 22nd minute. Luis Ferreira cushioned a pass for Malfara to sweep home for 1-1.
Phoenix Futsal Club restored their lead quickly though. It was a powerful strike from Slater who singed the ball into the net for 2-1 in the 23rd minute.
Cleur tried to pull it back for Raiders Futsal Club again. He had a strong strike which Brunacci turned over the bar.
Both Lachie Davis and Julian Du Plessis looked to push Phoenix Futsal Club ahead by three goals but Daniel denied them.
Phoenix Futsal Club made it 3-1 in the 28th minute. It was Slater again; he picked the ball out of the air well and smashed home.
The Raiders Futsal Club side wasn’t down for too long. A handball offered Malfara a chance from the spot and he kissed it off the post before it headed in for 3-2 in the 29th minute.
Like Sydney buses, the goals came in short order. It was 3-3 in the 31st minute when Slaven Ljuboja fired home from a Cleur pass.
The atmosphere inside Valentine Sports Park ratched up as the game rolled into the final stages and remained level.
Miladinovic turned well and shot straight then Jay Azzopardi did similar for Phoenix Futsal Club soon after.
Phoenix Futsal Club went close to leading for a fourth time when Angus Till rattled the crossbar after the ball fell to him.
They had another chance to restore their lead from the set piece. Slater stood over the free-kick and fizzed it wide.
The final laugh went to Phoenix Futsal Club. Brunacci was fouled by a Raiders Futsal Club player while they were on five fouls leading to a 10 metre penalty.
Andrew Ferrera stepped up for the spot kick and his effort was saved from Daniel but Daniel Mahoney was there to tap home for 4-3 in the 40th minute.
Raiders Futsal Club had a late flurry to extend the game but Phoenix Futsal Club held on and booked their spot in the Grand Final.
Phoenix Futsal Club custodian and coach James Brunacci reflected on the win against a tough Raiders Futsal Club side:
“We have been ahead of Raiders Futsal Club in total three minutes all season and won them all which shows how close the top five of this league is. We fight until the final whistle and I can’t commend my team more highly.” said Brunacci.
Raiders Futsal Club captain coach Slaven Ljuboja was brief in his assessment of the game afterwards:
“We had plenty of shots in the games, it is a tough way to go and if it wasn’t for James Brunacci that game goes a different way.” said Ljuboja.
MATCH STATS
Saturday 14 December 2024
Valentine Sports Park
Referees: Mitchell Renton, Jackson Mackie, Blake Sanchez-Cruz, Dion Bradley and Thomas Dale
Phoenix Futsal Club 4 (Luttringer ’15 Slater ’23 ’28 Mahoney ’40)
Raiders Futsal Club 3 (Malfara ’21 ’29 S. Ljuboja ’31)
Phoenix Futsal Club: 1. James Brunacci, 2. Joshua Moore, 4. Matthew Luttringer, 6. Lachie Davis, 7. Jay Azzopardi, 8. Andrew Ferrera, 9. Connor Slater, 13. Edward Bacon, 21. Angus Till, 29. Julian Du Plessis, 42. Daniel Mahoney
Yellow cards: Slater ‘18
Red cards: nil
Raiders Futsal Club: 1. Ibrahim Daniel, 6. Christopher Godoy Bascur, 7. Jovan Miladinovic, 8. Goran Ljuboja, 10. Slaven Ljuboja, 11. James Letta, 12. Terry Bradshaw, 14. Judah Cleur, 17. Luis Ferreira, 21. Sebastian Malfara, 43. Jeremiah Cleur
Yellow cards: S. Ljuboja ‘29
Red cards: nil
Semi Final #2: Macarthur Quake Futsal Club 3 defeated APIA FC Futsal 2
Macarthur Quake Futsal Club won 3-2 against APIA FC Futsal at Valentine Sports Park on Saturday night.
The Quake only led in the final minute in a pulsating game for the second semi-final on Saturday night. Danny Martinez had a pair of fantastic goals in the win while Mark Symington was the other goal scorer.
APIA FC Futsal might see this as a game that got away from them, leading twice before being pegged back. Anthony Sparacino thrashed home the opener in the 26th minute and Bilal Belkadi made it 2-1 in the 34th minute in the loss.
The game started in a tactical fashion with both teams happy to hold onto possession, probing for an opening.
APIA FC Futsal were the first to challenge the goal. Marcus Sparacino rolled an low effort right at Quake keeper Bradley Perryman.
For Quake, Dean Lockhart found some space and curved an effort wide of the goal in an early warning shot.
Quake settled into their rhythm after that. They fizzed the ball around the pitch before Lockhart hammered the left post.
Perryman had to make a pair of big saves to keep the game at 0-0. He denied Marcus Sparacino first then Bilal Belkadi soon after.
Quake continued to work through Lockhart. He started a move then finished it off with a shot that once again hit the left post.
APIA FC Futsal weren’t without their chances in the game. Adam Khalaf rolled wide then Belkadi went close again.
Next, Lockhart fizzed wide again then Mark Symington was on the end of a move and poked it straight at APIA FC Futsal keeper Isaac Mitchell.
Both teams finished the half with efforts. Anthony Sparacino had a shot out for a corner then Marcus Sparacino popped up with a shot as well.
The pattern was established again early in the second half. Both teams valued possession before finding an opener.
APIA FC Futsal broke the deadlock in the 26th minute. Belkadi passed off a chance and it was recycled for Anthony Sparacino to thrash home for 1-0.
Quake responded well to conceding. Bradon Clissold whipped it wide from a kick-in among their chances.
APIA FC Futsal weren’t wilting either. Anthony Sparacino shot straight then Belkadi rattled the post which had a few spectators already celebrating.
It was a solo effort from Danny Martinez which made it 1-1. He held off a defender, rolled through them and fired home in the 28th minute which prompted some furniture rearrangement on the APIA FC Futsal bench.
Belkadi had an almost perfect response for APIA FC Futsal. He once again hit the woodwork in a pulsating encounter.
Next, Clissold snatched the ball and fed Connor Irwin who rolled an effort wide then Lockhart smashed the post again.
APIA FC Futsal absorbed that onslaught and made it 2-1. They pocketed the ball well and Belkadi provided the finish in the 34th minute.
The lead lasted less than a minute as Quake made it 2-2. It was a combination between Symington and Martinez which saw them former fire home in the 34th minute.
Belkadi tried to restore the APIA FC Futsal lead again. He cut inside his defender and fired right at Perryman.
APIA FC Futsal went close again through Anthony Sparacino. He snatched the ball well and hit the woodwork.
In the end, Quake snatched the win in the 40th minute. They worked a routine from the kick-in and Martinez clipped home for 3-2.
APIA FC Futsal who hadn’t trailed all game now searched for an unlikely equalizer in the short time remaining but Quake held on.
Speaking post match, Macarthur Quake coach Dean Lockhart reflected on the achievement for his side:
“I think we started okay then fell into a pattern of play which was predictable. Our class showed in the end of the game and we got the win. We have worked on a few things and it was nice for it show off in the game.” said Lockhart.
For Zoheir Belkadi, he reflected on the game and the defeat for his side in what was a pulsating contest:
“The first half we were the better team despite missing our regular goalkeeper. They kept digging and got the last second goal against us.” said Belkadi.
MATCH STATS
Saturday 14 December 2024
Valentine Sports Park
Referees: Mitchell Renton, Jackson Mackie, Blake Sanchez-Cruz, Dion Bradley and Thomas Dale
Macarthur Quake Futsal Club 3 (Martinez ’28 ’40 Symington ’34)
APIA FC Futsal 2 (A. Sparacino ’26 Belkadi ’34)
Macarthur Quake Futsal Club: 1. Liam Polinsky, 2. Shannon Fielding, 3. Luke Bell, 4. Bradon Clissold, 5. Mark Symington, 6. Aidan Limbrey, 7. Shaun Irwin, 8. Alexander Purves, 10. Danny Martinez, 11. Dean Lockhart, 12. Radwan Jirjnazi, 15. Joel Bertolissio, 20. Bradley Perryman
Yellow cards: Perryman ‘28
Red cards: nil
APIA FC Futsal: 2. Isaac Mitchell, 4. Anthony Sparacino, 5. Marcus Sparacino, 7. Bilal Belkadi, 8. Adam Khalaf, 12. Ryuki Hirota, 99. Rocco Fragale
Yellow cards: Sparacino ’17
Red cards: nil
By Justin Davies (@JustDavies90)