FNSW PL1 Round 13 Wrap

The penultimate round of the 16/17 NSW Premier League futsal competition had the Boomers club travel to Sydney to take on the Mountain Majik club at the Blacktown Leisure Centre.

Both the development/academy games and the competitive matches kicked off at 12.30pm and ran concurrently on separate courts. The Majik club has multiple junior teams allowing the 11 boys to play a match, the 11/12 girls to play two and the 10 boys, three matches against separate Majik opposition.

It was another day of disappointing results for the club – a constant theme across this PL1 season – with the only highlight in the important men’s match at the end of the day. All the other teams though continue to enjoy their futsal and put in a 100% effort into representing their club.

Don’t forget to check out the photos of Match Day 13 at the Boomerangs photo site.

A summary of the day’s results:

12 boys – Boomerangs 1 – 3 Majik (ht 0– 2)
13 girls – Boomerangs 1 – 9 Majik (ht 0 – 6)
14 boys – Boomerangs 1 – 8 Majik (ht 1 – 3)
15 girls – Boomerangs 1 – 2 Majik (ht 1 – 1)
16 boys – Boomerangs 0 – 6 Majik (ht 0 – 2)
17 girls – Boomerangs 1 – 7 Majik (ht 0 – 5)
Youth men – Boomerangs 0 – 3 Majik (ht 0 – 2)
Open Women – Boomerangs 4 – 6 Majik (ht 1 – 2)
Open Men – Boomerangs 3 – 3 Majik (ht 0 – 3)

The 12 boys had perhaps their best outing of the season against the Majik. The boys worked hard, maintained their structures and reaped the reward of a closely-fought tussle, which till late on could have gone either way. Conceding back to back goals in the shadows of the first half the defining moment of the game. A tremendous effort from the 12 boys, and the 11s that regularly play up in the competitive fixtures.

The 13 girls match was disappointing – and the girls disappointed in their own effort. However, their Majik opposition has only lost two games across the whole season and lead all comers on the competition ladder. Extra effort is required in defence, as well as learning to make the most of the offensive opportunities when they arise, if they are to be competitive with teams such as this.

The 14 boys should also have done better, however, the Majik required the win to keep them in the frame for a spot in the finals and were the more motivated in pushing for a win. A reasonably competitive first half fell away as the home team found the back of the net a further five times in the second twenty.

The 15 girls put in another strong effort against a premiership contender in the Majik. The losses these girls have had this year have been close, and often only the result of one or two lapses in defensive concentration. Lessons will be learnt for next season.

The 16 boys also did well against another finals-bound home team but suffered from missing too many regular starters. The 14 boys that played up all put in 100% but were already drained from their earlier match and as the game wore on, the extra effort required became more difficult to deliver.

The 17 girls also came up against an opposition that was fighting for its place in the top four and the chance of finals futsal. The home team started the match strongly and scored five well put together goals in the first period of play. The Boomers girls worked hard in the second half, but could not narrow the deficit.

The Youth Men’s entertainers bubble was well and truly burst by a disciplined and determined Majik youth. As with quite a few of the other Majik teams, the home team was fighting for a spot in the top four and their drive and determination was evident. The Boomers lads put in a strong effort, but could not produce the sparkling futsal they have over much of the second half of this season.

The Boomerangs Women were disappointed to lose to a team they defeated comfortably earlier in the season. A number of regular starters not being available weakened the team, although the several 17 girls playing up certainly put in a determined effort. After being behind 1-2 at the break the traveling Boomers fought hard to bring it back to par at 3-3, however, the home team lifted to bring home the result in the final ten minutes.

The Men’s match was once again an absolute cracker with both teams desperate to keep their finals hopes alive. The first half scoring was dominated by the home team with their offensive efforts being rewarded – and the Boomerangs finding it hard to find the back of the net. The second half provided a significant level of entertaining futsal and a deal of effort by both teams – which at times pushed the boundaries of the referee’s patience.

The startling second half comeback by the Boomers men started with a finely worked goal to Jason O’Dwyer soon after the restart.  The momentum was all with the traveling Boomers and they conjured up a second (also finished by O’Dwyer) with nine minutes to play. Things became even more interesting when Boomers ‘keeper, Ashley Collins was red carded for a challenge outside the ‘D’ with just under nine minutes remaining and the home team racked up their fifth team foul soon after. Strong character (and immense effort) saw no goals conceded in the two minutes playing with a player down and a new off-the-bench ‘keeper (Nick van Aalst). With a full complement of players again on the court the Boomers pressed forward for the final seven minutes.

A sixth team foul by the Majik saw Daniel Giovinazzo head to the ten-metre spot – but a great save and second effort – by the Majik keeper saw the home team retain the slender lead. However, the intense Boomerangs pressure led to a leveling goal in the dying moments, slotted home at the back post by Brett Forward (assisted by a pinpoint accurate cross by Michael Reeve).

The three all draw did little to clarify the fourth finals participant (after Dural, Magic and the Rovers had already locked in their spots at the top of the table). However with a superior goal difference, with UTS being defeated by Taipans, and with Majik coming up against the in-form Dural Warriors next week – a win against the Taipans should lock down the finals spot so desired.

Following is the write up of the men’s match by Dan De Nardi of Football NSW.

Round 13 of the 2016/17 Football NSW Select NSW Premier League saw Inner West defeat Enfield 3-1, Dural dominate Mascot 10-2, South Coast stun Northside 2-1, while Boomerangs and Mountain Majik slogged out a 3-3 draw.

The results make for a fascinating final round as Inner West (31 points) still head Dural (28) and Enfield (22), with Boomerangs (17), Majik (17) and UTS (14) sorting out the final playoff position, Mascot (10) and South Coast (9) also involved in an effort to not finish last.

Inner West need a single point to wrap up the open men’s premiership but a shock loss to Northside this weekend would open it up for Dural to steal first place with a win over Majik. Enfield finish third and host the knockout semi-final no matter what the outcome of its Mascot clash.

The battle for fourth is fascinating: the Mountaineers concede a damning goal-difference (-10) to co-fourth place Boomerangs (-1) leaving Majik with little choice but to beat Dural this weekend to have any chance, also needing bottom-side South Coast to pull something out of the bag against the Territorians in Wollongong. UTS (-3) can only hope both Mountain and Boomerangs lose and gift them a shot at the finals should they claim a remarkable victory at home versus Magic.

Then there’s the wooden spoon. Vipers lead Taipans by a point and travel to Enfield this weekend while the Coasters play Boomerangs at home. Here’s the motivation: Last-placed South Coast have finished bottom both times they’ve contested the open men’s premier league (2015/16 and 2011/12), while competition foundation club Mascot have never finished last.

Mountain man Jordan Guerreiro might still have work to do to claim the Golden Boot prize; he stands on 16 goals ahead of this weekend’s match-up against juggernauts Dural, nearest rival Vic Koutsoufis (14) suiting up for the Warriors. Enfield’s Michael Kouta (13) is the only other player left in the picture, Rovers play Vipers in the final round.

It’s also a hearty congratulation to Inner West Magic after they wrapped up yet another club championship, building an unassailable 34-point lead over Mascot and with eight of nine teams holding top-two positions.

Records indicate Magic have won eight of the 10 Premier League Club Championships contested (they also won the preceding two Futsal League club championships), Mascot claiming last year’s trophy and Sydney City winning in 2010/11 (Vipers and Eagles have also finished runner-up twice each).

Mountain Majik 3 (Kaan Kilinc, Andrew Luttringer, Samuel Gulisano)  Boomerangs FS 3 (Jason O’Dwyer 2, Brett Forward)

UTS Northside 1 (Nathan Amore) South Coast Taipans 2 (Mitchell Ferraro, James Markovic)

Inner West Magic 3 (Daniel Fogarty, Chris Zeballos, Brian Griffin-Colls) Enfield Rovers 1 (Lachlan Wright)

Mascot Vipers 2 (Alex Euripidou, Leonardo Pinto) Dural Warriors 10 (Greg Giovenali 2, Wade Giovenali, Brendan Hoyer, Vic Koutsoufis, Nathan Niski, Bruno Pivato, Blake Rosier, Samuel De Oliveira)

Majik, Boomerangs draw

It was a game of two halves as Mountain Majik and Boomerangs FS battled out a dramatic 3-3 draw at Blacktown Leisure Centre.

The Territorians came out firing and dominated play only to concede three goals on the counter as Kaan Kilinc breached the Boomerangs wall on the quarter-hour and goals to team-mates Andrew Luttringer and Samuel Gulisano elevated Majik to an unexpected 3-0 halftime lead.

Jason O’Dwyer pulled one back for the travelers straight after the break and it was game on when an O’Dwyer rocket inside the final 10 minutes had the Boomerangs trailing 3-2, and not even a straight red card to Boomers keeper Ashley Collins and a second yellow to team-leading scorer Michael Rinaudo could stop a stirring comeback as Brett Forward cheekily backheeled into goal at the far-post in the final minutes of play to force a gasping 3-3 stalemate.

A fifth level-scoreline for both clubs this summer saw them break the record for most league draws in a season, moving ahead of Inner West’s mark of four in 2014/15 – and overall honours are well and truly locked between the clubs following an equally thrilling 4-4 draw earlier this season to go with a win apiece last season.

Unfortunately for Boomerangs, the shared result gave them an unenviable record of 12 straight winless away games, eclipsing Mascot’s 11 road trips without success from 2013/14-2014/15. The last time the Capitalists tasted premier league victory in NSW was a 7-2 win against Phoenix at Ryde way back in November 2013.

The upside is that a win, and maybe even a draw, against South Coast in Wollongong this weekend would see them take the fourth playoff position.

The flowing mane of Boomerangs coach Kristian Collins receded a little after a hair-pulling tussle. “They didn’t have ball for the first 15 minutes and they scored three goals off turnovers… we could’ve been 5-0 up in the first five minutes,” he said.

“We just needed more composure in the final third, so nothing needed to change for the second half. We were plenty good enough to get ourselves back into the game, we just had to make sure the scoreline didn’t get to us and needed to test their keeper a bit more.”

“When we got to 3-2 down we were looking comfortable and they were looking rattled, and I was thinking this was our game to lose. We defended well down a player and then rotated the three defenders out and brought on four fresh players and had so many chances,” Collins said.

“It’s frustrating to not have Michael [Rinaudo] and Ashley [Collins] next weekend, but Brad Sawyer is back from overseas and he’s added an extra threat. There’s more at stake for us than South Coast, so our boys know what they have to do.”

Majik coach Babak Menati wouldn’t buy into ‘fortune’ and remained forthright in his Australian Futsal role. “1-0 up at halftime might be lucky, but 3-0 up is not lucky,” he said.

“I try my best to tell my players the game is not over and that we need more push, and in the second half Boomerangs played very good and took their chances. With all respect, the game was in two halves – one was ours and one was for them.

“I’m not happy with the draw, but my players played very good and I’m very happy with them – five games unbeaten is a good reward for them. Maybe I could’ve done better changes, so I take responsibility for the result.”

“Next week we will respond but we’re not looking to beat Dural; they are a very respected team by us and one of the great teams in Australia with great players,” Menati said.

“For us it’s an opportunity to gain experience. I will play my young players against Greg [Giovenali] and the other great players to get more experience.

“I’m looking forward to the game; it will be tough for us and all I’m looking for is improvement every week and hopefully with a nice outcome. If I can’t help in some area of Australian Futsal I would never get involved!”

Next week’s games

Football NSW Select Futsal Premier League final-round Saturday night features South Coast Taipans versus Boomerangs FS at University of Wollongong Sports Hub (5.40pm), UTS Northside tackle Inner West Magic at Marrickville PCYC (6.40pm), Enfield Rovers face Mascot Vipers at the Morris Iemma Indoor Sports Centre (7.50pm), while Dural Warriors host Mountain Majik at The Centre (7.55pm). Visit the Football NSW website (Futsal tab) for full details.

-By Dan De Nardi