Round Nine of the 2015 national F-League competition saw the Boomerangs men and women travel to Brisbane to take on the two Queensland teams, South Brisbane and Galaxy FC.
In what was a weekend of three potential wins, the two teams returned home with no competition points, extending the men’s team to an eight game losing streak and leaving the women with only one win for the season, with three matches still to play. And both teams now definitely out of contention for the top four and any chance to take part in the finals of the 2015 F-League season.
WOMEN
South Brisbane
The Women’s team had the one match against South Brisbane on Sunday afternoon.
It was an exciting start to the game with both teams scoring within the first two minutes. And whilst the remainder of the first twenty saw plenty of scoring opportunities for both teams, neither bothered the scorer on the back of some great defensive efforts and keeper saves.
South Brisbane came out of the sheds with great intent and scored twice before the Boomer ladies could respond, but a great solo effort by Olivia Gurney with five minutes to play, opened the game up with a single goal deficit to make up.
The Boomers then went to fifth man play to push for the leveller, and hopefully a winner, but conceded into an open goal to make it 4-2 with little time remaining. A back post goal to Erin Clout (playing fly-keeper) in the dying minutes was too little too late and the girls surrendered the game by the narrowest of margins.
Boomerangs (Gurney, Clout, De Marco) 3 – 4 South Brisbane
MEN
Galaxy
The men’s team started the weekend road trip with a 10am Sunday game against Galaxy FC.
The lads started the game controlling the ball well, but to no avail as Galaxy took a three goal lead inside ten minutes, against the run of play. Boomerangs finally converted possession into goals with chances eventually taken with Jono Ciminelli grabbing a goal before Daniel Giovanazo converted a penalty to bring the scoreline to 3-2 with Galaxy still holding the advantage.
The remainder of the first half remained fairly balanced, but again Galaxy converted their opportunities to grab an extra two goals to take a three goal lead heading into the half-time break. The second half brought a different pace with Galaxy looking to control the game and hold possession, taking as much time off the clock as they could. Boomerangs responded playing 5th man to try and create more chances and would have walked away with some more goals from the game if not for some world class saves from the Galaxy goalkeeper to help them maintain their three goal lead.
Galaxy eventually capitalised on the Boomerangs’ empty net to score a sixth and final goal of the game. A game that could have swung the Boomerangs way on a different day but it was Galaxy walking away with the three points this particular day.
Boomerangs (Giovinazzo, Ciminelli) 2 – 6 Galaxy
South Brisbane
The men’s second game for the weekend was against the South Brisbane team.
The game started with fiery passion and South Brisbane racking up their five fouls within the first six minutes of the game after some heavy challenges were thrown around the court. Jake Wilsener broke the deadlock to put the Boomerangs ahead early in the game, but South Brisbane responded not too long later. Wilsener again put the Boomerangs ahead only to have South Brisbane score two in quick succession to take a lead. A South Brisbane own goal meant the scores were tied up at three apiece heading into the break.
The second half showed how valuable squad numbers are in futsal as the small Boomerangs squad of nine struggled to compete with the physical South Brisbane team in the second half. A full Queenslander squad took advantage of the tired Boomers men, who were well into their second game of the day, and managed to go ahead by two within eight minutes of the restart. The Boomers were forced to go all out again and resorted to 5th man tactics once again but only managed to grab one goal from this ploy. South Brisbane scored two more before time ran out to achieve an impressive victory, one that shows just how much this South Brisbane side has improved since their debut season only a year and a bit past.
Boomerangs (Wilsener 3, OG 1) 4 – 7 South Brisbane
Across the F-League
In other matches across yet another huge weekend of F-League futsal…
Men’s
The Friday night Sydney derby saw a determined Heat outdo perennial champions Dural Warriors. The Heat then took the early flight to Melbourne and put the sword to the Pirates Saturday morning, but could not maintain their hot streak for the last game of their hectic weekend going down by a single goal to Vic Vipers – who later on Saturday decimated their Victorian colleagues – the Pirates.
Women’s
The Heat and Warriors played out a 2-2 draw on Friday night and the Viper ladies were smashed by the still undefeated ladies team – East Coast Heat.