Men’s Futsal Premier League
Boomerangs FS White 0 def. by NC Untouchables Navy 3 (Michael Sydney 9′, 40′, Brett Forward 13′)
Untouchables Navy turned in a clinical performance last Wednesday to progress to the 2017/18 FPL Grand Final with a win over Boomerangs White. Both sides started strongly and the first shot on goal did not come until the ninth minute when Michael Sydney used it to score for Untouchables and hand them the lead. Brett Forward scored to double the advantage four minutes later, and Boomerangs went into the break trailing by two goals and on the back foot.
Both sides looked to contribute to the score sheet in the second half as the match turned more physical, but neither could find a way through as the half wore on. But as Boomerangs poured forward to chase goals, Sydney grabbed his second on the counter to seal a convincing 3-0 win and spot in the big dance.
Canberra Olympic Superprawns 9 (Stephen Domenici 5′, Patrick Ross-Magee 6′, 31′, Goran Josifovski 10′, 35′, Jeremy Habtemariam 29′, 33′, Robert Cattanach 31′, 32′) def. Timberwolves FC 3 (Sam Carters 15′, 32′, Thomas Cosentini 40′)
Canberra Olympic cruised into the Futsal Premier League Grand Final with a six goal win over Timberwolves in their semi-final last Wednesday. Last year’s winners scored early through Stephen Domenici before Pat Ross-Magee doubled it just a minute later, and when Goran Josifovski pushed the lead to three goals after 10 minutes the game looked to be turning into a bloodbath. A great strike from Sam Carters with five minutes left in the half resulted in a slightly more respectable scoreline at the break, but there would be no comeback for the Timberwolves.
A six goal blitz in just six minutes from the Superprawns blew the game wide open, even with Carters’ second goal sandwiched in the middle, and while Thomas Cosentini added a goal in the final minute of regulation the Superprawns were already cruising, eventually finishing 9-3 winners in a rout.
Women’s Futsal Premier League
Gungahlin United FC Pink 4 (Brittany Palombi 26′, 37′, Grace Field 34′, Becky Roche 38′) def. NC Untouchables FC Navy 1 (Alice Churchill 31′)
A dominant second half from Gungahlin United Pink has helped them to a big win over Untouchables Navy and another berth in the Women’s FPL Grand Final.
In a rematch of the 2016 big dance, both times started with strong play but were unable to score early. The match was going at a frenetic pace, but neither side could convert the chances that came their way as both defences were stretched.
But six minutes into the second half, Brittany Palombi opened the scoring for Gungahlin as she beat the defence with good footwork before firing home. Alice Churchill responded five minutes later to put Untouchables back on level terms, but it was clear they were on the back foot as they looked to defend Gungahlin rather than attempt to match them.
However a lapse of concentration cost them and Gungahlin took full advantage, with three goals in four minutes from Grace Field, Palombi again and Becky Roche putting the result beyond doubt.
Belconnen United FC 2 (Samantha Price 17′, 27′) def. Canberra United Academy 1 (Molly Lawless 26′)
Belconnen United came into their semi-final having dropped only one match in the regular season; and facing the very opponent who had taken those points from them. The Canberra United Academy side began brightly, but both teams played excellent defence to begin the tense encounter.
United broke through though just three minutes from half-time as Samantha Price scored, and they carried that lead into the break to maintain the upper hand. The Academy again started on the front foot in the second half, and when Molly Lawless equalised with 14 minutes left it was game on.
United had other ideas though and Price grabbed her second goal only a minute later to break the deadlock, before they defended desperately for the final ten minutes to shut out the Academy and steal away with the win and a Grand Final spot.
Grand Finals | Wednesday 14th February
Women’s FPL | Belconnen United FC v Gungahlin United Pink | 7.00pm
Men’s FPL | Canberra Olympic Superprawns v NC Untouchables Navy 8.00pm
Both matches will be LIVE on BarTV Sports.
