SFL Winter Season 3rd and 4th Playoff

Submitted by eldon on Tue, 09/04/2012 - 13:38

pictured: Diego Garcia and Referee Anastasios Paraskevas, all smiles in this epic 3rd and 4th Playoff game

The lead up game to the Grand Final featured Calibre 12 Melville and South Fremantle MC who were to playoff for 3rd and 4th. Calibre 12 Melville got off to a great start with 2 goals from their star striker Diego Garcia, and it seemed that they were on their way to an easy victory.

The thing about South Fremantle MC, is that they play to the final whistle. It was never going to be easy, but when you have a player that can seemingly score from anywhere on the court, you're in with a chance. This fire power came from Francis 'The Canon' O'Dong. Two thunderous shots from just inside the halfway line got them back into the game and they almost took it out in regulation and extra time.

Regulation and extra time could not help decide who the winners would be, so the game would go to the dreaded penalty shoot out. As this game had gone over the scheduled time, the crowd had built up. They were all expecting the main event to have started but instead were treated to a preview of how suspenseful and exciting a Futsal game can be. Once again it was Calibre 12 Melville who would be involved.

After going through the whole team, both sides were at one miss each, and now it would go down to sudden death spot kicks. Calibre 12 had two chances to end the game, but misses for the two most prolific goal scorers, Sachin and Diego, meant that this was going to be anyones game and could go all day, as the players just kept scoring. Eventually the pressure got to Milad Hosseini, from South Fremantle MC, and his effort was put over the bar. The experience and calmness of Dario Bakura's finish in the end was exactly what Calibre 12 needed to end this match once and for all.

A sensational day helped by an exciting game, really set the tone for the Grand Final which was to follow.

Calibre 12 Melville 2
Diego Garcia 2
South Fremantle MC 2
Francis O'Dong 2
(Calibre 12 Melville win 10 - 9 in the penalty shoot out)