Round 12 Wrap Up | 2019 2020 Macron SFL WA
Following a 2 week break for Christmas & New Year, the Macron State Futsal League resumed with Round 12 action with matches & results heating up in the lead up to the halfway mark of the season & the excitement building as sides start to position themselves for a run towards the finals.
Canning Ultra Tigers FC 2 – 13 Balga FC
The Ultra Tigers have had a difficult return to the SFL. And in Balga, they came up against a side on a 2 game winning streak, who were looking to break into the Top 6. Canning held out for the first 6 minutes of the match, and were only 0-1 down halfway through the 1st half. But once the 2ndgoal went in, the flood gates opened. Eraste Vyamungu excelled with a 2nd half hattrick on his return to the SFL. He was ably supported by braces from Graham Dixon & Luke Ross. Singles from Matt Dudek, Adam Mangion & newcomers Rudnei Sheldon, Kirstoff Dippl & Chris Andrews. The victory kept Balga in 9th position, but, narrowed the gap to 6th to only 2 points.
Fremantle FC 5 – 2 Perth Longobarda FC
The match of Friday Night featured Fremantle defeating Longobarda to jump from 7th to 5th on the ladder. These sides had swapped places in Round 11, with Longobarda having put on a clinic in counter-attacking futsal against Cockburn before the Christmas break. But, missing top marksman Alex Kretowicz, Longobarda lacked the cutting edge at the final third of the court. Fremantle, on the other hand, welcomed back Daniel Muzzarelli, returning from a 3 month stint with Mountain Magik FC in the NSW Premier Futsal League. But it was new captain Liam Cummins who shone with a brace of goals & 2 assists. Former top goalscorer & MVP Danilo Neves also impressed with a hattrick to further cement the fact that Fremantle are undefeated in the matches that he has featured in since his return from injury. Longobarda responded with goals from Luigi Vetere & Remo Capitani. The loss drops Longobarda to 8th on the ladder.
South Perth FC 4 – 5 Perth AFC
South Perth & AFC put on a gripping match that all present at the Pro Futsal Centre in Bibra Lake could not take their eyes off. Both sides came into the match separated by only 3 points, and it was AFC who burst South Perth’s bubble to secure their 3rd victory in a row, coming back late in the match from 3-4 down to secure a memorable victory. Indeed, South Perth were on the front foot for the entirety of the match, except for that last phase. They were in the lead or level until AFC’s miraculous finish. Nathan Thorp impressed for AFC with a thunderous hattrick. Singles from Spiro Nenadic & Liam Ellison rounded out the scoring. Ivan Palermo responded with a hattrick of his own for South Perth, with Dilan Patel also on the scoresheet. The win would have pleased club president & head coach Rob Caruso, as it lifted AFC to 7th on the table with 20 points, outside the Top 6 only by goal difference. After a long unbeaten run, a 2nd defeat in a row means that South Perth are now looking over the shoulders as they hold the last finals position, with club president & head coach Roberto Boi needing to reflect on their leaking defence.
Byford Venom FC 2 – 7 Cockburn EWA FC
After troubling reigning SFL champions, Stirling, in Round 11, despite a losing effort, Byford went into this match against former SFL champions, Cockburn, with renewed confidence. EWA, for their part, were looking to erase the memory of their worst ever defeat in the SFL, and flew out of the blocks to take an early 2-0 lead. But, Byford pegged them back to 2-2 halfway through the 1st half. Cockburn regrouped to finish with a comfortable victory. A double from Brandon De Abreu, plus singles from man-of-the-match Declan Burdle, Niko Cvijanovic, Ali Milhem & the returning captain Mark Gavranic rounded out the scoring. Vaughan Audrain & Jordan Van Duyn responded for a resolute Byford, whose long awaited wait for a victory at this level is surely around the corner. The welcome return to winning ways cemented Cockburn’s place in the top 4.
Spearwood Lions FC 2 – 3 Murdoch Warriors FC
Spearwood came into this match with confidence, on the back of 2 solid victories, and were looking to surprise Murdoch. The Warriors have themselves surprised many this season by leading the Macron State Futsal League into the Christmas break. But, missing captain & talisman Lucas Mello they looked vulnerable against a determined Lions. Spearwood took the lead through Bakr Al-Qaraghuli whose transformation from target to fixo has been impressive. Justin Tang responded for Murdoch, to break his drought and take the sides level at half-time. Alex Basto gave Murdoch the lead late in the 2nd half, only for Kelechi Nmeni to restore parity soon after. Veteran Massimo Basolu scored the winner with 2 minutes left on the clock to extend The Warriors lead at the top of the table to 3 points.
Rockingham Cambio Cumbre FC 3 – 3 Stirling Braza Ginga FC
The match-of-the-round featured the 2 most successful sides in the history of the SFL, with 3rd placed Rockingham taking on 2nd placed Stirling. With a long standing rivalry & bragging rights are up for grabs, it was hard to separate the 2 sides. Braza flew out of the blocks with an early goal by man-of-the-match AJ Martino. Cumbre responded with academy player Kylan Watson continuing his goal laden start to his first full season in the SFL. Martino scored again & a last minute strike from player/coach Thiago Mesquita gave Stirling a 3-1 lead at half-time. With Rockingham down on numbers due to the transfer of captain Chandra Nagendran to Kuala Lumpur FC in the Malaysian Futsal League, and the suspension of MVP candidate Faris Noor Rani, not many predicted a Cambio Cumbre comeback in the 2nd half. But, the return of founder & charismatic leader Nestor Fonseca steadied the ship with a goal early in the 2nd half & Jaidyn Watson equalised a few minutes later. Both sides battled for the victory, but the goalkeepers excelled in the latter parts of the match to end with a share of the spoils. Stirling are now 3 points behind table-topping Murdoch, with Rockingham a further 3 points back in 3rd place.
Curtin Footbalista FC 4 – 3 Joondalup ECU Jets
The Battle of the Universities did not disappoint & the crowd that stayed back for the final match of the Round would have been well entertained. This is building into a spectacular derby, with strong, tough futsal, yellow cards galore & some outstanding goals. The much needed victory reversed a long trail of disappointing results for Footbalista, who were desperate for the win. Captain Mason Vojdani excelled with a brace & a man-of-the-match performance. Zam Golestani & Moreno Cappello also impressed with goalscoring appearances. The imposing Luke Palmateer & e Higgins responded for ECU, along with Jake Dean, whose goal halfway through the 2nd half made it 4-3 & a close finish. But with both Milad Sabbagh & Nouh Al Alawi in fine goalkeeping form, that was the end of the scoring. An exciting match & an absorbing new rivalry.
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